Why Hot Cocoa Is Healthier Than Hot Chocolate
Author: Darren Craddock
There is an important difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate. These terms are often used interchangeably, but the distinction is in the nutritional properties. Hot cocoa is made from raw cocoa powder, which is pressed chocolate which removes the fat of the cocoa butter. Hot chocolate is made from chocolate bars melted into a cream or ground into a powder. Often hot chocolate has a very high sugar and fat content and low cocoa content. Cocoa can be very good for you, especially if you minimize the sugar and fat.
Hot cocoa has been around a long time and for good reason. It is one of the most potent antioxidant beverages you can drink, plus it is naturally delicious! Archeologists have found that the oldest civilization of the Americas, the Olmecs, (1500-400 BC), were probably the first users of cacao. The Mayans continued consuming-based drinks made with beans. Chocolatl was the name of a drink made from roasted cocoa beans, water and spices and was consumed voraciously by the aristocracy. They primarily drank cocoa but the beans were also valued as a currency.
Drink of the gods
Originally these ancient people drank and unsweetened version of hot cocoa. This hot cocoa recipe was a mixture of ground cocoa beans, water, wine, and peppers. Soon the Spaniards begin heating the mixture adding sweeteners like sugar. In England, they added milk and created a sweet after dinner drink.
Nowadays people are discovering the powerful nutritional benefits of the cocoa bean. Recent research has found that the flavonoids in chocolate are more powerful than vitamins such as ascorbic acid in protecting circulating lipids from oxidation. And researchers discovered that people who eat chocolate and sweets up to three times each month live almost a year longer than people who eat too much or folks that steer clear of junk altogether. (This is from a study done at the Harvard School of Public Health)
Now that we understand that cocoa is good for us, how do we make sure we are getting the bountiful health benefits of the cocoa chocolate? First get pure cocoa powder. You can identify it by its dark brown color and bitter taste. Next, try mixing it with hot water and low fat milk or milk substitutes, like soy or coconut milk powder. Add a natural sweetener like agave nectar, honey or turbino sugar.
Hot cocoa provides more antioxidants
Even though cocoa beans have 500 times more anti-oxidants than blueberries; studies indicate that adding a diary product actually blocks the body's ability to properly absorb them. In order to get the most antioxidants, mix ground cocoa with non-dairy liquids for hot chocolate, smoothies or shakes. You can enjoy drinking cocoa if it is hot or cold but heating the cocoa triggers the release of more antioxidants.
For many years the common conception of hot cocoa was that of a commercially prepared packet mix that was basically sugared flavored chocolate turned into a sweetened instant powder and marketed to children. Now adults are finding that the drink they loved as kids is better than taking vitamins! Drink your cocoa hot and pure and enjoy the best tasting health drink available.
Frequently Asked Questions
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QUESTION:
how to keep instant cereals crisp inside an airtight container without clumping together/brittled?
I made myself some homemade instant cereal, and mix the following ingredients, but fail to preserve crispness. any ideas that work?
-whole milk powder
-sugar
-nondairy creamer
-oats
-wheat cereals
-coarse rice
-malt extract
oops, sorry..i actually don't add malt extract into mix but this kind of wheat cereal i'm using has it-
ANSWER:
Freeze it! Otherwise put it in a seal-a-meal type storage system but they can be a little costly.
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QUESTION:
If you had to choose just one of these to make, which would you choose?
Frozen Coffe Mocha
1 ice-cube tray of frozen coffee
2 T. + 1 C. milk
1 1/2 T. cocoa powder
2 T. powdered sugar
1/2 t. vanillaFreeze leftover coffee each morning in an ice cube tray until you have one full tray of cubes.
Microwave 2 Tbs. milk until hot enough to melt the cocoa powder and powdered sugar. Mix in the vanilla and stir well. Add the remaining cup of milk.
Put one tray of coffee cubes, cocoa nad the milk mixture in the blender. Blend until smooth.Frappachino
8-10 frozen coffee cubes
4 T Hershey chocolate powder (sweetened)
2 oz. half and half
2 shots of espresso or coffeeBlend until consistency of a thick milkshake. Serve with real whipped cream and sprinkle with chocolate powder.
Frozen Coffee Cooler
6 C. ice cubes
4 C. brewed coffee, cooled
1 C. coffee liqueur
3/4 C. sugar
1 t. ground cinnamon
1 C. half and half or milkGarnishes: whipped cream, ground cinnamon
Process half of first five ingredients in a blender until smooth.
Pour coffee mixture into a large pitcher. Repeat with remaining half of first five ingredients, and pour into pitcher.
Stir half and half into coffee mixture, and garnish, if desired. Serve immediately.Mocha Shake
1/4 C. warm water
2 T. Hershe's cocoa
1 T. sugar
1 C. cold coffee
1 C. vanilla ice cream
crushed ice
whipped creamIn blender container combine water, cocoa and sugar. Cover; blendo n low speed. Add coffee; cover and blend. Add ice cream; cover and blend until smooth.
Serve immediately over crushed ice. Garnish with whipped cream, if desired.Spanish Coffee
2 C. (1 pint) light cream
4 Hershey's milk chocolate bars (1.55 oz. each), broken into pieces
Whipped cream
1/4 C. brewed coffee OR 1/2 t. powdered instant coffee dissolved in 1/4 C. boiling waterIn medium saucepan, combine light cream and chocolate bar pieces. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Stir in coffee. Beat with rotary beater or wire whisk until foamy.
Serve hot with a dollop of whipped cream or cool chocolate mixture and serve over crushed ice.Iced Chocolate Latte
A tall glass filled with ice
4-5 oz. of double brewed coffee
2 T. sugar
a good long squirt of chocolate syrup
1/4-1/2 C. of whole milk (as much or as little as you like)
whipped cream
cinnamonStart with making some strong coffee by brewing 6-7 oz. of coffee and then pouring it back into your coffee maker andbrewing it again. This may not be good for some coffee makers. You will loose some water in the process, producing 4-5 oz. of coffee.
Add the sugar, syrup, and the milk to the coffee; stir well.
Poor the coffee over the ice in a tall glass and top with whipped cream or foamed milk; lastly sprinkle a dash of cinnamon on top.-
ANSWER:
They all sound good to me.
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QUESTION:
Can I make this bread recipe any better for me?
The ingredients are:
1 1/4 cups water
1 1/2 tbs. skim milk powder
1 1/2 tbs. shortening
1 1/2 tbs. sugar
1 tsp. salt
3 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp. instant yeastCan I substitute anything healthier for possibly the shortening and the sugar in this recipe?
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ANSWER:
These are the ingredients I use to my healthy whole wheat bread twice a week (in the bread maker). Everybody loves the flavor also.1 cup yogurt
1 cup water
2 tbs. skim milk powder
2 tbs. canola oil
2 tbs. blackstrap molasses (for iron and other minerals) or honey
1 tsp. salt
3 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
3 tbs sesame seeds (optional, but gives additional calcium & protein)
1 1/2 tsp. instant yeast
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QUESTION:
Chemistry of Ice Cream: what does vanilla do?
Like is vanilla a solvent or solute or does it have another role?
Recipe:
1 cup whole milk
2 cups heavy cream
1 & 1/2 tbsp each of cocoa powder and instant coffee powder
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup sugar-
ANSWER:
the only thing vanilla does is tasting good and making the ice cream a little yellow
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QUESTION:
Coffee, tea or cola that's been sitting in the hot sun for about four hours?
You know, if you get Cola hot enough, you get a whole new taste sensation.I've been drinking instant Nescafe coffee with powdered milk for the last 13 years, so I don't think my taste buds are qualified to make a big call such as this.
Hot tea, of course, comes in third behind hot cola, and strong coffee, but if your host offers it, you have to smile and say yes...as if you couldn't think of anything better.
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ANSWER:
ewww...i would be polite but dang...that is nasty
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QUESTION:
Breadman breadmachine bakers, please help?
I have lots of whole wheat flour, all purpose flour, flax seed, instant yeast, powdered milk, baking powder, eggs, etc. etc.
What I don't have is bread flour or vital wheat gluten.
I desperately want to make some whole wheat bread or French bread today & am unable to get to a shop. Can anyone advise me with a substitute recipe? I do realize the loaf may be more dense, but that's ok. Bread machine makes 1, 1.5, & 2 lb loafs. Please indicate the loaf size if you're able to help. Thank you.. thank you, thank you!!!-
ANSWER:
just use the regular flour it will be a bit denser but bet you cant even tell. I do not use "bread flour" anymore as it is almost 1/2 again as expensive as all purpose. and the bread flour is a fairly new thing anyway, my mom and grandmother only used regular flour and grandma baked 8 loaves a week for her family. good luck
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QUESTION:
470 calories for breakfast??????
Is that too much? I just finished 1hr and 40 minutes in the gym (30 minutes cardio, 1hr and 10minutes of strength training+stretch)I had 1/2 cup of homemade oatmeal (150cals) (with cinnamon and nutmeg)
1 small nectarine (60cals?), 1 medium banana (120cals?) chopped up in the pot
1 cup of skim milk (80cals) with 'No Sugar Added Carnation Instant Breakfast powder' (60 cals)
plus a multi-vitaminIs that too much calories for breakfast?
I mean..It's not like I'm eating Oreo's with whole milk like my dad is for breakfast >_<
I wish he'd eat healthier :
My goal is to maintain/get more muscle.
I do NOT want to lose weight-
ANSWER:
A small nectarine is 30 calories and a medium banana is 85 calories, so you're eating around 405 calories, which isn't bad especially you need the energy after spending an hour and 40 minutes at the gym. If you're getting more muscle, you might want more protein, so maybe include an egg in there a few days of the week.
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QUESTION:
Do powdered drinks give out more free radicals?
I read in a magazine instant coffee does not have the same effect as whole coffee beans that are freshly brewed because it does not have alot of antioxidants and instead is filled with free radicals.Is this the same for all powdered drinks like milk and chocolate?
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ANSWER:
"free" radicals come from cooked foods. thus it is not true that ALL powdered drinks have free radicals. instant coffee is instant because it has been brewed then dried thus there will be fewer antioxidants because it is not all natural than coffee beans. you should not fear drinking powdered drinks because of free radicals. there are more free radicals when you cook food than drinking or brewing.
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QUESTION:
Which is the best way to start taking acai supplements?
Every morning I use the Magic Bullet to get fruits in my diet. I usually add one banana, couple of strawberries, oats, and milk. Now, I want to add acai into my diet. I'm thinking I can just replace the strawberries with a acai berries. But I know that acai products come in different forms. My question is which is the best form I can take? The form that'll give me the upmost benefits that acai can. They come in forms of tablets, juice, instant drink powders, and whole fruit. But to be honest I haven't seen any whole fruit of acai in stores. Are they really there and I'm just blind? Please help, thanks.
Do they have the whole fruits in Costco?-
ANSWER:
I have not seen the fruits here (States), yet. You might find them frozen. And the juice, it readily found. Look on the ingredient list where Acia berry is - 1st on the list $$ about last $. I drink the Knudsen brand. the fresher the best, so frozen (if can find) and the bottle juice next.jabril
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QUESTION:
trying to gain weight? help =[?
Okayy, I'm a 13 year old (5 ft 1) and about 79 - 80 lbs. I'm trying to gain a little weight and I was wondering if this was an ok day.Breakfast-
Instant Oatmeal Packet (100 cal)
Banana
Cinnamon
Boost High Protein Shake (240 cal)
A Viactiv Calcium ChewLunch-
1/4 Cup Fruit and Nut Trail Mix (about 150 cal)
Homemade shake with 1 cup frozen cherries, 1 cup whole milk, and 2 scoops Aria Womens Protein Powder
About 3 big scoops of Hood Fat Free Frozen Yogurt (I know it has 90 calories per 1/2 cup but I don't know how many cups the 3 big scoops were)
25 Calorie Swiss Miss Hot ChocolateDinner-
Cottage Cheese (90 Cal)
Apple
Cinnamon
1 Viactiv Calcium ChewSnack
Cocoa Roasted Almonds (100 cal)
Boost High Protein Shake (240 cal)I know I have fat free and other diet type food in there but I really don't want to gain weight too fast. I got up to like 1900 calories today and according to the calculator thing I should be eating 1826 calories a day. So is this ok or am I doing all of this totally wrong? Any suggestions? Thanks.
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ANSWER:
You can gain weight by eating healthy foods so do not start eating unhealthy crap foods. You want to gain good fat. Also lift weights ect. and you will add on some pounds.
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