Kerri WaldronThe paleo diet focuses on eating foods that our ancestors would have had access to in the pre-agricultural days. It asks dieters to cut out starchy carbs, dairy and sugars.
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The paleo diet is a good choice for anyone looking to shed excess weight and improve their health. It’s a great way to get more protein, calcium and healthy fats into your diet.
The paleo diet doesn’t allow processed foods, including sugar and dairy. Carrageenan and other common food additives are off-limits, too, because they didn’t exist in the Paleolithic era. Most types of chocolate contain some or all of these ingredients, such as milk powder, whey, and soy lecithin. Soy is a legume, and because the paleo diet doesn’t allow the consumption of legumes, it’s best to avoid any foods containing soy lecithin.
Even so, you can still eat chocolate while on the paleo diet. The key is to choose dark varieties with no milk, sugar, or additives. Dark chocolate usually contains at least 50% cocoa solids plus sugar, cocoa butter, and, sometimes, nuts or dried fruit. However, the amount of cocoa solids can go up to 90%, which automatically reduces the amount of added sugar. Ideally, opt for varieties with at least 70% cocoa. By comparison, milk chocolate has only 10% to 50% cocoa solids.
The good news is, many brands are now offering sugar-free dark chocolate or paleo-friendly chocolate bars. For example, the Choco-Zero Store sells 70% dark chocolate with no added sugar or artificial sweeteners. Manufacturers used monk fruit, a paleo-friendly ingredient, to enhance its flavor and aroma. Most importantly, check the ingredient list to make sure there’s no sugar, milk, and other extras — even if the label says “dark chocolate,” “paleo-friendly,” or “sugar-free.”
Source: thedailymeal.com
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