Are you Drinking Real Cocoa or just a sugar flavored brown drink?Don't settle for fake hot chocolate when you can have real delicious and nutritious hot cocoa. Hot cocoa not only tastes better is is so much better for you. The best way to make sure you are getting the real deal is to start with quality cocoa powder. The best cocoa powder is dark brown and will taste bitter by itself.
You can make your won hot beverage by mixing this powder with hot water or just like when you were a kid: real milk. Milk substitutes like: soy milk, coconut milk or rice milk are great for those who are lactose intolerant or who just want to try something different. You can sweeten your drink by adding sugar, honey or agave nectar.
Cocoa contains several bioactive compounds that promote alertness, lessen pain and promote a natural feeling of well-being. For example, one such element, Tryptophan, reduces anxiety by producing serotonin. The compounds in cocoa also produce endorphins which lessen sensitivity to pain.
Scientists have labeled Cocoa "the new vitamin." Health experts are discovering that some of the chemicals in cocoa powder can have a positive effect on the heart and blood circulation.
Harvard researcher, Dr Vinson and his colleagues discovered that the flavonoids in chocolate are even more powerful than vitamins used for anti oxidation. Studies in Atherosclerosis show that the oxidation of lipoproteins is one of the ways that plaque clogs artery walls.
Food scientists from Cornell University state that they have discovered that cocoa has almost twice the antioxidants of red wine and nearly three times the antioxidents of green tea.
Drinking hot cocoa provides more antioxidants than simply eating chocolate candy. The heat releases more of the antioxidants. Some research indicates that ingesting dairy along with cocoa inhibits the absorption of the nutrients. You can get the most nutritional value by combining cocoa powder with a milk substitute like: coconut milk, soy milk, rice milk or even water.
