Dark Chocolate Smoothie Recipe

Dark chocolate smoothies taste like dessert for breakfast! Add dark chocolate cocoa powder to your healthy smoothie recipe in the morning for an unbelievable burst of rich chocolate yummy flavor. This is the ultimate in that decadent -you won't believe it's sooo good for you flavor! Dark chocolate cocoa powder is so healthy because it's high in polyphenol content, which means it has antioxidant power! It's also high in vitamins. This chocolate is a bit bitter, so the base of the smoothie should be either vanilla flavored yogurt and vanilla almond milk with some agave syrup or honey. Adjust the sweetener according to your desired level.

Chocolate comes from the cacao bean. This bean contains antibacterial agents that fight against tooth decay and help boost your immune system. These agents are diminished once sugar and milk are added to the chocolate to create milk chocolate. Cocao also contains phenyl ethylamine which enhances endorphins and gives you that happy feeling. Researchers have found that the mere smell of chocolate increases theta brain waves inducing relaxation. People who eat dark chocolate are also said to live a year longer -perhaps because of the antioxidant effects or maybe just because they are happier!

\"Smoothie Recipe\"

Smoothies are a great way to sneak in protein and extra vitamins and minerals into your kid's breakfast or snack. Great additions for smoothies are protein powder, bee pollen, lecithin granules and brewers yeast. Go easy on the brewer's yeast because it has a bitter taste the kids will taste!

Dark Chocolate Smoothie Recipe

Dark Chocolate Smoothie Recipe

Rae Haining writes about the benefits of dark chocolate and healthy smoothie recipes at her website FillingLowCalorieFoods.com.

Low Carb Raw Chocolate Almond Smoothie Recipe (Paleo, Primal)

The following smoothie recipe has almonds and chocolate. It has 0 grams of sugar. It may have 20 grams of carbs but 9 of those are from fiber which pass right through your body. It has no fructose which is the worst sugar.

If you are looking to lose weight then consuming less carbs then you do now is a huge step in the right direction. I don't personally recommend going super low carb at under 50 grams per day but you may want to try it for a few weeks. I personally stay in the 100 to 150 grams of carbs a day range easily without ever thinking about what I eat. I don't have weight to lose but I would love to lose body fat while gaining muscle to help lean out more.

\"Smoothie Recipe\"

This recipe will do the trick. Its very tasty due to the stevia. Do you have something against stevia? Please do not be! I personally know someone who has lost over 200 lbs by eating low carb. He is a stevia enthusiast. He knows everything about it! He is a huge inspiration to me and I want to spread that inspiration.

Low Carb Raw Chocolate Almond Smoothie Recipe (Paleo, Primal)

On to the recipe.

Low Carb Almond Chocolate Smoothie Recipe

• 1 Cup Original Unsweetened Almond Breeze Almond Milk
• 1/4 Cup Ice
• 4 Drops Liquid Stevia
• 2 TBSP Almond Butter
• 1 TBSP Cacao Powder
• 2 TBSP Avocado

What exactly makes this smoothie low carb?

About 17% of the calorie count is from carbs. Nine out of 20 grams of carbs come from fiber. Our body does not digest fiber. When the carb percentage is in the 10-15% range I will look at the fiber content and then decide if is low carb or not. This on qualifies.

If you are not a fan of stevia then adding a quarter of a small banana should do the trick. This will only add about 5 grams of carbs which is not much.

I buy store bought almond milk but homemade is always best if you do not add any sweeteners to it. If you do not have any almond butter on hand then feel free to sub any other nut or seed butter. Adding cacao nibs at the end will give the smoothie a nice crunch. The avocado is added for smoothness.

I hope you enjoy this recipe. I am a huge fan myself as I have been drinking smoothies regularly for more than 5 years. I specialize in primal/paleo/low carb recipes since that is how I live my lifestyle.

Low Carb Raw Chocolate Almond Smoothie Recipe (Paleo, Primal)

For more low carb/primal/paleo smoothie recipes then I suggest you try a few that I have published at my blog. You can do so by clicking here. If you want 20 smoothie recipes delivered to your inbox immediately then click here now.

What Is Cacao And Why Is Natural Chocolate Healthy?

Understanding Super Foods: Cacao and Real Chocolate

For some reason I can't get the vision of John Matuszak out of my head. John Matuszak -- you know -- Sloth, from The Goonies! Choc-o-late...Ruth...Ba-by...Ruth. Yes, none of that cinematic magic would have been possible without cacao. Could you imagine? Cacao is responsible for that delicious, sometimes decadent food group we commonly know as chocolate, but it's oh, so much more. In fact, in its purest form, it has health benefits that might even cause you to furrow or lift your brow. But first -- what exactly is cacao?

Smoothie

What Is Cacao?

Cacao is an evergreen tree that generally grows from 10 - 30 feet in height and is native to the tropical regions of the American continents. It is found naturally in the Amazon River Basin as well as the Orinoco River Basin, and can also be found bearing its "fruit" at the base of the Andes Mountain range in foothill elevations of 600 - 1300 ft. above sea level. It is widely accepted by many cacao experts, that the tree was native to Mexico, and brought wild to be cultivated in South America.

It is now farmed in many tropical nations, and the largest commercial producer is actually the western African nation of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire. Ghana, Indonesia and the Philippines also cultivate a prominent amount of cacao, and the Americas round out the majority of the commercial farming.

The fruit of the cacao, known as the cacao pod, ripens to a hearty yellow or orange, and weighs about a pound. Within it, you'll find a load of seeds, which are generally referred to as cacao beans. Each seed is made up of about 40 percent fat, which is often extracted and known as cocoa butter.

The Cacao Nib Craze

Is it true that Cacao Nibs, the peeled, crushed cacao seeds/beans, are full of antioxidants? Antioxidants that rival super foods like blueberries, and many antioxidant rich teas? Yes, it's all true. As a matter of fact, the cacao nib is also rich in good fat and minerals such as calcium, zinc, iron and potassium. All that good energy stuff you'd get from drinking a Gatorade without the multiple grams of refined sugar. You'll also find a natural byproduct that is very much like caffeine. It even seems that the natural MAO inhibitors found in these tasty morsels can suppress an overactive appetite.

The Taste of Cacao

What do cacao nibs taste like? Chocolately and nutty. You can pick at it like granola, eat it by the spoonful like granola, grind it into your coffee... not like granola... sprinkle it on ice-cream, put it in a smoothie or a personal favorite -- dip a banana into them.

If you're intrigued, make sure you snag an organic variety of the cacao nibs. Criollo cacao is the rarest of the organically produced cacao, and what you'd probably enjoy the most in your first sampling. You can generally find the goods for -15 a pound, depending on where you shop. Cacao: Along with Goji Berries [http://www.greeneggsandplanet.com/blog/dieting/goji-berries-what-are-goji-berries], just another example of nature's candies.

What Is Cacao And Why Is Natural Chocolate Healthy?

Matty Byloos writes and manages the Green Blog known as: Easy Ways to Go Green, as well as the Organic Food Blog: Organic Eating Daily

Simple No Bake Chocolate Macaroon Recipe

This recipe was a favorite of my sister and I. We loved it when my mom would make these. When we were old enough to cook, the house always smelled like chocolate macaroons. I think we made this recipe about a couple of times a week. They are very easy to make and super yummy to eat! Another thing I like about this recipe is that you don't use a lot of dishes, so clean-up is a breeze as well. These cookies are great if you are in a pinch and need to make something delicious in a hurry. Another great thing is the ingredient list is very short and most things I'm sure you will be able to find in your very own kitchen.

I hope you enjoy making these macaroons as much as I know you will enjoy eating them.

Smoothie Recipe

What you need to make the macaroons:

2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup milk

6 tbsp cocoa

1/2 cup fine shredded coconut

3 cups oatmeal

1-2 cookie sheets waxed paper

1. Combine the first four ingredients together in a large pot and bring to a boil for about 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly.

2. Take pot off of stove and add the coconut and oatmeal. Mix until everything is coated.

3. Place on a wax paper lined cookie sheet by heaping tablespoon-fulls. To have these cookies ready quickly, cool in refrigerator, or leave and let cool to room temp.

Enjoy!

Note: You may need to double batch these cookies as they will disappear fast!!!!

Simple No Bake Chocolate Macaroon Recipe

Easy Cooking and Baking Recipes. A place to print simple delicious recipes and post your own to share with others.

http://easycookingandbakingrecipes.blogspot.com/

M. Robinson