We all go weak when it comes to chocolates. From kids to adults, we cannot resist a bar of creamy cocoa-filled chocolate, right? In fact, around one billion people eat chocolate every day. It not only tastes good but comes with several health benefits if consumed in the moderation. Chocolate increases serotonin and dopamine levels, which helps to boost the mood. With time, Dark chocolate is favoured more due to antioxidants content, and providing benefits like helps to improve blood flow, lower blood pressure, and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Amazing, isn’t it?
If you are a chocolate lover, too, let’s make an exception this World Chocolate Day by trying out the healthy options listed in this blog. But first, what is the concept of World Chocolate Day?
Why is Chocolate Day Celebrated?
Chocolate was first introduced in 1850 in Europe, suggestively on 7th July. Hence, the day of celebration every year. It was a time when only a few regions had access to chocolate in Central America or Mexico. But got immense popularity and love from all over the world after the invaders.
The History of Chocolate
Chocolate first originated in Mexico. People made use of the cacao beans to form chocolate. The knowledge about the cacao seeds was then transported to Central America. But its true significance wasn’t realized before 1519.
Cacao became a precious commodity, and later the Aztecs used cacao for trade, even using the seeds as a form of money. It was the year when the Spanish Conquistador Hernan Cortez came to Central America and noticed the Aztec emperor drinking 'Xocalatl', which can be considered the earliest form of hot chocolate.
Cortez then set up a cacao plantation ten years later. Several ingredients like cinnamon or other spices were added to reduce its bitterness. Chocolate then spread across Europe as a drink until 1830, when the first official chocolate bar was produced. And now, there is no going back.
The Hormonal Connect
We crave chocolate because it is irresistibly delicious. The experience of eating chocolate results in feel-good neurotransmitters Dopamine. Chocolate triggers the brain to release endorphins – hormones that cause your pulse to speed up and give you a pleasant high feeling, rather like being in love. Endorphins along with dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin, the four neurotransmitters form the quartet that is responsible for our happiness and they are all released when we eat chocolate. Theobromine and Phenylethylamine in cocoa are also thought to affect levels of serotonin. This can boost your mood and ease depression.
3 Superb Recipes Using the Dark Chocolate Protein for World Chocolate Day
But, wait. What’s so exciting about these recipes? As we said, people love chocolates way too much. But excessive consumption can lead to health issues like weight gain, Type 2 diabetes, sleepiness, and even cause dental cavities. Milk chocolate and dark chocolate have similar ingredients, including cocoa butter, sugar and cocoa solids however the difference and goodness is in their percentage of cocoa solids. Dark chocolate has between 50% - 90% cocoa solids whereas milk chocolate has between 10% and 50%. Also Dark chocolate contains two to three times more flavanol-rich cocoa solids. Flavanols are related to the production of nitric oxide, which relaxes your blood vessels and improves blood flow. In turn, this also lowers blood pressure.
Keeping in mind the health benefits of Cocoa, this chocolate day indulge in a healthier alternative of chocolate.
That is why instead of dark chocolate, these recipes include dark chocolate flavoured protein powder. Now, you can fulfil the protein requirements and celebrate your love for chocolate.
Excited now? Let’s get started.
1. Chocolate Almond Butter Smoothie
Ingredients:
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2tbsp. almond butter
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½ banana
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Maple syrup or honey
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1 cup almond milk (you can use any preferred milk)
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Organic cacao or coffee
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1 tbsp. flax seeds
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1 tbsp. Superfood Plant Protein supplement (Dark Chocolate Hazelnut)
How to Make it:
The recipe is quite simple.
Place the ingredients in a high-speed blender with ice.
Blend the mixture for around 40-45 seconds until you get the desired consistency.
And you’re done. Enjoy the tasty chocolate-flavoured protein smoothie down.
Overnight Mocha Oats
Ingredients:
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½ cup oats
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¼ cup coffee powder
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½ milk (your preferred choice)
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½ cup yogurt (your preferred choice)
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1 tbsp cocoa powder
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Sweetener (optional, you can use sugar, honey, stevia, or maple syrup)
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1 large scoop Superfood Plant Protein Powder (Dark Chocolate Hazelnut)
How to Make it?
Add oats, cocoa powder, and protein powder to a bowl.
Mix with milk, sweetener, coffee, and yogurt.
Cover the bowl and refrigerate it overnight.
Serve in the morning, alone or with fruits or nuts.
Frozen Hot Chocolate Smoothie
Ingredients:
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1 tbsp. mini marshmallows
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½ tsp. peppermint extract
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1 cup ice
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¾ cup dairy-free milk
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1/3 cup Superfood Plant Protein Powder (Dark Chocolate Hazelnut)
How to Make it?
Add the protein powder, peppermint extract, marshmallows, ice, and milk to a high-power blender and blend until smooth.
Pour it into a glass & enjoy it right away.
Why Should You Choose the Superfood Plant Protein Powder?
Superfood Plant Protein is a superior quality vegan protein powder filled with nutrient dense ingredients. It comes with a complete amino acid profile which makes this protein powder a source of complete protein.
The Superfood Plant Protein powder provides 22g pure protein from Golden European Peas Isolate, Brown Rice Protein and Chia seed protein. It also consists of Superfood Blend providing Moringa Powder with anti-oxidant properties, Goji berry extract to support the immune system, green tea extracts to protect against cancer , support weight loss and added digestive enzymes like protease is essential for digestion and allows the absorption of amino acids.
With just one serving in 250-300 ml of cold water or any vegan milk as the star ingredient in your favourite smoothie recipe, you will be able to provide your body with necessary protein and energy to keep going.
Wrapping Up
If you are a fan of chocolate and still want to consume it responsibly, adding the Superfood Plant Protein chocolate powder to some simple dishes can really help. These recipes will help you celebrate World Chocolate Day in the healthiest way possible.
With a delicious flavour, you will get the added benefits of strong immunity, faster recovery, better metabolism, improved skin and hair health. It is a plant-based powder made with pure ingredients and premium cocoa Ghana beans that will deliver energy, health, and taste simultaneously. Do miss out on this, make it a part of your daily routine to get the best of these benefits!
References
Matsumoto C, Petrone AB, Sesso HD, Gaziano JM, Djoussé L. Chocolate consumption and risk of diabetes mellitus in the Physicians' Health Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2015 Feb;101(2):362-7. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.114.092221. Epub 2014 Nov 26. PMID: 25646334; PMCID: PMC4307206. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4307/
Ma ZF, Zhang H, Teh SS, Wang CW, Zhang Y, Hayford F, Wang L, Ma T, Dong Z, Zhang Y, Zhu Y. Goji Berries as a Potential Natural Antioxidant Medicine: An Insight into Their Molecular Mechanisms of Action. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2019 Jan 9;2019:2437397. doi: 10.1155/2019/2437397. PMID: 30728882; PMCID: PMC6343173. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6343173/
Vergara-Jimenez M, Almatrafi MM, Fernandez ML. Bioactive Components in Moringa Oleifera Leaves Protect against Chronic Disease. Antioxidants (Basel). 2017 Nov 16;6(4):91. doi: 10.3390/antiox6040091. PMID: 29144438; PMCID: PMC5745501. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5745501/
Fujiki H, Watanabe T, Sueoka E, Rawangkan A, Suganuma M. Cancer Prevention with Green Tea and Its Principal Constituent, EGCG: from Early Investigations to Current Focus on Human Cancer Stem Cells. Mol Cells. 2018 Feb 28;41(2):73-82. doi: 10.14348/molcells.2018.2227. Epub 2018 Jan 31. PMID: 29429153; PMCID: PMC5824026. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5824026/
Jurgens T, Whelan AM. Can green tea preparations help with weight loss? Can Pharm J (Ott). 2014 May;147(3):159-60. doi: 10.1177/1715163514528668. PMID: 24847368; PMCID: PMC4025876. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4025876/
Lorkowski G. Gastrointestinal absorption and biological activities of serine and cysteine proteases of animal and plant origin: review on absorption of serine and cysteine proteases. Int J Physiol Pathophysiol Pharmacol. 2012;4(1):10-27. Epub 2012 Feb 28. PMID: 22461953; PMCID: PMC3312459. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3312459/
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