The joy of chocolate

('Jackie P') #1


I have been reading a bit about the health benefits of chocolate lately.
And also …
https://blog.freepeople.com/2018/02/wellness-encyclopedia-raw-cacao-butter-use/
Cacao butter. I have had this pot knocking about in my food cupboard for ages.
I need a little cheering up just lately so I thought … bulletproof cocoa.
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Bloody Marvellous :clap::yum:
And because I can’t lie to you guys, and because I am a big kid at heart …
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By my reckoning this comes in at around 3g carbs and 10g fibre, which is a little more fun than a cup of broccolli!
I really do believe it has magical rejuvenating powers :yum:
Cheers☺

Hot chocolate
(Susan) #2

Giant hugs to you Jackie, I hope that whatever is bothering you will resolve itself soon. If this us helping you feel rejuvenated that is awesome =).

('Jackie P') #3

Thank you Mom. (((Hugs))) back to you😊

(Lazy, Dirty Keto 😝) #4

Well if that doesn’t cheer you up, I’m not sure what will! :wink: big hugs to you :hugs:

('Jackie P') #5

Thank you @beccs🤗

(Rebecca ) #6

Everyone can use a shot of chocolate now and then…in my opinion anyway!!

#7

Are there any studies about women and chocolate? Am I treading in angel’s fear? It seems like chocolate may be an essential nutrient* in the complex puzzle that are women? This complexity is likely to increase from this point on. (*@Fangs is unlikely to concur and is difficult to lure away from the carnivore threads, but chocolate just may do it)

It is obviously an addictive substance for many and has direct effect on brain chemistry as evidenced by ancient Incan high status mummies clutching chocolate that even very strong archaeologists could not extract from their death grip. (This paragraph might be made up).

My wife is a yogini and once in awhile at certain lunar phases she disappears with a secret women’s circle with drums and flowy dresses to dance and partake in a secret cacao ceremony (where the participants get high and dance their wild hearts). But all I’m told is that it is none of my business hence the triple use of the word secret. I think the women prefer the term 'sacred".

I’ve weaned myself off chocolate because meat looks quite attractive as an alternative. But the 95% Cacao bar seems to be always open and ever reincarnating in the top right hand shelf of the fridge above the eggs. This is fascinating and apparently miraculous to this confused husband.

Help me out here @SlowBurnMary

('Jackie P') #8

@FrankoBear… what can I say. I would trade in my joy of chocolate to spend just 1 day inside your head!
I imagine a heady mix of William Burrows and CS Lewis! :blush:

#9

Despite my long love story with chocolate, I don’t get these things either. Chocolate never made me happier (beyond the joy of tastiness but pickles or ham have a way bigger chance then) and I was addicted only as long as I ate much enough carbs. I definitely don’t want it on extremely low carb and only ate a little on keto and not because I particularly desired it though it was nice.
But even on my high-carb days, I rarely ate chocolate. It was pretty important and nice for him but it’s not an every day food (it became one on low-carb when I learned to make my own but then the amount was tiny). Other people seem to be more attached. And we hear and read about happiness and chocolate, they probably are wired differently…

Of course, lots of men love chocolate, my SO is definitely a man biologically and he partially lives on sweets. The slightly bigger half of his food is sweet stuff and chocolate is often involved, it’s a very important staple food for him. I’m glad he absolutely hates added sugar (except if it’s his Mom’s baked goods or chocolate gifts in December, he becomes a different one then and eats up any amount). But he doesn’t become happier either, it’s primarily calories and secondarily a tasty treat for him.

(Rebecca ) #10

I go through phases with chocolate (no, not that kind!!! Menopausal here!) But every so often, a good, 85-90% dark (with himalayan salt) square or 2, hits the spot for me. On the other hand, my husband could give or take chocolate…baffling!!:thinking:

('Jackie P') #11

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I like the occasional square of 85%+. But raw cocoa powder is actually really good for you, as is cacao butter. So from now on I’m treating my bulletproof cocoa as medicine :sunglasses:

#12

Here’s the reason for the joy: https://bebrainfit.com/benefits-dark-chocolate/

It triggers the same chemicals as Jogging, chanting, praying, hot peppers, vigorous work outs, and a bunch of other things.

Once in a while I mix some cacao powder into some heavy cream and whip it into a delicious mousse. No sweetener needed.

('Jackie P') #13

Thank you for the link. As I said, Magical rejuvenating powers!:heart_eyes:

#14

Anything beyond 70% isn’t my friend but I very rarely buy chocolate (or eat my chocolate gifts. my SO is for that). My own almost-chocolate (no cocoa butter but that didn’t make it much more chocolate-y or tasty) is primarily coconut oil :slight_smile: For some reason, that suits my taste. Lots of fat, quality cocoa, some coffee and cashew and a hint of xylitol at the moment. I can eat the unsweetened version but I still prefer the sweetened one. Unsweetened is for sweet fruits or other too sweet stuff to create the perfect sweetness level.

Hot chocolate is special as it’s liquid and warm… And never the same, I use whatever I have for “milk”. Heavy cream, coconut milk but usually egg yolks or whole eggs. Definitely no added pure fat.
It’s rare treat, I usually drink coffee, it’s simpler. But hot chocolate is better.

(Michael - When reality fails to meet expectations, the problem is not reality.) #15

Have we finally discovered the elusive ‘essential carbohydrate’? @FrankoBear @atomicspacebunny

#16

Bingo! I think yes Michael. @atomicspacebunny will be pleased with this discovery.

The joy of chocolate discussion.

Dr. Robert Cywes is rolling in his grave (grave ownership and rolling activity not included. please refer to your purchase terms document). He of the “snacking is an emotional event” fame. No, he is not dead. I don’t think he is. Maybe I should write as of writing. You just never know. But rolling around on his office chair just does not carry any punch.

@Shinita uses the term ‘staple’, which has a nice chocolate crunch to it. That essential word is problematic.

But I think Jackie clears it up best. (without mentioning the oxalates… but having the chocolate with a calcium rich food may bind that organic acid in the gut)

Chocolate aint a nutrient per se. It is a pharmaceutical. It is a drug-like nutrient in it’s neurological and behavioural effects. The essentiality of those felt effects then determine the essentialness of the chocolate to the individual.

It’s a drug not a food? (like coffee)

All this makes me wonder how @ctviggen Bob’s cacao butter adventure is progressing? And remembering the increased taste sensitivity of the ketogenic eater with comments in Bob’d thread about a ‘chocolate’ taste to that dietary fat source.

Uh, O. :pleading_face:

(Bunny) #17

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Avocados use to have horns and legs…it’s true!

#18

Yes, Theobroma Cacao’s neurotrophic impacts and beta-endorphin boosts nourish the female hormonal brainz and IGP, the Intuitive Guidance Process (and one’s patch of heaven on earth, wherever one is).

Considering the realities of modern stress, I think many people in industrial culture can benefit from 60% or darker chocolate - particularly in a low carb, metabolically ALIVE nutrient dense lifestyle. :star_struck: :rainbow:

Interestingly, once the holiday treats were over and I started adding 2 tblsp cacao butter to my morning bulletproof coffee, I’ve stopped thinking about whether there is a chocolate bar supply in my kitchen. A nice simplification. That cacao butter also is nice for fattyifying & sweetening a cup of chicory/dandelion brew I imagine!

All good things do come to an end, and nothing lasts forever - but I sure am grateful for the ability to cultivate my relationship with Theobroma Cacao for the time being. One of these days I do plan to make my own ketofied chocoate Mexican mole/sauce, which I prefer on the more chocolatey side.

(Troy) #19

:weary:speaking of chocolate

I was at an event on Sunday
The Lakanto Team had small samples of these bars
Great price btw 4 for $10

This was the time I was praying the 55% ( not usually carb friendly ) was just a glitch
Thinking well it has monk fruit, so it may be ok :thinking:
To have a square here and there

It was so yummy!!

Then like Charlie…I started to grab the bar and slowly turn over…I wanted the golden ticket aka…low carb ish label
Please please

Not

NO!!!:weary:

Since chocolate can be addictive to me no doubt
I grabbed 4 more samples anyways and walked away ashamed w my head down low
Food rebellion :rage:

Again, better options out there for an occasional square
Ex. Lindt 90% or 95%
I WANTED SO much for this to work out :slightly_smiling_face:

My point -
Read labels FIRST
Then decide
Walk away …or choose like me - dig in b4 and after🤣

Thanks for listening

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Lindt 95% …just for comparison

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#20

Well… with that Lakanto bar, when you subtract both the fiber and the sugar alcohol, it’s only 3 carbs per serving, or 6 carbs for the whole package - that’s not bad! Same as that Lindt bar.