Healthier Chocolate For Guilt-Free Indulgence

In recent years, chocoholics and chocolate lovers have more reasons to celebrate and to eat more chocolates with less of the guilt. Recent studies show that cocoa actually contains a substantial amount of antioxidants that is even higher than black tea or red wine! That's a lot of antioxidants to help fight free radicals that cause various ailments, from heart disease to cancer. Chocolate studies also show that cocoa lowers blood pressure and can offset chocolate's high sugar level. Still, there are chocolates that are healthier than others. Dark chocolate, for instance is healthier than milk or white chocolate because of its higher cocoa concentration. There are also more alternative choices for healthier organic chocolates made from natural ingredients. Some, targeted for vegan chocolate lovers, contain soy instead of milk. Diabetic chocolate, targeted for those who have diabetes, are also available in the market. If you eat a lot of chocolate and are worried about how it will affect your health, organic sugar-free chocolates are a good alternative.

Organic chocolate

In today's market, following the organic foods band-wagon, there are organic chocolate manufacturers that use high quality organic ingredients that meet or exceed organic standards for qualification. For a chocolate to be certified as organic, it should not contain any genetically modified ingredient. In producing milk chocolates, only milk that is free of recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH), an artificial hormone given to cows for increasing their milk production, can be used. Organic chocolates are made from organic cocoa, which are cultivated in small pots and are grown under a canopy shade to preserve the natural way it grows in its native tropical environment. Many of the cocoa that are grown in big plantations are sprayed with pesticides to prevent the development of diseases and to ensure its proliferation. According to the Pesticide Awareness Network (http://www.panna.org), cocoa plantations are second only to cotton plantations in the use of pesticides. Growing cocoa organically ensures that there are no pesticides involved. Biologists, in recent years, were able to determine and create environmentally sound farming methods that maintain biodiversity for cultivating cocoa organically, which at the same time, protects the winter habitat of migratory songbirds. Most organic cocoa manufacturers are also fair trade certified, which ensures that the labor that went into growing and cultivating the cocoa was fairly compensated. Under the fair trade agreement, sugar and cocoa farmers receive a fair share for their produce and thus helping to elevate their quality of life. Not only are organic chocolates politically correct and environmentally safe, they are also intriguingly delicious. Because organic chocolates are somewhat of a specialty, there are many varieties and flavors that are unique to organic chocolates and are worth the adventure for the true lovers of chocolate.

Soy chocolate

For those who are lactose-intolerant or are allergic to milk, or for those who are simply interested in Vegan products, soy-milk chocolate is a revelation. Some soy chocolate products claim that they have the "rich milk chocolate taste without the milk." Most of these chocolates are GMO-free, non-dairy, lactose free, rich in soy isoflavones, and 100% vegan and healthy!