Chocolate: The Ultimate Superfood

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This powerhouse packs more punch than your average sweet treat.

There's a lot of talk about superfoods these days, super-powered ingredients that deliver more than their fair share of vitamins and other healthy benefits. Many of them can be hard to figure out how to work into your diet — chia seed-kale smoothies aren't for everyone! — but there's one superfood that's so delicious, it's probably already in your pantry: chocolate.

For decades, scientists have studied chocolate's effect on everything from blood pressure to cholesterol, and the news has always been good for us chocolate-lovers. The reason? Cocoa contains antioxidant compounds called polyphenols, which work to improve your cardiovascular system's function and can even decrease insulin resistance, the cause of diabetes. It's also high in minerals your body needs, including magnesium, manganese, potassium, and iron.

All of these benefits are stored in the pure cocoa, so the darker your chocolate, the better it is for you. But I'll admit, I didn't start loving dark chocolate just for its health benefits! I love its deep, rich flavor, and letting a square melt on my tongue is the ultimate indulgence in my book. In fact, I always keep a stash of the stuff in my fridge that rivals what you might find in the grocery store. You never know when you might be in need!

Luckily, the north of Italy is one of Europe’s most renowned chocolate hotspots, so I’ve always got lots of delicious options to choose from. The northern Piemonte region has been home to Italy's finest chocolatiers for centuries, and there are some amazing companies . One of my favorites is Guido Gobino’s Extra Bitter Blend bar, crafted from 75% pure dark chocolate from Ecuador, Venezuela, and Madagascar. Gobino’s immaculately made bars are so beautiful, it’s almost a shame to break into one—but I do anyway!

I always keep a little bag of dark chocolate truffles from Antica Torroneria Piemontese in my pantry for when friends come over for coffee. And when I want a little nostalgia, there’s nothing more delicious than gianduja, the creamy chocolate-hazelnut blend invented in northern Piemonte. With so many amazing Italian chocolates to choose from, it's easy to get more superfoods in my diet!