Cathy's Kitchen Table: What Does USDA Certified Organic Chocolate Lack That Conventional Chocolates Have?

Most of us would love to have a legitimate reason to add a little more chocolate to our diet. Indulging in chocolate is a guilty pleasure for many people around the world. In its truly USDA certified organic form, chocolate is processed without chemicals, unhealthy preservatives or fillers, and is grown without toxic pesticides and fertilizers, is not irradiated, and is GMO-free. Save the earth from harmful chemicals while you satisfy your sweet tooth!

Organic chocolates lack the unhealthy preservatives, and other processed and synthetic ingredients that are in conventional chocolate-flavored products such as cereals, chocolate milk, chocolate candy, chocolate syrup, etc. Many of these chocolate-flavored products do not contain enough pure chocolate to have any antioxidant health benefits from the cocoa. In fact, these products can have a negative effect and contribute to many health problems.

But is there a “dark” side to chocolate? Chocolate can be high in calories, fat and caffeine, all of which can be detrimental to your overall health if eaten in excess. The key is moderation and eating the best types of organic chocolate for health benefits. The best types would be dark chocolates (the darker the better!) containing 70% or higher cocoa. Organic dark chocolate is less processed than milk chocolate bars and, due to its minimal processing, dark chocolate retains more of its powerful antioxidant properties. White chocolate and milk chocolate generally have lower amounts of flavanols (antioxidants) due to their lower cocoa content. Though the white and milk chocolates may not be as healthful as dark chocolate, they are still savored as delicious treats.

A large amount of scientific evidence shows organic chocolate is really good for you, but we knew this already! Organic chocolate not only contains healthy antioxidants, but also many vitamins and minerals (such as iron, magnesium, and potassium). Some folks may also find that, because organic dark chocolate is more intense, they will eat less of it.

Not all chocolate is created equal, so it is important to choose the right one for your cravings. Here at Terressentials we are sure to have just the right kind of chocolate that you hunger for! We have a wide variety of USDA certified organic chocolates to please every chocolate lover, be they a person who favors spicy chili chocolate, chocolate with chai spice, or even chocolate with Baobab fruits! We have more familiar flavors as well, including mint chocolate and salted chocolate. You can also feel even better about our certified organic chocolate selection since we offer several chocolates made with Fair Trade certified ingredients. So stop on by and stock up on some of our delectable certified organic chocolate and satisfy your chocolate cravings today!