Are You A Chocolate Lover? Ever Consider Giving It Up?
I’m a chocoholic and recovered sugar addict. If you knew me prior to founding The Wellness Map and before I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease, I had a long addiction to sugar and a very dysfunctional relationship with peanut m&m’s.
I once said, I wish someone would tell me that I have to give up chocolate. Well, be careful what you wish for. That day has now come for me.
I was in the ENT’s office the other day, and they found a cyst in my throat. Nothing serious, but I now have acid reflux (AR) and have to remove additional foods from my diet, one being chocolate. I eat dark chocolate daily as my sweet treat and started to panic (insert drama, I wasn’t literally panicking).
I started to think, what will I eat now to replace my chocolate? Look, I’ve been through this before, about 8 years ago when I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease. I had to give up gluten and dairy which initially overwhelmed me. Now, with AR, I feel very much at ease with the process and understand it’s once again an opportunity to reverse symptoms with food. I was even noticing recently that the dark chocolate I was eating was causing me some digestive issues.
Chocolate- The Dark Side
Everyone’s favorite treat has a dark side. While quality dark chocolate is a rich source of minerals and antioxidants, it also contains caffeine from cocoa which is acidic. Caffeine may relax the lower esophageal sphincter, triggering acid reflux or making it worse. Caffeine may also trigger heartburn and IBS symptoms in people prone to digestive disorders.
Say Hello To Carob- The Chocolate Alternative
The carob tree, or Ceratonia siliqua, has fruit that looks like a dark brown pea pod, which carries pulp and seeds. Carob is a sweet and healthy substitute for chocolate. It’s naturally high in fiber, has no caffeine and is low in calories. Using it for health benefits goes back 4,000 years to ancient Greece. It can be used to replace cocoa powder in smoothies and all your favorite recipes. I just started using it and I find it perfect as a chocolate substitute.
I hope you find this helpful if you have been diagnosed with AR or simply having any other issues with chocolate.
To your health & happiness,
xoxo
Amy