Chocolate comes from beans that grow in pods on cacao trees. Of the many forms chocolate can take, cacao nibs — small, dried, fermented pieces of cacao beans — are chocolate at its most elemental state. This form is also the healthiest: Chocolate that’s richest in nutrients and other compounds. Because they’re minimally processed, cacao nibs have a bitter taste, but that can be easily balanced by pairing them with sweet or rich ingredients, like berries and Greek yogurt.
Depending on the way they’re processed, beans from cacao plants can yield both cocoa butter and cocoa powder. The former is found in many edible chocolate products — and in plenty of others that aren’t meant to be consumed, like lotions and other skincare products. Cocoa butter has a good amount of vitamin E, which can help protect cells in the body from damage, and this may include protecting skin cells from signs of aging.
The best cocoa powder is far removed from the paper pouches of instant hot-chocolate mixes. Made from raw cacao beans, cocoa (cacao) powder is essentially ground-up cacao nibs, and they impart many of the same flavor profiles and health benefits. Chief among them are flavanols, plant-based compounds that can help reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure, bolster the immune system and improve blood flow to brain which may help with congnitive performance.
For chocolate to be classified as “dark,†it must contain between 50% and 90% cacao solids. Milk chocolate only needs to be between 10% and 50%, leaving the rest to be filled with sugar, milk and other additives. This results in a sweeter-tasting product, but one that’s less healthy. Real dark chocolate has many nutrients and beneficial compounds including iron, magnesium and copper.
Chocolate comes from beans that grow in pods on cacao trees. Of the many forms chocolate can take, cacao nibs — small, dried, fermented pieces of cacao beans — are chocolate at its most elemental state. This form is also the healthiest: Chocolate that’s richest in nutrients and other compounds. Because they’re minimally processed, cacao nibs have a bitter taste, but that can be easily balanced by pairing them with sweet or rich ingredients, like berries and Greek yogurt.
Cocoa butter
Depending on the way they’re processed, beans from cacao plants can yield both cocoa butter and cocoa powder. The former is found in many edible chocolate products — and in plenty of others that aren’t meant to be consumed, like lotions and other skincare products. Cocoa butter has a good amount of vitamin E, which can help protect cells in the body from damage, and this may include protecting skin cells from signs of aging.
Cocoa powder
The best cocoa powder is far removed from the paper pouches of instant hot-chocolate mixes. Made from raw cacao beans, cocoa (cacao) powder is essentially ground-up cacao nibs, and they impart many of the same flavor profiles and health benefits. Chief among them are flavanols, plant-based compounds that can help reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure, bolster the immune system and improve blood flow to brain which may help with congnitive performance.
Dark chocolate
For chocolate to be classified as “dark,†it must contain between 50% and 90% cacao solids. Milk chocolate only needs to be between 10% and 50%, leaving the rest to be filled with sugar, milk and other additives. This results in a sweeter-tasting product, but one that’s less healthy. Real dark chocolate has many nutrients and beneficial compounds including iron, magnesium and copper.
