Too much cocoa? page 2

[tangentrider]

I'm just curious, is cocoa powder just ground up unsweetened bitter chocolate? If you mix some cocoa powder in milk, does it create a half decent "chocolate milk"?

Not sure how it mixes in milk, but I mix it up in coconut milk for my morning beverage: it's like drinkable pudding. Yummy stuff.

[Diana Renata]

I've made a "coffee" with it. Heat water in a small pan, stir in cocoa powder, vanilla extract and sweetener (optional.) It's like a creamless hot cocoa. Very yummy.

[Madelaine]

What brand is a good one and where do you purchase it? I looked at two grocery stores in town and Trader Joe's (they had none) and all I could find was Hershey's. At least I got Hershey's dark cocoa, but I know it's not the best. I don't eat it often, but I'd like to get a hold of some good stuff - do I have to go to Whole Foods or health food store? I also haven't been able to find coconut oil or flour, but I think I can find them at Whole Foods (about 40 min away, so I don't go often -- have only been primal for about a month now).

Let me know what brand you all like -- thanks!

If you think about it all cocoa powders are dark. They are, in fact, 100% cocoa. Hershey's Dark cocoa, on the other hand, uses a dutch process (alkali) witch generally decreases the amount of antioxidants and serve as an acid neutralizer that alters the color/flavor. It serves more of a distinct purpose when used in baking. Nonetheless, cocoa is a great treat if used wisely because these flavonols and antioxidants increase blood flow to the brain.

As for the topics of a little "too much" cocoa, I don't think there's harm in it. It may actually be a good thing depending on your type of exercise and diet. The most considerable thing to look out for is the amount of caffeine you take in daily, so cocoa on top of coffee, tea, or soda could amount to a poor habit that could potentially affect your health.

[Madelaine]

I'm just curious, is cocoa powder just ground up unsweetened bitter chocolate? If you mix some cocoa powder in milk, does it create a half decent "chocolate milk"?

I like to make hot chocolate with Hershey's (regular) unsweetened cocoa (a natural cocoa) and add pure maple syrup as a sweetener + skim milk. I've tried it cold, just before I heated it on the stove. Yes, it is amazing, so I would definitely suggest your own homemade chocolate milk (much better than anything you might buy at a store, and healthy).

Maple syrup is also great and better than all other sweeteners. It has all sorts of minerals and is very good for the metabolism + the immune system, plus I find it doesn't even alter the chocolate flavor. I suppose you could use honey, which might alter the flavor, or sugar, which I would try to dissuade you off.

[Artbuc]

If you think about it all cocoa powders are dark. They are, in fact, 100% cocoa. Hershey's Dark cocoa, on the other hand, uses a dutch process (alkali) witch generally decreases the amount of antioxidants and serve as an acid neutralizer that alters the color/flavor. It serves more of a distinct purpose when used in baking. Nonetheless, cocoa is a great treat if used wisely because these flavonols and antioxidants increase blood flow to the brain.

As for the topics of a little "too much" cocoa, I don't think there's harm in it. It may actually be a good thing depending on your type of exercise and diet. The most considerable thing to look out for is the amount of caffeine you take in daily, so cocoa on top of coffee, tea, or soda could amount to a poor habit that could potentially affect your health.

Hersey also makes an unsweeteened 100% cacao powder which is usually on the shelf right next to their dark dutch processed product. I use it to make hot chocolate (just hot water and a packet of Truvia). I also put it in my Greek yogurt and on my shredded coconut. It was rated best tasting by America's Test Kitchen. I think it is pretty good.

http://www.hersheys.com/pure-product...nsweetened&f=0

[eKatherine]

To find out whether you are consuming too much cocoa, just ask yourself if it is edging out bacon.

[Madelaine]

Hersey also makes an unsweeteened 100% cacao powder which is usually on the shelf right next to their dark dutch processed product. I use it to make hot chocolate (just hot water and a packet of Truvia). I also put it in my Greek yogurt and on my shredded coconut. It was rated best tasting by America's Test Kitchen. I think it is pretty good.

http://www.hersheys.com/pure-product...nsweetened&f=0

I definitely agree with that. I like to use Hershey's unsweetened cocoa, actually. Putting it on greek yogurt is a fantastic idea. I've had it on bananas -with honey-, too, and anything else to a reasonable extent.

[Graycat]

Hershey's plain cocoa mixed in some coconut milk and few Stevia drops is my favorite and pretty much only sweet treat. Sometimes I add boiling water if I feel like in the mood for hot chocolate. Awesomness!