Category: chocolates

Understand The Benefits Of Consuming Dark Chocolate Cocoa

The commonly held perception about chocolates is that it is harmful to the health and it is also something that everybody likes to indulge in. However, according to scientists things such as dark chocolate and cocoa can actually do wonders for your health. For the heart to function at its optimum levels there is need for the arteries to remain open and flexible and also remain free of any blockages so that it can efficiently deliver blood to all parts of the body. According to studies conducted on dark chocolate and cocoa it has been found that these two ingredients play an important role in keeping the heart functioning at its best.

Healthy Cardiovascular System

The truth of the fact is that dark chocolate and cocoa both help in maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system as they help to keep the blood flowing normally and they also help in keeping blood pressure under control. In fact, cocoa in particular helps in maintaining arteries and ensures that they always remain in good health.

Even when tests have been conducted regarding the effectiveness of dark chocolate and cocoa it has been found that after consuming dark chocolate or cocoa blood pressure cam down to manageable levels and flow of blood normalized as well. Besides enjoying the delicious taste of dark chocolate and cocoa, you also get significant health benefits and this has been confirmed by many tests that have been conducted over the past few decades.

Certainly, more research is required about the many benefits of consuming dark chocolate and cocoa; especially, the long term effects on people suffering from high blood pressure. What is known for sure is that dark chocolate and cocoa help in relaxing and widening the arteries help in preventing build-up of plaque that could otherwise have blocked arteries, and they also play an important role in preventing blood from clotting up.

The power of dark chocolate and cocoa seems to lie in the fact that both contain high amounts of antioxidants which in turn are known as polyphenols that are beneficial to a person?s health. In fact, dark chocolate cocoa also contain flavanols that are very important to maintaining a healthy heart and it is these flavanols that help in rendering useless unstable molecules (also known as free radicals).

For those who are interested in the nuts and bolts of dark chocolates, there is a lot of information available that deals with things such as dark chocolate nutrition that can help you understand just what is contained in your dark chocolate bar and how the ingredients will affect your health.

If you ensure eating dark chocolate cocoa in limited doses, there are a number of health benefits that you will get to enjoy including reducing the risk of contracting heart diseases and enjoying better flow of blood through the arteries.

Chocolate Gift Set Ideas

If you are looking for a great chocolate gift idea, whether that be a coffee chocolate gift idea or just regular chocolate, here are some great options.

A chocolate gift set is always a great idea and always goes over well, because it contains various delicious chocolate products that everyone is sure to love. Of course you are going to want to make sure that your chocolate gift set contains delicious chocolate products, so here are a few recipes that you may want to consider.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is a great recipe for a couple of reasons, but more than anything it is because it is one that everyone loves and also because it is so easy to make. Even if you have little to no experience in the kitchen, you will be able to prepare these cookies and have them turn out fabulously.

This is the perfect idea for a chocolate gift set, and to prepare this recipe you will need the following ingredients: 2 ? cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 cup butter or margarine softened, ? granulated sugar, ? cup light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 2 eggs, and 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips.

Now that you have all the ingredients, the process is quite simple. All you do is preheat the oven to 375?F, and then stir together the flour, soda and salt in a small bowl. Once it is well mixed, you combine the butter and sugars until light and fluffy.

The next step is to add in the vanilla, and then you beat the eggs in one at a time. Stir in the chocolate chips, and drop this finished mixture by rounded teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for about 10 minutes until golden brown, cool, and serve.

Chocolate Espresso Torte

Another great recipe that would be perfect for a chocolate gift set is this, the chocolate espresso torte. Also simple, you use 5 ounces semisweet chocolate, 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, ? pound unsalted butter, 4 eggs at room temperature, ? cup sugar, ? cup brewed espresso, 1 tablespoon sifted, ? teaspoon salt, and ? cup all purpose flour.

To prepare you simply heat the over to 350?F. Butter an 8-inch cake pan and line the bottom with a pan liner. Now you want to heat the chocolate and butter over medium heat until it melts. Set this aside, and then mix the rest of the ingredients. Now you just bake for about a half hour, until your cake tester comes out clean.

Whether you decide to go with one of these or any other idea for your chocolate gift set, the most important thing is that you are being creative and caring.