Does chocolate really cause acne?!
March 13th, 2017
Do you crave chocolate? There’s no doubt that chocolate is a comfort food and mood-enhancer for many people. Craving and consuming chocolate is also something many women feel guilty about, but it doesn’t have to be that way!
Chocolate always seems to get blamed as an acne trigger, but I’m here to bust that myth once and for all. Before you rush out the door to buy a KitKat bar, let me clarify that not all chocolate is created equal. I want to make sure you’re buying the best kind for your skin and overall health.
Dark chocolate lovers rejoice! Dark chocolate, 70% cocoa or higher, is a great source of skin-boosting antioxidants. In fact, the higher the cacao percentage, the more antioxidants you’re getting. Even better try raw cacao powder, which is less processed and rich in the minerals iron and magnesium.
Here are 2 delicious drink recipes that I keep coming back to over and over again.
Enjoy!
Maple Pecan Smoothie
This Maple Pecan Smoothie is a deliciously indulgent treat that you can feel good drinking. It’s one of my all-time favourite smoothie recipes.
1 cup almond milk (or preferred dairy alternative)
1 frozen banana
¼ cup pecans
1 tbsp. raw cacao powder
1 tbsp. hemp hearts
1 tbsp. maple syrup
2-3 pinches cinnamon
½ cup ice
In a high-speed blender, combine all of the ingredients and blend until smooth.
Hot “Coco”
In case you live somewhere cold and prefer a warm drink, this hot “coco” has replaced tea as my latest go-to breakfast beverage.
Ingredients:
1 cup almond milk (or preferred dairy alternative)
1 tsp coconut sugar
1 tbsp. raw cacao powder
1/8 tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp coconut oil
Pinch of cinnamon (optional)
Directions:
1. Add almond milk to a small saucepan over medium-low heat and stir until warm. Don’t let it boil; it just needs to be warm enough for the cacao powder to melt.
2. Once hot, add the coconut sugar, cinnamon (if desired), vanilla extract and cacao powder. Whisk to melt.
3. Add coconut oil and stir until melted.
4. Once it has reached your desired temperature, taste to determine if it’s sweet enough for your liking. Add extra coconut sugar, if desired.
Give these recipes a try and see how great you feel! If there are other cacao-related recipes that you know about, feel free to share them here.
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