When it comes to organic dark chocolate, there’s not much to feel guilty about. In fact, dark chocolate — we’re talking 70% cocoa or more — has all kinds of good-for-you benefits. So when your sweet tooth demands satisfaction, decadent, organic dark chocolate is one of the best ways you can treat yourself (in moderation, of course).
BENEFITS OF DARK CHOCOLATE
- It’s full of antioxidants, even more than superfruits!
- It’s loaded with fiber, iron, magnesium, copper, zinc, and manganese. Basically dark chocolate in small doses helps keeps you strong and healthy.
- Compared to it’s creamy counterpart, dark chocolate is low in sugar and carbohydrates. This is great news for chocolate lovers working toward their optimal weight goals.
- Dark chocolate contains bioactive compounds that can improve blood circulation and lower cholesterol.
- Those same bioactive compounds can help protect your skin against UV rays (but that’s not to say it should replace your sun screen).
- Sucking a bit of dark chocolate can soothe a sore throat
- Less is more. Just a small piece of dark chocolate after dinner can help you feel full and prevent midnight snack cravings.
- It goes great with peppermint (yes, that’s a benefit). Don’t believe us? Just check out this recipe for VerMints Dark Chocolate Bark. It amazes all year round.
ORGANIC CHOCOLATE BENEFITS
If you’ve ever done any kind of chocolate comparison shopping, you’ve likely noticed that the USDA Organic logo means a greater toll on your wallet. So why should you go for quality over quantity?
The answer is simple: organic cocoa beans have been farmed without the use of harmful pesticides or synthetic fertilizers which wreak havoc on our bodies as well as the environment. Overall, certified organic chocolate products are less processed and contain zero preservatives, artificial colors, or GMOs.
The sugar in organic dark chocolate is naturally-derived, which means your body knows how to break it down (as opposed to the high fructose corn syrup commonly used in big brand chocolate products).
Added bonus — it tastes better! Okay, this is totally subjective. But like a good cup of coffee (or a quality organic mint), the smooth, pure flavors of natural ingredients have a huge impact on taste.
For more tips on how to live the healthy, organic #MintyFreshLife, subscribe to our Suckers Academy eNewsletter at the top of this page!
Image courtesy of Rodalesorganiclife.com