One only has to look at chocolate ads to know that there is a tempting yet forbidden aura to it. To us not endowed with the perfect body, to even smell it is a sin, a crime worthy of capital punishment. But did you know that chocolates have health benefits too?
Cocoa, most especially dark chocolate, contains antioxidants – surprisingly 8 times more than found in strawberries. The flavonoids also help lower blood pressure and lowers blood cholesterol. If you’re depressed you are allowed to eat chocolate because it contains serotonin, the happy neurotransmitter that makes you a little happier. Plus, it tastes good – correction, very, very, very good – and keeps you awake. So this is good news.
That said, here are some recipes that are sure to tickle your taste buds:
Cocoa-Banana Smoothie (finally, a recipe that doesn’t need a blender)
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons cocoa mix, 1 cup of frozen whipped topping (thawed), 2 ripe bananas, 8 chocolate cookies (crumbled. Note: These are sandwich cookies, not chocolate chip ones.)
Procedure: Stir cocoa and whipped topping. Fold in the banana and half of the crumbled cookies. Divide into 4 glasses and top with remaining cookie crumbs. Refrigerate.
Choco Protein Smoothie
Ingredients: 2 cups of milk, 2 tablespoons of chocolate milk syrup, 1 frozen banana (or half a teaspoon of dry chocolate pudding mix), one-fourth cup of peanut butter, 1 cup of ice, 1 to 2 tablespoons of whey powder (optional).
Procedure: Blend and process for about 30 seconds. Serve while cold.
Chocolate Mint Smoothies
Ingredients: half a cup of instant cocoa drink (made with a heated half cup of milk and one-fourth cup of instant cocoa mix), half a teaspoon of vanilla extract, one-eighth teaspoon of peppermint extract, 1 pint of vanilla ice cream, 1 and a half cups of milk.
Procedure: Blend almost all the ingredients (except for the ice cream) until smooth, for about 30 seconds. Add ice cream and blend until smooth. Serve immediately.
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