Almond-Cacao Dates
Posted on February 10, 2015
In honor of Valentine's day, I thought I would post a delicious, yet healthy (yes it's possible!) chocolate treat for you all to try. I tested these on my boyfriend, and he devoured the whole plate! That is definitely not his style, so I know that they were especially good. Some of the great things about this recipe is that it is super simple, consists of only three ingredients, and doesn't require any baking or cooking. I whipped these babies up in under 10 minutes!
Almond-Cacao Nibs
Ingredients:
4 Medjool dates, pitted and halved
1 tablespoon raw cacao nibs
1 tablespoon almond butter
Directions:
Scoop ½ teaspoon of almond butter into each half of the pitted dates. Sprinkle with cacao nibs and gently press in with your finger so the nibs stick.
Here are some fun facts about raw cacao nibs:
Cacao nibs are bits of the cacao bean that are technically a seed that come from the Theobroma Cacao Tree, native to Central and South America.
They are less refined then chocolate liquor or cocoa powder.
They contain phenylethylamine, which has been referred to as the love drug and creates heightened physiological effects.
They contain fatty acids called cannabinoids (yes, they are related to those that are found in marijuana) which make you feel relaxed and intoxicated.
The combination of phenylethylamine and cannabinoids leads to a release of the pleasure-producing hormones dopamine and serotonin.
Contain naturally occurring flavanols, the same ones that are found in tea, berries and grapes, that may improve blood flow and lower blood pressure and increase activity in the part of the brain that controls memory.
They are high in fiber, 11 grams per ounce! Consuming high fiber foods can help stabilize blood pressure and blood glucose levels, regulate bowel movements and help with weight loss.
Polyphenols found in cacao nibs can help reduce bad cholesterol and improve brain and heart health by helping to reduce the risk of blood clotting.
Try this recipe out for Valentine's day, or as a treat, just because. They might taste sinfully delicious, but there is nothing sinful about them! They are gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, sugar-free, wholesome, delicious and nutritious.
Let me know what you think!
If you are interested in learning more about how to incorporate quick, easy and healthy recipes like these into your diet, please feel free to reach out to me at info@ReneeKHealthCoaching.com.
Yours in health,
Renee Koczkodan
Certified Holistic Health Coach