Chocolate Gives Statins A $29 Billion Run For Their Money

With the blockbuster cholesterol-lowering class of drugs known as statins being widely promoted for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, despite their having over 300 documented adverse health effects (including heart failure!), how does chocolate sound as a viable, heart-friendly alternative?

We already connect amorously with chocolate (to the tune of 6 billion lbs of cocoa consumed annually worldwide), revealing in heart-felt expressions like “I love it,” and “this is to die for!” how comfortable we are with publicly declaring our affection. But did you know that while it makes our emotional hearts sing, it may actually keep our physical hearts happy, alive and ticking longer, as well?

Indeed, back in 2006, researchers found that for elderly men, eating cocoa intake was inversely associated with blood pressure and 15-year cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. When compared with the lowest tertile (lowest 33%) of cocoa intake, the adjusted relative risk for men in the highest tertile was .50 for cardiovascular mortality, or a 50% reduction, and .53 for all-cause mortality, or a 47% reduction. Not bad considering the median cocoa intake among users was 2.11 grams per day, or just one half an ounce a week. While many people are searching out supplements such as ubiquinol to combat the side effects of statin drugs, they could have been eating chocolate instead.

Anything that can reduce your risk of dying from all causes by 50%, which is not an expensive and potentially dangerous drug, but a food, should be be taken seriously, even if — paradoxically — it is usually found in the candy section of the grocery store.

There is no shortage of solid, human clinical research supporting the consumption of cocoa, the signature ingredient in chocolate, for the reduction of both cardiovascular disease risk factors, and “hard” cardiovascular outcomes, e.g. hypertension, endothelial dysfunction, insulin resistance, low HDL, stroke, heart disease, etc. GreenMedInfo.com has made 30 such studies available to view on its cocoa page.

The remarkable thing about the research on chocolate is that its consumption appears to improve the pathological condition of the blood vessels known as endothelial dysfunction, and which is believed to be at the root of the problem of plaque accumulation in the arteries, as well as elevated blood lipids. Statins may in fact exert their greatly exaggerated health benefits not by suppressing lipids (as popularly advertised), but by acting as a mild vasodilator through enhancing nitric oxide concentrations in the lining of the blood vessels (endothelium). Statins, however, are produced from chemicals, and therefore guarantee a certain degree of collateral poisoning will take place, whereas chocolate has a long history of safe use both as a food and a medicine. Chocolate has also been extensively researched for effectively lowering blood pressure in those who consume it, which is still considered one of the best ways to reduce cardiovascular disease risk, and which drug-based blood pressure medications are notoriously ineffective at, since they may actually raise cardiac mortality even while effectively lowering blood pressure. In a similar way, statins may effectively suppress blood lipids while at the same time weakening the heart muscle.

Some of cocoa/chocolate’s other potential health benefits include:

• Inhibiting Accelerated Aging – Not only has the preference for chocolate in older age been linked with better health, optimism and better psychological well-being, but it has also been shown in the fruit fly-based experimental model of aging to have antioxidative, pro-oxidative, and metal-chelating effects associated with increased lifespan. Moreover, research in women shows that long-term ingestion of favanol-rich chocolate (raw chocolate is especially rich in these compounds) protects against UV-induced skin redness and improves their skin condition.


• Protecting Against Alzheimers – Cocoa procyanidins attenuate lipid peroxidation associated neuronal cell death in a manner relevant to Alzheimer’s disease.


• Reducing Stress (Elevated Catecholamines) – Daily consumption of 40 grams of chocolate during a 2 week period reduces the urinary excretion of cortisol and catecholamines, while reducing other metabolic indicators of stress, including gut microbial metabolism.

• Inhibiting Cholesterol Oxidation – Rather than fixating on the absolute number of lipoproteins or cholesterol within the blood (quantitiative analysis) it makes sense to ensure that those lipids don’t undergo excessive oxidize (qualitative analysis) which is associated with injury to the blood vessels and the formation of atherosclerotic plaque. More than a few studies have found that chocolate prevents LDL cholesterol oxidation, while also boosting the beneficial HDL cholesterol

• Boosting Cognitive Performance – Chocolate, along with flavonoid-rich red wine and tea, were shown to boost cognitive performance in elderly men and women, with the maximum effect at intacts of 10g/d, or the equivalent of 2 ½ ounces a week.

• Inhibiting Cancer – Llimited, though significant research indicates that cocoa is capable of inhibiting certain types of cancer. The growth of prostate cancer cells have been selectively inhibited with cocoa polyphenols, and animal research indicates that cocoa liquor is capable of inhibiting chemically-induced liver cancer.

• Improving Diabetes – New research from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has revealed that the consumption of chocolate, or its active constituents (cocoa, flavan-3-ols), reduces a broad range of risk factors for cardiovascular disease including insulin resistance. The researchers looked at 42 acute and long-term studies and found a 33% median reduction in insulin resistance following chocolate consumption. What is so unique about this new study is that chocolate consumption is generally believed to elevate blood sugar and blood insulin levels; not only does it disprove this myth but it sheds additional light on why chocolate consumption (especially dark, organic) may be beneficial in both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.

• Boosting Sexual Function – Chocolate is an excellent vasodilator, which is one reason why it has been traditionally linked to improved fertility and virility. Research also indicates that chocolate consumption is linked to higher sexual function in women, as well.

This is only a sampling from the research we have gathered on chocolate/cocoa’s potential health benefits, of which there are several dozen.

Lastly, any serious discussion on the medicinal properties of chocolate should be qualified by pointing out that chocolate is often unfairly traded, and has even been linked to child enslavement. Non-organic cocoa may also contain residues of the dangerous herbicide glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup), among many other biocides used in conventional farming, so the consumer must take special care to avoid these moral and physiological pitfalls. Also, because chocolate has complex pharmacologically active properties, it must be consumed in moderation, and with attention paid towards the tendency for using it to self-medicate, especially when the cocoa content is lower and the sugar content higher.

© November 18, 2017 GreenMedInfo LLC. This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of GreenMedInfo LLC. Want to learn more from GreenMedInfo? Sign up for the newsletter here http://www.greenmedinfo.com/greenmed/newsletter.

The post Chocolate Gives Statins A $29 Billion Run For Their Money appeared first on The Sleuth Journal.

Sweet melt up potential here says Joe Friday

Tis the season for Chocolate (Cocoa) to do well, will it repeat its historical pattern again this year?

Below looks at the seasonal pattern of Cocoa from Sentimentrader

CLICK ON CHART TO ENLARGE

Going into this period of seasonal strength, Cocoa bulls of late are hard to find and dumb money traders have established one of the largest short positions in this commodity in years. The triple combo could make the price action of this commodity very interesting going forward.

This commodity can be played in the futures markets or two different ETF’s (NIB & CHOC). Below looks at NIB

CLICK ON CHART TO ENLARGE

Cocoa ETF NIB could have built a base at, where seven different bullish wicks (reversal wicks) took place just above 10-year support at (1). Of late NIB has been moving higher and this week looks to be breaking above highs hit earlier this week at (2).

A nice combo of pattern, sentiment and traders positions is in play in this asset that is down nearly 50% in the past couple of years.

Some perspective- since the first of this month, NIB has gained over 7%, which is nearly half of what the S&P has done year-to-date.

Full disclosure Premium and Sector members have been long NIB since the end of October. If you would like to become aware of these type of pattern and sentiment setups, we would be honored if you were a member.

 

Why you see chart pattern analysis with brief commentary:   There is a ton of news and opinions about markets and stocks that make the decision-making process more difficult than it needs to be.   

I believe the Power of the chart Pattern provides all you need to see what is taking place in an asset and determine the action to take. 

This approach has worked well for me and our clients and I encourage you to test it for yourself.

Receive my free research posted on the blog daily here 

Or,  send an email if you would like to see sample research and take me up on a trial of my premium or weekly research where I provide actionable alerts on breakouts and reversals in broad market indices, sectors, commodities, the miners and select individual stocks 

 

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The Benefits Of Resveratrol For Blood Pressure

According to statistics from the CDC, around 70 million people–1 in 3 Americans–suffer from high blood pressure. Half of these individuals have their blood pressure under control, probably under some form of blood pressure medication. ^[1]Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can be a silent yet deadly disease, one that doesn’t necessarily need to be managed by medication. While there are some rare hereditary conditions that make it impossible to control blood sugar with just exercise and diet, most people have the ability to use dietary strategies as their first line of defense.

How Resveratrol Supports a Healthy Blood Pressure

Resveratrol is a natural plant compound typically found in grapes, chocolate, and almonds. Its antioxidant capabilities have been studied for years, with each study revealing some type of benefit for health. Whether it’s protecting cells and DNA, regulating a healthy blood sugar, or protecting skin from UV damage, there seems to be a wide range of benefits associated with the compound. ^[2][3] A recent meta analysis shows that resveratrol may play an important role in supporting blood pressure health by regulating systolic blood pressure. ^[4] While the research is far from conclusive, it does lead many to wonder how powerful plant compounds really are.

One of the emerging areas of research in relation to resveratrol is in the field of healthy aging. Resveratrol may provide similar effects of calorie restriction in terms of cellular protection. ^[5] Its effects on blood pressure are not surprising, if you consider the fact that resveratrol may reduce irritation and improve blood flow through vessels. Resveratrol may even support hormones that play a role in blood pressure. Foods high in resveratrol may also contain a number of other beneficial compounds and nutrients, like antioxidants and fiber, that are responsible for supporting blood pressure.

How to Support Blood Pressure Naturally

One of the key ways you can support a healthy blood pressure is by eating right and exercising. I know, pretty boring advice. But eating right doesn’t mean just eating vegetables; in fact, it means avoiding sugars–including high-sugar fruits–in order to avoid the blood sugar spike that inadvertently leads to a rise in blood pressure. Also, just by walking every day, doing yoga, sprinting, or any other physical activity you enjoy, you’re one step closer to a balanced blood pressure ratio. In the past, a healthy blood pressure reading would’ve been 120/80; yet, recent evidence is suggesting that less than 120/80 is ideal. While you certainly don’t want low blood pressure (hypotension), at or above 120/80 may be signs of prehypertension. In this case, consult with your doctor to know for sure.

How do you support blood pressure health? Please let us know in the comments!

References:

1. Centers for Disease Control. High Blood Pressure Facts. Centers for Disease Control.


2. Szkudelski T, Szkudelska K. Anti-diabetic effects of resveratrol. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2011 Jan;1215:34-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05844.x.


3. Aziz MH, Afaq F, Ahmad N. Prevention of ultraviolet-B radiation damage by resveratrol in mouse skin is mediated via modulation in survivin. Photochem Photobiol. 2005 Jan-Feb;81(1):25-31.


4. Liu Y, Ma W, Zhang P, He S, Huang D. Effect of resveratrol on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clin Nutr. 2015 Feb;34(1):27-34. doi: 10.1016/j.cinu.2014.03.009.


5. Lam YY, Peterson CM, Revussin E. Resveratrol vs. calorie restriction: data from rodents to humans. Exp Gerontol. 2013 Oct;48(10):1018-24. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2013.04.005.

The post The Benefits Of Resveratrol For Blood Pressure appeared first on The Sleuth Journal.

Poverty, Prosperity, and Precious Metals

Written by Jeff Nielson, Sprott Money News

In the 20^th century; by the end of the 1960’s, Western societies and especially Canada and the United States reached a level of prosperity never seen before – or since. Since the early 1970’s; the standard of living across the Western world has been in a relentless trajectory downward.

 

An article from April 2012 noted that the standard of living in the United States had already fallen by more than 50% since its zenith. Since that time, the standard of living in the U.S. (and across the West) has been devoured by 5 ½ years more “inflation” – the same “inflation” that the criminal bankers and corrupt politicians insist does not exist.

 

At the end of the 1960’s; a chocolate bar cost a dime. Today, a smaller version of that same chocolate bar costs close to a dollar. That 90% loss in purchasing power of the paper in our wallets is all inflation.

 

The beginning of the collapse in our standard of living in the early 1970’s wasn’t the only event of note at that time. The early 1970’s also marked the end of the gold standard.

Coincidence?

From the end of World War II until the end of the gold standard, the standard of living across the Western world went almost straight up. Since Paul Volcker assassinated the gold standard, our standard of living has gone straight down. Seventy-five years of “coincidence”?

Of course not. The Criminals themselves have already confessed to their crime.

 

In the absence of the gold standard, there is no way to protect savings[wealth] from confiscation [theft] through inflation.

- Alan Greenspan

 

The correct, economic definition of inflation is simple: an increase in the supply of money. Print and steal. The bankers print more of their funny-money, and that dilution causes the value of the sunny-money to decline.

 

Where does the wealth go? Where has the 90% loss in the purchasing power of our paper gone since the bankers assassinated the gold standard? Into the bankers’ vaults.

 

All of the new funny-money that is printed up is handed to the Big Banks. The Big Banks, and only the Big Banks (and their oligarch owners) are immune to the crime of print-and-steal. Everyone else loses.

 

For 1,000 years, this has been the bankers’ Game. That is why for 1,000 years, every one of their paper fiat currencies has gone to zero. Print-and-steal long enough and eventually you reach zero.

 

The affluence of the end of the 1960’s was obvious: two-car garages, with only one wage-earner. Virtually everyone who wanted to own their own home could afford to do so, with no more than a 20-year mortgage.

 

Today, with the typical family, it’s two wage-earners and a one-car garage – for the fortunate minority who can afford to live in their own home. For many of the Working Poor, it’s two wage-earners, an apartment, and no car. And they are still luckier than many: the Homeless People. No car. No roof.

 

This is what 45+ years of print-and-steal has produced. Readers have been previously alerted to this crime against humanity.

 

 

At first glance, this chart may be indecipherable to some, insignificant to others. Look closer.

We see that even though the West and India have nearly identical populations, the West has more than 20% more of the poorest-of-the-poor. When we compare the West with Africa, we see that the West (with a slightly greater population) hosts a slightly greater percentage of the poorest-of-the-poor. In proportionate terms; the West and Africa have roughly identical percentages of the poorest-of-the-poor.

Let me repeat this. When it comes to the poorest people on Earth, as percentages of our populations, there are now more of the poorest-of-the-poor in the West than in India, and a virtually identical percentage when compared to Africa.

To be clear, when considering starvation-level poverty, the plight is still worse in so-called Third World nations. However, when it comes to the lowest two deciles of wealth (the bottom 20%), in proportionate terms there are more of such people in the West than in India – and the same amount as in Africa.

Things aren’t much better for the 30% of the population right above that.

About half of Canadian workers living paycheque to paycheque: survey

Print and steal. From one wage earner and a two-car garage to “paycheque to paycheque”.

Print and steal. The bankers’ Crime can’t continue for another 45 years because print-and-steal does more than impoverish populations. It bankrupts entire societies.

Global Debt Hits 325% Of World GDP, Rises To Record $217 Trillion

Most of this debt has been created in the West: 10% of the world’s population, more than half of the world’s debts. Debt Jubilee is now inevitable in the West. For most of the Rest of the World it will be a matter of choice: not allowing only the West’s Deadbeat Debtors to walkaway from their debts.

Greece already tried for its own Debt Jubilee – after its economy was totally destroyed by the economic terrorism of the One Bank. The bankers said “no”, telling this bankrupt nation that it had to borrow more money. How perverse is that?

As the holder of all these (illegal and unenforceable) debts, the One Bank will try to delay Debt Jubilee as long as possible. Until then, it is just more print-and-steal. But we do not have to be victims.

Our corrupt governments refuse to protect us from print-and-steal by resurrecting the gold standard. So there is no protection available at the Systemic level. However, we can still protect ourselves as individuals.

Regular readers and astute investors know the antidote to print-and-steal: precious metals. The logic could not be more elementary.

The crime of print-and-steal is how the bankers loot the wealth from inside our paper. How do we protect ourselves? We don’t hold our wealth inside the bankers’ paper. We store our wealth in gold and silver. There it is safe from the One Bank.

Forget about the phony paper prices for gold and silver. Their only significance is a favorable exchange rate when we jettison more of the bankers’ paper.

With our wealth safely stored in gold and silver, all that the Criminals are capable of doing is to temporarily depress the paper exchange rate – they are the Rulers of all that (fraudulent) paper. They can do no more than that. And even here it is important to maintain perspective.

Two thousand years ago in ancient Rome; with a one-ounce gold coin a gentlemen could purchase a suit of the finest clothing, along with accessories – a hand-made toga, belt, and sandals.

Five hundred years ago; with a one-ounce gold coin a gentleman could purchase a tailor-made suit, along with accessories.

Today, despite decades of the One Bank attacking the price of gold, with a one-ounce gold coin we can still buy a suit and accessories. We just have to buy “off the rack”.

Compare that to the 90% loss in purchasing power with the bankers’ paper. There is no comparison. Safety, or financial rape.

Paper = poverty. Precious metals = prosperity. It is a simple equation.

For a small number, they can earn more wealth even faster than the bankers are stealing it. For everyone else, the bankers’ paper is a one-way ticket to poverty.

Ignore the paper prices. Remember the equation. It may be your only financial hope.

Questions or comments about this article? Leave your thoughts HERE.

Written by Jeff Nielson, Sprott Money News

 

 

Yummy! Weekly Chocolate Snack Protects Against Atrial Fibrillation

If your significant other hands you a box of chocolates, your heart might skip a beat; but that’s pretty much the only time you want to feel your heart flutter. Even sweeter, eating what’s in that box may protect you from a dangerous form of heart palpitations called atrial fibrillation, a study shows.

Published in May of 2017 in the journal Heart, the study found that adults who ate chocolate 1-3 times per month were 10-20% less likely to suffer from atrial fibrillation, or AFib, than those who snacked on chocolate once a month or less. [1]

Discovering the Heart-Healthy Properties of Chocolate

Researchers looked at long-term data regarding the diets of more than 55,500 men and women aged 50-64 years old in Denmark. The participants submitted information relating to their eating habits upon entering the study, between 1993 and 1997.

The researchers then used data from Denmark’s national health registry to determine which participants had been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation since the start of the study. The data revealed that 3,350 people had been diagnosed with AFib over an average of 13.5 years.

They found that:

• People who ate approximately 1 oz. of chocolate per week had a 17% lower risk of developing atrial fibrillation by the end of the study compared to those who ate less than an ounce of chocolate a month.

• Participants who consumed 2-6 oz. of chocolate a week were 20% less likely to develop AFib by the end of the study.

• Women who ate just one serving of chocolate a week were found to be the least likely to be diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. The biggest risk reduction for men was associated with eating 2-6 servings of chocolate per week. [1]

Many of the health benefits associated with chocolate are found in dark chocolate, but most people in Denmark consume milk chocolate. The researchers said they weren’t sure they’d find such a large reduction in AFib risk among the population. [2]

Elizabeth Mostofsky, an epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and one of the leaders of the study, said:

“We were pleasantly surprised that — despite the fact that most of the chocolate may have [had] relatively low cocoa concentrations — we were still able to see robust findings.” [2]

However, the amount of cocoa in chocolate varies significantly between the U.S. and Denmark. In the United States, milk chocolate must contain 10% cocoa solids – the suspected beneficial ingredient, compared to Denmark, where the sweet treat is required to contain 30%. [3]

The study’s authors note in an editorial published alongside the research that chocolate lovers had fewer cases of hypertension and diabetes, and had overall lower blood pressure – all factors that could help explain why those same individuals were less likely to develop atrial fibrillation. [2]

Read: 10+ Healthful Reasons to Consume Chocolate

Atrial fibrillation is believed to be caused by the release of certain molecules that damage heart tissue. Chocolate contains flavanols that can ward off the type of inflammation that can lead to tissue damage. Furthermore, flavanols may counteract the clots that could form when an irregular heartbeat allows blood to pool in the heart. [3]

Past studies have shown that eating chocolate can reduce the risk of suffering a heart attack, as well as lower blood pressure and even prevent obesity.

Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is a quivering or irregular heartbeat, according to the American Heart Association. The condition can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure, and other heart-related complications.

Read: Know the Causes and Symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation

A healthy heart normally contracts and relaxes to a regular beat. However, in people with AFib, the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) beat irregularly (quiver) instead of maintaining a regular beat to effectively move blood into the ventricles. [4]

Many people with atrial fibrillation are unaware that they have it; yet it affects more than 33 million people worldwide, and an estimated 25% of adults will develop the heart condition sometime in their lifetime, the accompanying editorial states.

Sources:

[1] Newsweek

[2] NPR

[3] Los Angeles Times

[4] American Heart Association

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Suppress Coughs by Coating the Throat in…Chocolate?

If you’re dealing with a nasty cough, forget about codeine and even honey and lemon (ok, maybe not honey). One of the easiest and undeniably tastiest way to quiet that hack is by eating chocolate, according to a Hull University professor.

Professor Alyn Morice, head of cardiovascular and respiratory studies at Hull, said there’s a lot of truth to a new study that tested the efficacy of a chocolate-based cough medicine. The study will be published later this year.

Morice was not involved in the study, but he is “an international authority on cough and the mechanism of cough.” He is also a founding member of the International Society for the Study of Cough.

The study, ROCOCO, involved 163 patients who were randomly given either linctus (a cough medicine in syrup form) or a chocolate-based cough syrup called Unicough.

Participants’ cold and cough symptoms improved dramatically after just two days of using Unicough. The study also found that Unicough worked better than conventional cough medications. Twice as many patients were able to stop treatment early because their cough had improved so much. [1]

The power of the cocoa-based concoction seems to lie in the demulcent properties of cocoa. The texture of chocolate makes it more viscous than traditional cough medicines, which allows it to coat the throat and soothe the urge to cough.

While the combination of honey and lemon does basically the same thing, Morice said chocolate likely has a “pharmacological activity, some sort of inhibitory effect on the nerve endings themselves.”

Morice wrote in the Daily Mail:

“We have just seen the results of the largest real-world study of an over-the-counter cough remedy ever undertaken in Europe. This proves that a new medicine which contains cocoa is better than standard linctus. The head-to-head comparison found that patients taking the chocolate-based medicine had a significant improvement in symptoms within two days.” [2]

Morice also said:

“I know that might sound like something out of Mary Poppins, but as an independent clinician who has spent years researching the mechanism of cough, I can assure you the evidence is actually as solid a bar of Fruit and Nut.”

Previous studies have shown that chocolate is effective at treating coughs. One study conducted by researchers at Imperial College in London showed that theobromine, an alkaloid in cocoa, suppresses cough better than codeine.

If the idea of any cough medicine turns you off, Morice said that slowly sucking on a piece of chocolate may provide some relief, although the syrup is more effective because of “other cough-fighting compounds.”

And sipping hot cocoa won’t do much to help a cough because you swallow it too quickly and it doesn’t have a chance to adhere to the interior of your throat and protect the nerve endings. [3]

Sources:

[1] Daily Mail

[2] HNGN

[3] Vice

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About Julie Fidler:
	Julie Fidler is a freelance writer, legal blogger, and the author of Adventures in Holy Matrimony: For Better or the Absolute Worst. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two ridiculously spoiled cats. She occasionally pontificates on her blog.

These 3-Ingredient Homemade Peanut Butter Cups are Sure to Get You in the Halloween Spirit

With October in full swing, there’s no better time to whip up something sweet and chocolaty in the kitchen. Especially a dessert reminiscent of trick-or-treating, but far more nutritious and whole. Trust us, there is nothing better to enjoy around Halloween (or any time of the year, TBH) than these homemade peanut butter cups made with just three ingredients.

The original Reese’s peanut butter cup is a dessert classic, but we can do so much better – health- and taste-wise. Reese’s cups contain a host of ingredients, three of which are all sugar-based. These offenders (milk chocolate, sucrose, and dextrose) are all processed and heavily refined versions of sugar, which promote insulin resistance, type-II diabetes,  belly fat accumulation, and weight gain.

These three ingredient homemade peanut butter cups are a far healthier option. Of course, it’s all in the way you make them. Choosing a high quality, organic, fair-trade, and minimally processed dark chocolate will ensure the most health benefits. This includes boosting heart health, increasing beneficial HDL cholesterol, and improving cognitive function and mood.

Dark chocolate is filled with vitamins and minerals including magnesium for nerve function, and blood pressure regulation, iron, calcium, zinc, and a high concentration of antioxidants.

FYI, industrialized and processed milk chocolate lacks all these amazing health benefits. In fact, a study found that milk proteins reduced the antioxidant activity of chocolate, compared with dark chocolate that contained no milk.

Along with high quality dark chocolate, these homemade peanut butter cups have just two more whole food ingredients: peanut butter and coconut oil. Always purchase organic unrefined coconut oil, which boasts the healthiest fats and beneficial health properties. Coconut oil is a rich source of antibacterial and antifungal lauric acid, along with medium chain fatty acids for providing quick boosts of energy.

The total star of these homemade cups, peanut butter is filled with beneficial fats as well as protein, vitamin E, and magnesium. Purchase peanut butter from a reputable, organic company (basically, not Jif or Skippy).

Conventional PB oftentimes contains hydrogenated oils, refined sugar, and other unappetizing ingredients including soy lecithin, high fructose corn syrup, and emulsifiers. Chose an organic brand that lists one ingredient on the label: peanuts. Feeling crazy? Chose PB with two ingredients: peanuts and salt.

We promise these homemade peanut butter cups are far more delicious than the original neon orange wrapped treat. Not only are they easy to make, but they’ll totally wow friends and family at your Halloween gathering. They are the perfect Halloween and October treat.

Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

Makes 8 Large Peanut Butter Cups

Ingredients
160 grams dark chocolate, roughly chopped (At least 80% cocoa)
¾ cup organic creamy peanut butter
3 Tbsp melted unrefined coconut oil, divided

Directions

Line a muffin tin or mini muffin tin with paper cupcake liners and set aside.

Using a double broiler, gently melt two tablespoons of the coconut oil with chopped dark chocolate until smooth in texture and completely melted. Set chocolate aside to keep warm while you mix peanut butter.

Mix together the remaining coconut oil with creamy peanut butter until completely incorporated. You want this mixture to be nice and runny. If not, gently warm up peanut butter and coconut oil together.

Using the lined muffin tins, pour a heaping tablespoon of chocolate into the base of each liner. Place in the freezer and allow to set for about five minutes. Remove from freezer and add a heaping one to two tablespoons of the peanut butter mixture into the center of each cup. Place PB cups back in the freezer to set for five minutes more.

Scoop the remaining melted chocolate to cover the top of each peanut butter cup, about one to two tablespoons. Place PB cups back in the freezer to set a final time, about 15-20 minutes.

Remove peanut butter cups from liner if desired and store in an airtight container. PB cups will keep for two weeks in the refrigerator and multiple months in the freezer. Enjoy!

Notes:

-If you have a peanut allergy, swap peanut butter with almond, cashew, sunflower, etc.

-If your PB is unsalted and you’d like a sweet/salty thing going on, sprinkle a bit of flaky sea salt over the top of your cups before setting them in the freezer the last time.

-This recipe is adapted from Pure Ella’s peanut butter cups

Get social with us!

Making these homemade peanut butter cups? Tag and show us on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter with the tag #BeOrganic @OrganicAuthority – We can’t wait to get social with you! 

Related On Organic Authority
There’s an Organic Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Obsession in America and It’s Totally Insane
7 Healthy Halloween Dessert Ideas: These Treats Aren’t Tricks!
7 Peanut Allergy Friendly ‘Peanut Butter’ Recipes

Photos by Kate Gavlick

Tags:
chocolate, coconut oil, homemade, peanut butter, peanut butter cups

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Kate Gavlick

Kate is a Nutritionist with a Master"s of Nutrition from the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon and the blogger and photographer of Vegukate. Kate believes in nourishing the whole body with real, vibrant foods that feed the mind, body, soul, gut, and every single little cell. Her philosophy is simple when it comes to food and nourishment: cut the processed junk, listen to your body, eat by the seasons, eat plates and bowls filled with color, stress less, and enjoy every single bite. When she"s not cooking in her too tiny Portland kitchen, Kate can be found perusing farmer"s markets, doing barre classes, hiking, reading, and exploring.