HEalthy Sweets

  Thank goodness Valentine's day is behind us! We have a time of "sweets" reprieve, especially during Lent when many decide to give up desserts. But look out! Passover and Easter are coming up with more sweet treats on the horizon. 

What can we do to stop eating addictive, white sugar when we are surrounded by it? Not only that, but sugar is in everything from from beverages to cereals to BBQ sauce.  Many of us want to give up white sugar to get healthier but we are addicted to it. What can we do when our sweet tooth is craving something sweet?
Answer: 
We can learn about healthy sweeteners and eat them instead. Healthy sweeteners have nutrients, fiber, and minerals. The sweetener can contribute to our health instead of just providing a rush that spikes our blood sugar, contributes to extra weight, etc. 

Take a look at chocolate.   Chocolate Easter bunnies made by a popular Easter candy maker include these ingredients in this order:   Milk Chocolate, (which contains white, processed sugar), Cocoa Butter, Whole Milk, Chocolate, Emulsifiers (Soy Lecithin and PGPR), and Vanilla.  (Order is important as the largest amount of ingredient appears first and so on through the list to the one that is least in the ingredients)
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85% dark chocolate contains these ingredients in this order: cacao beans, cocoa butter, raw cane sugar, vanilla bean.  

Side note: Cacao is a beanlike seed from which cocoa, cocoa butter, and chocolate are made. Cacao seeds come from a small tropical tree that bears these seeds, which are contained in large, oval pods that grow on the trunk.   Cacao is good for you! It is loaded with magnesium which has these attributes: 
-Helps Increase Energy
-Calms Nerves and Anxiety
-Treats Insomnia and Helps You Fall Asleep
-Helps with Digestion by Relieving Constipation
-Relieves Muscle Aches and Spasms
-Regulates Levels of Calcium, Potassium and Sodium
-Important for Heart Health
-Prevents Migraine Headaches

Now it's your turn. What is your go-to healthy option that satisfies your sweet tooth? Comment on this blog to share.       
Patty Myers

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