Carob might seem just like chocolate when processed into powder or chips and packaged just like our favorite cacao products, but carob and chocolate are completely different in terms of origin, taste, and chemical composition.
Dark chocolate is best for you because it's the least processed chocolate, which means it contains the highest percentage of flavonoid-filled cocoa bean (cocoa).
Black Sapote: The Fruit That Tastes Like Chocolate | Fine Dining Lovers.
When it comes to chocolate, it is common knowledge that the craving signifies a deficiency in magnesium. Since cacao is considered the food with the highest amount of magnesium per gram, it comes as no surprise that chocolate is the first thing we reach for when we encounter such a deficiency.
Nut butters like peanut, almond, cashew, walnut and hazelnut are full of taste, very high in protein and low in carbs. These chocolate craving substitutes contain a good amount of fibers - almond butter is the highest on the list - which can also help improve digestion.
You can make your own or opt for one of many delicious, nutritious pre-packaged trail mix varieties. Carob is hands-down a healthier choice than chocolate. Unlike chocolate, carob doesn't contain caffeine or cholesterol and it's low in sodium and fat and high in calcium and fiber. For some, carob is an acquired taste.
Go for a dark chocolate or a dark coconut milk chocolate if you're looking to maximize health benefits— it's not just a lower cacao content that makes a milk chocolate less good for you. The proteins in animal milk bind to the antioxidants in chocolate, making them unavailable for your body to use.
GO TO THE DARK SIDE
Dark chocolate is made from upwards of 60 per cent cocoa, which has the highest amount of antioxidants from the lot. This is important, because antioxidants are the molecules that fight to protect your body from disease.
Deficiencies in certain minerals such as zinc, chromium, iron, calcium, and magnesium may lead to sugar cravings as well, Elia says. Magnesium deficiency is specifically worth paying attention to.
“My study says that sugar can momentarily tap into the same pleasure system as addictive drugs.” Momentarily being the key word. When you eat a piece of chocolate, your brain responds, but the response only lasts for a few minutes. Your brain's response to something like morphine would last for hours.
You can purchase carob as a powder, and use it exactly how you would cocoa. It can also be bought in bars – many of them dairy free – meaning that a traditional “chocolate” fix is still an option.
To help you overcome your addiction and learn to eat chocolate in moderation, try setting a limit to how much chocolate you'll eat per day or week. Once you've set your limit, you can then plan to only purchase that amount of chocolate so you won't be tempted to overindulge.
The Black Sapote is also known as the chocolate pudding fruit, because it looks and tastes like chocolate when it's ripe. It's grown in sub-tropical parts of Australia, but you could grow it anywhere with good soil, that's frost free.
Eliminating chocolate from your diet, even if it's just for a month, can help cut back on calories and sugar which can then lead to weight loss.
Also, chocolate is high in sugar and saturated fat. It is a high-energy (high calorie) food, and too much can result in excess weight, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Will eating chocolate every day cause weight loss? Yes, eating chocolate can be part of a healthy lifestyle that promotes weight loss! However, evidence is very slim that a chocolate-focused diet would cause weight loss.
Cravings for specific foods could be an indication of a deficiency in a micro or macro nutrient. In particular, a craving for chocolate could highlight a magnesium deficiency. Magnesium is an essential mineral and is required for over 300 enzyme reactions in the body.
Vegans might also substitute with vegan chocolate, which is readily available at any health food store. Alternatively, you can also substitute with carob--it tastes very different from chocolate, but it substitutes well in any recipe using chocolate to give a very different kind of taste.
Enkephalin: The natural brain chemical enkephalin is heightened when chocolate is consumed. Enkephalin triggers opioid receptors similar to those triggered by heroin and morphine use. This chemical leads the brain to desire more after chocolate is initially consumed, which can lead to addiction.
Gayle: The proper term for fake chocolate is "compound chocolate". Compound chocolate is chocolate without cocoa butter. A cheaper source of fat replaces cocoa butter.
People who are sensitive to chocolate may want to try carob. This legume is like chocolate in color and taste. And it can replace chocolate in just about any recipe, from chocolate bars to cookies. Carob is also high in fiber, low in fat, and sugar- and caffeine-free, so it can be a healthier dessert alternative.