A Healthy Holiday Treat

Hot chocolate is pretty much synonymous with the holidays, and really has some great properties indeed. Sure there is that "Oh my gosh! This is so delicious!" factor, but it really can be good for you too. Chocolate is high in antioxidants and great for the cardiovascular system. It also has some great cancer fighting properties, and just makes us feel comfy. The dopamine release alone is enough to keep us coming back for more-literally. The addictive properties in chocolate aren't your imagination...it truly hits the addiction parts of the brain! But, back to the good parts.

There are different kinds of chocolate and most of the commercial stuff you get is hardly chocolate at all. It mostly consists of cream and sugar, with just enough cocoa powder in it to make it dark. With the exception of "white chocolate", that is cream, sugar and the cocoa butter in it (must be 20%) to qualify for the listing of chocolate, though there is none of the healthier dark ingredients to be seen. Basically fat, milk and a lot of powdered sugar of one kind or another.

For the optimal benefits of chocolate, raw cocoa nibs can be used. Moving up from there, are the dairy free dark chocolates. Everything from 100% and moving down from there! Anything below 60 to 70% is just a waste of time and an indulgence in the mostly cream version of the treat at hand.

In this holiday season I hope you find great recipes, and I will provide a few, of this wonderful treat from south america. I am a huge fan of hot chocolate, and due to both dietary health choices, and even tastes of preference, I would like to give a recipe I found on Recipezarr.com for vegan hot chocolate. I find great pleasure as I sit here in the cold air knowing that I have enjoyed a nice warm chocolate treat, without the dangers of milk. I hope you all enjoy and explore the health benefits of chocolate for yourself. Preserve and empower your life!

SERVES 1 (change servings and units)

• 1 cup soymilk (vanilla, regular, ricemilk, whatever- even unsweetened is good)
• 2-3 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
• 1 tablespoon raw sugar
• 2 tablespoons warm water

1. Heat milk in on stove. Get it just a little hotter than drinkable, stirring as you heat at a low to medium heat.
2. Stir the cocoa and sugar into the warm water in a small container to dissolve sugar. Pour this into the mug of hot milk. Enjoy and be healthy!!
3.