NaturalCounselor Health and Wellness Blog For Women

Are you a chocolate lover?  Is it because you appreciate chocolate for its health properties. If you know chocolate can be healthy, did you know that its because of the cacao (cocoa) beans its made from, and that healthy chocolate needs to contain at least 72% cacoa.  Cacao  contains flavonoids that have high levels of antioxidants, which can boost your immune system.  Chocolate can also protect you from heart attack and stroke by lowering blood pressure, reducing inflammation and improving your mood.  Did I mention that chocolate can be used as a homemade beauty recipe to improve your skin?

So if you want to feel healthy and look fabulous, try these two homemade chocolate recipes.

Homemade Chocolate Facial Beauty Remedy Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp cacao
• ½ tsp honey
• 1 tbsp sour cream or yogurt / kefir or 1 tbsp avocado
• 1 tsp oatmeal powder

Directions:

Mix all the ingredients thoroughly. Apply on the face, gently massaging it so that oatmeal can start exfoliating the dead skin cell layer. Leave it on for about 20 minutes and rinse off with luke warm water.

Healthy Chocolate Truffles

Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound (about 250 grams) of good-quality semisweet chocolate (72% cocoa content)
  
• 1/4 cup all purpose cream (or whipping cream) 
• 1 teaspoon strong coffee
• Cocoa for dusting

Directions:

Melt the chocolate. Warm up whipping cream in a saucepan. Add one teaspoon coffee to cream, stir, and remove from heat. Mix all the ingredients and stir well until thicken. Put into refrigerator for at least for thirty minutes and then form into truffle-sized balls. Roll the truffles in the cocoa. Lay out on waxed paper and refrigerate again before serving, but serve at room temperature.

Don’t forget to breathe, smile and be happy.

Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition Counselor and Coach

NaturalCounselorBlog.com

Did you know that a little chocolate mixed with love can help you beat the seasonal blues and help you feel fabulous. 

“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” ~Charles M. Schulz

As we know, all chocolate is made from Cacao Beans (also known as Cocoa Beans). So basically, Cacao is chocolate! All the antioxidant value, mineral benefits, neurotransmitter rejuvenating properties, and overall health-giving qualities of chocolate are found in Cacao (Chocolate) Powder made from cacao beans.

Studies show that Cacao (Chocolate) may lower blood pressure, increase circulation, increase blood flow to the brain, and decrease chronic inflammation in the body, heart and cardio-vascular system. Dark chocolate can also boost serotonin level to help fight moodiness.

I would like to share with you 2 tasty and healthy chocolate recipes you can make for Valentines or any other time of the year to to make you or special Valentine feel fabulous.

Tasty Instant Chocolate Pudding Recipe for your Valentine Sweetie

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cup (about 12 ounces) firm silken tofu, crumbled
• ¼ to ½ cup dark brown sugar, or pure maple syrup
• 1/3 cup Cacao (Chocolate) Powder or Carob Powder
  
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• pinch of salt (optional)

Directions:

Place all the ingredients in food processor and blend several minutes until smooth and creamy. Chill I the refrigerator until serving time. Adopted from Breaking the Food Seduction by Neal Bernard.

Chocolate Frosting Valentine Recipe for a Healthy Mind

Ingredients:

• 11/2 extra firm silken tofu
• 1 cup Cacao
• 1/3 cup agave nectar or  Yacon Syrup
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Blend the tofu, Cacao , agave nectar and vanilla in a food processor until smooth and creamy. Set aside. Stir the chocolate chips in a large metal bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water until the chocolate melts. Carefully add the melted chocolate to the food processor, then blend until thoroughly combined. Transfer the frosting to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate for 2 hours or until just firm enough to spread. From The Real Food Daily Cookbook by Ann Gentry.

Bon Appetit!

”

Breathe, smile and be happy.

© Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Health  Counselor and Coach

Us women are very busy these days, as a matter of fact, they have always been. And as women, we know that, unfortunately, most of the time we don’t prioritize our health.

Let us think for a second about what can cause stress in our life? Well, if I say emotions and bad food choices, will you believe me? I am not sure, but it is true. Cortisol, the hormone your body produces when you are stressed, increases your appetite and promotes inflammation, reducing the body’s sensitivity to metabolic hormones. To reduce cortisol levels and normalize your metabolism, you must relax.

• No time to de-stress? Think again! You can reduce stress in a second with these instant mood boosters.
• Start laughing.
• Studies show that even forced laughter lowers cortisol and blood pressure instantly.
• Start singing
• Recent studies show that singing your favorite tunes is more beneficial than simply listening to them.
• Call your friend or talk to your pet.
• Study shows that making conversation with someone you care about causes the same kind of positive physiological changes that a massage does. To express your feelings and thoughts you can either call a friend or talk to your pet (pets are even better listeners).
• Take a walk
• Some fresh air and moderate exercise can help clear your mind and frustration or anger.
• Squeeze a squishy ball
• Start squeezing something, such as a squishy ball, to work away your tension.
• Have some Dark Chocolate

Studies show that Dark Chocolate (70-75% of cocoa and higher) can not only lower your blood pressure and clear your arteries, it can also improve your mood by boosting serotonin and endorphin levels in the brain. Take a piece of dark chocolate, close your eyes and relax.

If we don’t take care of ourselves, nobody will, but if something happens to us, who will take care of our children, our family? Studies show that more than 800,000 people a day take time off work because of a stress related illnesses.

Let us be stress smart.

Breathe, smile and be happy.

©Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition Coach and Counselor