This Just in~ Choclate is Good for You

I was browsing my e-mails and ran across this from my great <cough> Stroke Association. In Stroke Smart this month was an article, "Chocolate: Go Ahead and Indulge." Well Doh! I already knew that, but it's nice to have permission. Having a degree in naturopathic medicine aside.

The article talks about flavanols which reduce your blood pressure and the antioxidant qualities of the cocoa bean. It can even reduce the bad cholesterol. It says dark chocolate is the best. For years I spent a great amount of money on dark chocolate. My chocolate of choice is Ghiradelli's because it is between 60% to 86% cocoa. But watch the sugar and fat content on what you pick. Those two things will do more harm than good for your body.

My main reason was the endorphin kick I get from chocolate. Yeah I'm heavily dependent on it to offset the constant pain due to my fibromyalgia. Chocolate helps boosts the effects of my husband's morphine too for when there is break through pain. It's a comfort food with the benefit of being actually good for you too. I used to keep Peanut M&Ms at my desk for those times I'd get stumped while writing. Yes, I was an insulin dependent diabetic, but I'd limit my intake to six of my creative cycle enhancements...a bad thirty point rise on my glucometer for thirty minutes, but worth it.

I was spending a tremendous amount of money on those little packages of instant hot cocoa mix in the grocery stores until I got smart and started blending my own.

Recipe

2 cups nonfat dry milk

2/3 cup cocoa powder

1 cup Splenda sugar substitute

1 cup nondairy fat free sugar free creamer (if you can find it)

A pinch of salt

I triple the recipe and place it in a gallon glass jar. 1/4 cup of cocoa mix to 3/4 cups of boiling water.  If you are not watching your sugar or fat try Ghiradelli's Dutch Processed Cocoa. The cocoa powder is less but OMG delicious. There isn't a day when the weather is cooler that I don't have a cup of cocoa or Earl Grey Tea in my hand. This comes out a lot cheaper. I usually make a jug of powdered cocoa each season when most of the ingredients are cheaper around Halloween.

Thought I'd pass this along. Honestly there is not much I take that the Great <cough> Stroke Association or Stroke Smart magazine worth mentioning but found this interesting. Mostly the emails are deleted because it is begging for donations. Like I really have enough money to tithe and donate to them post stroke. They would do better asking for funds from non strokees.

Have a great Christmas y'all