Coconut Chocolate Cubes for Weight Management

(November 2012) There are a number of coconut chocolate treat recipes on the Internet. This is an adaptation using the very best of ingredients.

This delicious treat is a much truer “Life Saver” than the original candy form, It is the perfect snack, in different ways for different body types. For weight loss, one of these CCCs can hit the spot, and keep you going for a while. It promotes fat burning over carb burning, which is good. For weight gain, several CCCs daily will add calories, increase energy and improve mood, in a delightfully healthy way. Granted, these are calorie-dense morsels (~100 Kcal), but also nutrient dense, if made with the best and freshest ingredients. Other conditions that may respond well to a high coconut oil regimen are Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, autism and ADHD. It’s definitely worth experimenting with. Just be disciplined about it.

Coconut oil is a healthy fat, especially the extra virgin form. It is a rich source of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which are easily digested and readily burned by the liver for energy. Pacific Islanders, who get nearly half their calories from coconut oil, have almost no cardiovascular disease. Coconut has been the mainstay of these healthy, trim people for thousands of years. The saturated fat in coconut oil provides a number of benefits, including improved heart, thyroid, immune and metabolic health. MCTs also enhance physical performance. They boost metabolism and promote fat burning. Boosting metabolic rate improves energy, accelerates healing and improves immunity. Combined with a reduced-carb diet, MCTs help you become leaner, and can reduce the risk of diabetes. The real problem is not about natural saturated fats, but more so about oxidized unsaturated fats (trans or overheated fats), too much omega-6 and too little omega-3, toxins in the fat from factory farming, and excessive sugary, processed foods. Natural saturated fats like MCTs do not lead to obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

Coconut oil also packs an antimicrobial punch. It contains lauric acid, which the body converts to monolaurin, an anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-protozoal agent. Coconut oil even benefits your skin when applied topically and has other anti-aging effects.

Treating yourself to a small amount of chocolate regularly is definitely a good thing, especially if it is packed with antioxidants. These tasty treats are chock full of flavanol antioxidants from high quality cocoa and cacao nibs.  Cocoa antioxidants are known to help with high blood pressure, reduce the risk of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, protect from solar damage, reduce stress, and then some. Cocoa has anti-clotting, blood-thinning properties that work similarly to aspirin to improve blood flow, circulation, and possibly boost vision and alertness. Ironically, chocolate may also help with weight loss, if consumed in moderation.

The whey powder addition provides only ~1 gram of protein per cube, but it’s high quality protein. Possibly more could be added without negatively affecting the taste or texture. Adding whey is like making milk chocolate without the toxicity that milk engenders. Whey does not destroy antioxidants from chocolate like milk does, nor does it cause gas.

Walnuts add to the omega-3 content, and are one of the healthiest foods on the planet.

The hot red pepper spice adds a nice touch, but is optional, and not recommended for most kids. Indeed, it may be a good way to keep kids from eating your chocolate.

Buy the organic forms of these spices, powders and oils, whenever possible.

Regular coconut oil is best for cooking, but extra virgin coconut oil is best for raw recipes.

Ingredients

1 cup extra virgin coconut oil

1½ scoop undenatured whey powder

30 organic walnut halves

4T raw honey

½ T real vanilla

1 to 1 ½ tsp unrefined sea salt (Depending on your salt preference)

½ tsp organic cinnamon powder

1 cup unprocessed cocoa powder (or CocoCeps, with Cordiceps for immunity)

1 cup organic cacao nibs (highest level of chocolate antioxidants)

3 pinches organic cayenne pepper (optional; provides a mild burn)

Method

Mix wet ingredients together.  Add dry ingredients.  Blend until fluffy.  Place a walnut at the bottom of each ice-cube slot in ice-cube trays then fill each with one TBS of the mixture. Place in refrigerator until firm.

References

Kaunitz H, Dayrit CS. Coconut oil consumption and coronary heart disease. Philippine J Intern Med 1992;30:165-71.

Raymond Peat Newsletter, Coconut Oil, reprinted at http://www.heall.com.

http://www.heall.com/body/healthupdates/food/coconutoil.html

Baba, N. Enhanced thermogenesis and diminished deposition of fat in response to overfeeding with diet containing medium-chain triglycerides, Am J Clin. Nutr 1982;35:379

Fushiki T, Matsumoto K. Swimming endurance capacity of mice is increased by consumption of medium-chain triglycerides, J Nutr 1995;125:531.

Geliebter A. Overfeeding with a diet of medium-chain triglycerides impedes accumulation of body fat. Clin Nutr 1980;28:595.

Isaacs CE, Litov RE, Marie P, Thormar H. Addition of lipases to infant formulas produces antiviral and antibacterial activity, J Nutr Biochem 1992;3:304-8.

Isaacs CE, Schneidman K. Enveloped viruses in human and bovine milk are inactivated by added fatty acids(FAs) and monoglycerides(MGs), FASEB J 1991;5: Abstract 5325, p.A1288.

Matsumoto M, et al. Defaunation effects of medium chain fatty acids and their derivatives on goat rumen protozoa, J Gen Applied Microbiol 1991;37:439-45.

Mercola J. Coconut oil benefits: When fat is good for you. November 2012.                        http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mercola/coconut-oil-benefits_b_821453.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/28/chocolate-health-benefits_n_1383372.html