Targeted Fat Loss Blog

As you finally get rid of the Easter chocolate that you have been working through over the past couple weeks, I thought I would introduce you to a "superfood" that will help you with those sweet chocolate fixes.

My wife is addicted to chocolate.  So over the past few years she has looked for and found anyway she can to be healthy while still getting in her staple chocolate.  Her answer is… "cacao".  For those of you who think that's spelled incorrectly, it's not.  Cacao is cocoa in it's raw form.  From the cacao bean, it is processed using heat and other manufacturing techniques into cocoa.  By the time it gets to us in chocolate bars, all the yummy goodness has been processed out of it.  

in the 16th century, cacao was cherished, it was actually a form of money and only the wealthiest of people actually ate it.  People even had cacao gods that they prayed to.  

These people knew the value of the cacao wasn't just the bean itself, but because of the benefits of consuming this mouth watering food.  One of the best properties of cacao is it's high content of magnesium.  It is said that "over 80% of the US population is deficient in magnesium" (Naked Chocolate).  Magnesium supports the heart, increases brain power, helps with bowel movements, relaxes cramping during menstruation, relaxes muscles, and helps build strong bones.  

Studies have been done on rats to show that the effect of using cacao as a supplement to increase magnesium levels actually corrected the rats negative effects from the magnesium deficiency.  

Not only does it help increase your magnesium levels but it's super high in anti-oxidants.  We all know that we want anti-oxidants to make us look and feel younger, right?

The benefits of cacao go on, but really you have to try it to believe it!  Cacao tastes different to cocoa and processed chocolate bars.  It's more bitter, but still delicious.  

There are so many ways to eat cacao, you wouldn't believe me.  I suggest if you want to go out and start using this "superfood", you google it and have a look at the recipes.  We make delicious smoothies, the most divine chocolate mousse, our son has it on his oats in the morning, chocolate balls… anywhere that you could eat chocolate, you can eat cacao… And then some!

Now the even better thing about cacao, is that usually what you mix it with is also packed with nutrients.  In our "mousse" we use, cashews, cacao and bananas.  In chocolate balls, we use cacao, dates, nuts, etc… So all of our "treats" are loaded with good for you ingredients.  I can actually feel good about giving our son chocolate treats.  It doesn't have to be a "reward, but can be a daily occurrence.  

So instead of feeling guilty about having chocolate, feel good that you are feeding yourself a nutrient-dense "superfood" and enjoy every morsel.  Oh… one other thing I love about cacao is that because it's so rich, you won't want to sit down and binge on it.  Healthy for you and not making you fat!  Now that's my kind of chocolate.

Here is one of our favourite cacao ball recipes.  It's SOO easy to make!

1 cup of walnuts
1 cup of dates (pitted)
1/4 cup of cacao
a small handful of sultanas for a bit more sweetness
Desiccated or flaked Coconut

But them into a food processor and blend together.  
Roll into balls and then into coconut.
EAT!

By the way… You can get cacao at your local health food store.  Make sure you note the spelling… The store can have cacao and cocoa right next to each other.

This spice has been used for hundreds of years for it's medicinal qualities.  You probably already use it, but don't even know it's helping you.

It can actually help you burn belly fat.

It also has been used to

•    reduce blood sugar levels
•    help relieve nausea, vomiting, and flatulence
•    can be used for it's anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties
•    improve circulation

So what is this miracle herb?

Cinnamon!

Honestly, for years this has been one of my favourite herbs to cook with and it's great knowing the fantastic benefits of cinnamon.

One of the first human studies was published in 2003 in a medical journal called Diabetes Care. Sixty people with type 2 diabetes took 1, 3, or 6 grams of cinnamon in pill form daily, an amount roughly equivalent to one quarter of a teaspoon to 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.  After 40 days, all 3 amounts of cinnamon reduced fasting blood glucose levels by 18-29%.

What does this mean to you?

By controlling your blood sugar levels, you are allowing your body to produce less insulin.  One of the biggest factors in packing on the fat is high insulin levels.  So… Reduce your insulin levels and you can reduce your fat!

How do you use cinnamon to reduce your fat?  Eat it!

Buy cinnamon powder (without sugar) and use it as often as possible in your cooking.  You can put it on your oats, smoothies, yoghurt, etc.  I LOVE cinnamon when I make a beef mince dish.  I also tend to sprinkle it on beef that I roast.  The smell of it cooking all day long is mouth watering.

Yesterday, we started experimenting with a cinnamon drink.  It's delicious.  Boil 3 tbsp of cinnamon and 1Tbsp of baking soda in 1L of water.  Drink throughout the day.  Sounds funny, but it's yummy.  Give it a try, especially if you are craving sweets.

Cinnamon has some very great benefits for you and is so easy to add into your diet.  You don't need much to get the benefits of it.  The study here showed that even 1/4 of a teaspoon made a difference.

If you are on medications (especially for diabetes) please consult your doctor before any major changes to your diet or supplementation.  Blood glucose levels can dip too low, so be safe.

Where are you going to eat your cinnamon today?

To your fat loss,

Hugh and Keri Norley