Why Chocolate is Fertility-Friendly
(+3 Recipes You’ll Want to Try)
With all this holiday chocolate lying about, you may be wondering whether chocolate fits into a healthy fertility diet?The sweet news: YES, my Well Conceived Fertility Diet I’ve developed for my clients (reflecting dozens of published medical journals, thousands of hours in clinical practice and all the ways I personally nourished myself before naturally conceiving my healthy baby at 39)…includes chocolate!
The not-so-sweet news: the SUGAR part of the chocolate needs to be given the boot!
The health benefits of dark chocolate and raw cacao beans are due to the minerals and antioxidants these products contain. In fact, raw cocoa beans are one of the richest food sources of magnesium, a mineral that’s essential to 300 biochemical reactions in our bodies, helps our muscles relax, and facilitates natural production of our “happy hormone”, serotonin, and our “deep sleep hormone”, melatonin.
Raw cacao is also a rich source of antioxidants. It’s been used traditionally by South American peoples as an energy tonic and aphrodisiac. The antioxidants in cocoa beans are protective to our blood vessels.
“Oh, no, thanks, I don’t want to enjoy a delicious treat that will boost my energy, help nourish my reproductive system with healthy blood flow AND just might get me in the mood”…Said NO ONE.
RIGHT! 
Make Your Chocolate Work for You
The key is to go for as dark a chocolate as possible (i.e. low to no sugar) or – even better from a health perspective – use raw cacao nibs (pieces of cacao beans) or raw cacao powder. Each of these forms of cacao capture the minerals and antioxidants we want in our Fertility Diet.
Note that conventional cocoa powders, i.e. labelled “alkali processed” or “Dutch process” don’t offer high levels of these nutrients because the processing strips them away. Also, look for organic cocoa and chocolate products to avoid pesticides associated with growing this food conventionally.
Here are a few delicious ways to integrate chocolate into your Well Conceived Fertility nutrition plan!
I created these recipes just for YOU so please let me know in the Comments how you like them.
Choco-Cherry Superfood Smoothie
Blend until smooth:
1 cup frozen dark sweet cherries, 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 3-4 tbsp hemp hearts, 2 tsp raw cacao nibs, 1 tsp chia seed, 1 tsp ground flax seed, 1/2 tsp natural vanilla extract
Pour into a glass and top with a sprinkle of another 1 tsp cacao nibs for garnish (pictured below).
Makes 2 snack or dessert smoothie servings.
Dr. Liz’s Choco-Cherry Smoothie is a Fertility-Friendly Treat
Chocolate Monkey in the Morning Smoothie
Blend until smooth: 1.5 cups almond milk, 2 tbsp almond butter, 1/2 banana, 2 tbsp raw cacao powder, 1 tbsp raw seeds (e.g. flax, chia or hemp), 1 scoop vanilla or unflavoured protein powder, 1/4 tsp natural vanilla extract, 2 tsp raw honey
Makes 1 meal size or 2 snack size servings.
Chocolate Avocado Mousse
This dessert is amazing and 100% guilt-free!
Blend until completely smooth: flesh of 1 mashed, ripe avocado, 1/2 ripe banana, 3 heaping TBSP raw cacao powder, 1/2 tsp natural vanilla extract, 3 tsp honey or stevia extract to taste.
Divide into 2 parfait glasses or dessert bowls, garnish with fresh berries, mint leaves or cacao nibs as desired.
SIDE NOTE:
Feeling just a little TOO perky? Cacao and chocolate contain caffeine so please enjoy in moderation
Ready for a baby, and you’d love more support?
Book a Conception Confidence Call and let’s discuss how I can help. On the call, we’ll decide if we’re a great fit to work together. I only work with people I know I can help. I look forward to connecting with you in the near future.
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