Have you heard that Cocoa powder shows promise for reducing disease-causing inflammation? Wondering how to include it without adding too many calories? Here are some tips for smart substitutions with cocoa powder.
Go Dark
Step one for including cocoa powder in your diet is to select dark chocolate cocoa powder. Powder from dark chocolate has higher amounts of disease-fighting antioxidants than milk or white chocolate varieties.
Healthier Hot Cocoa
Instead of store-bought instant hot cocoa, which can be high in sugar, and low in antioxidants, opt to make your own. Try this Orange Ginger Hot Cocoa (Tip: use low-fat milk to make this recipe even more heart-healthy).
Dessert Alternative
When you have a craving for something sweet, why not skip the ice cream or cake and opt for a bowl of whole grain oatmeal, topped with 1 package of sugar substitute and 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder?
Make-Your-Own Spicy Sauce
The next time you plan to grill try whipping up this tasty Black Jack BBQ Sauce. It's a flavorful mix of cocoa powder, chilies, and garlic.
Kickin Chicken
Cocoa powder is one of the secret ingredients in this tasty Chicken Rojo dish (Tip: Use low-sodium broth, and limit salt-to-taste to make this recipe even more heart healthy).
