Em Colley
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Thoughts on the world, homeopathy, mindfulness and food...

A collection of blog posts - feel free to respond with your thoughts and comments - I love to have feedback - thank you!

Raw Chocolate. Health benefits and recipes

11/13/2014

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Raw?

Food can be considered raw if it’s not been heated over a temperature of around 42 degrees.  If you’re making chocolate and want to be super accurate then you can use a thermometer but you can also simply do the ‘finger test’ and check out whether it feels OK – if it’s too hot then it’s too hot!

Why Chocolate?

Cacao is considered a superfood by many.  A superfood is one which is considered to have a complete or close to complete nutritional profile.  Superfoods are nature’s most nutritionally rich foods and can form and important part of a healthy eating plan.

Cacao has high levels of:

  • Antioxidants – which are thought of to be helping in cancer and age fighting
  • Vitamin C  - for a strong immune syste
  • Phenethylamine (or PEA – a feel good neurotransmitter which is responsible for the love feelings)
  • Omega 6 fatty acids (these aren’t present in cooked chocolates to the same intensity as heating causes them to become rancid and subsequently cause inflammation.
  • Tryptophan (essential amino acid)
  • Serotonin (the happy hormone)
Physical benefits include:

  • Weight loss (thought to be due to high levels of chromium (which can naturally regulate blood sugar)
  • Prevention of cavities (due to theobromine which kills one of the strains of bacteria that causes tooth decay).
  • It’s high in magnesium which is often lacking in the modern diet and is helpful in
  • Improved peristalsis
  • Relaxation of the cardiovascular system and muscles
  • Balancing blood pressure, lowering cholesterol and scrubbing away arterial plaque
  • Helpful in menstrual issues
And of course chocolate is thought to be an aphrodisiac too!

Natural sweeteners

  • Agave Nectar
  • Raw of local honey
  • Maple Syrup
  • Coconut Sugar
  • Coconut nectar
  • Stevia
  • Dates
  • Raisins
  • Figs
  • Lacuma (fruit powder)
My personal feeling?

Chocolate, raw or otherwise, is a treat and not a staple for me. As I’ve gone ‘more raw’, I notice the effects of cacao more than I used to and am aware of it being not dissimilar to the effects someone may experience from caffeine. As such, it’s not something that I’d have daily. That said, I think raw chocolate can have positives – and it’s way better than a bar of dairy milk. A small amount can be satisfying, tasty and enough to ensure pleasure without overwhelm.

BASIC RAW CHOCOLATE RECIPE

Ingredients:

  • 100g Raw Cacao Butter
  • 4-5 Tablespoons Raw Cacao Powder
  • 1-2 Tablespoons Lucuma powder
  • 2-4 Tablespoons Date Syrup/ Maple or Agave Syrup or other sweetener
  • 1 Small pinch of rock salt (Optional – use good quality sea salt to lift the chocolate flavour)
Ensure all utensils and the bowl are dry before the ingredients are added as water can cause the mix to separate.

Directions:

Place the raw cacao butter in a bowl over a pan of water on a low heat and melt gently.

Once melted add dry powders - mix well.

Ensure the heat is low, add the sweetener and mix well.

Taste the mix once melted and add more sweetener if you prefer a sweeter taste.

Once completely melted and blended remove from heat. Your mixture should be runny and easy to pour* and can be poured or spooned into ice cube trays, silicone moulds or even plastic tubs to make fabulous raw chocolate bars.

Place in the freezer and leave to set for 20 mins to half an hour on in the fridge for around 2 hours.

The mix tastes delicious plain but there is always room for some creativity, so feel free to add some chilli powder for Chilli Chocolates or peppermint essence or vanilla extract, orange peel, coffee or orange liquors are all things that can be added. One great combination according to CHOC Chick is sprinkling in some crushed cardamom seeds and sea salt (which they say is absolutely amazing!!).

*If your mix is not runny and easy to pour, this may be because too much raw cacao powder has been added, so try adding a little more raw cacao butter and keep mixing and tasting until you have the right blend.

CAROB DATE SAUCE RECIPE

Ingredients:

·        1 cup medjool dates

·        1 cup coconut water

·        ½ cup carob powder

Directions:

Place all ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth. If you want a runnier sauce add more coconut water and a thicker sauce add slightly less.

You can add in some vanilla, cinnamon or it’s great just as it is too.

Use as dipping sauce for fruit, ice cream topping or just a chocolate sauce where desired.

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    Author

    I'm a Homeopath working in the Skipton (North Yorkshire) area. I am also able to offer food intolerance testing using Kinesiology and advice around diet and lifestyle.
    My blog is a reflection of thoughts, collection of recipes, suggestions of self help remedies and more.

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em@emmacolley.co.uk


Em Colley MARH, Practitioner of Classical Homeopathy, BSc(Hons) Psychology and Neuroscience
Focussed Mindfulness Practitioner
Dip (SNHS) Kinesiology
Dip (SNHS) Holistic Nutrition
Certificate in Whole Food, Plant Based Nutrition
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www.findahomeopath.org.uk
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  • Home
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    • Testimonials
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  • Food
    • Food Intolerance Testing
    • Testimonials
    • Recipes >
      • Breakfast Ideas >
        • Banana Boats
        • Breakfast ice cream on fresh fruit
        • Granola
        • Smoothie bowl
        • Sunrise Smoothie Bowl
      • Dips, Dressings & Appetisers >
        • Carrot, Orange and Ginger Soup
        • Cheese-less cheese dip
        • Guacamole
        • Hummus (oil free)
        • Mango and Cucumber Dressing
        • Ranch Dressing
        • Seedy 'Slaw
        • Summer salad dressing
        • Wild Garlic Pesto
      • Mains >
        • Cashew Cheese-y Kale Salad
        • Creamy Avocado Noodles
        • Green Mango Soup
        • Lasagne. Scrummy, yummy, vegan lasagne.
        • Mango Spinach Salad
        • Middle Eastern Inspired Dinner
        • Moroccan Inspired Salad Dressing
        • Raw Coconut Curry with Cauliflower 'Rice'
        • Raw Curry
        • Simple, Tasty and Nutritious Romaine Wraps
        • Spiralised courgette, chopped tomatoes, celery, spring onion with an red pepper, garlic, lemon and cashew cream sauce
        • Squashy Mac n Cheese
        • Sundried Tomato Tart
        • Sweet Mango Noodles
        • Sweet and Sour Noodles
        • Sweet potato, chilli mixed veg with cauliflower and kale 'rice'
        • Vegan Carbonara with Vegetables
      • Desserts >
        • Almond butter and date toffee stacks
        • Anyone for (low fat, high carb, raw vegan) Blueberry Pie?
        • Apple and strawberry crumble with salted caramel nice cream
        • Banoffee Ice Cream Pie
        • Banoffee Pecan Pie
        • Birthday cake pie!
        • Carrot Cake Balls
        • Chocolate almond sundae
        • Chocolate and Peanut Butter Pudding
        • Chocolate Extravaganza Ice Cream
        • Chocolate Ginger Brownies
        • Chocolate Orange Cupcakes with Raw Chocolate Icing
        • Chocolate orange fudge
        • Christmas Energy Balls
        • Christmas pudding 'cheesecake'
        • Cinnamon, vanilla pud
        • Coconut Happy Bars
        • Ice Cream Cake
        • Lime Cheesecake
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        • Peanut Butter Bar
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        • Plant power pancakes
        • Pumpkin Pie (raw vegan)
        • Raw Bilberry Pie
        • Raw Chocolate
        • Raw Chocolate Brownies
        • Raw Coconut and Sultana Brownies
        • Raw Energy Balls
        • Raw Ice Cream
        • Raw Raspberry Cheesecake
        • Raw Rolos
        • Raw Snickers Joy
        • Rocky Road Raw Vegan Style
        • Salted Caramel Almond Nice Cream
        • Summer Fruit Nice Cream with Mango Sorbet and Fruit Coulis
        • Super Cookies
        • Vegan chocolate chip cookies
      • Smoothies and Juices >
        • Banana Free Smoothies
        • Caramel chocolate smoothie
        • Juices
        • Smoothies (featuring the brilliant banana)
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