Some experts claim that chocolate in moderation, especially dark chocolate with a high cocoa content, could unlock some long-term health benefits. These could include improved brain function, reduced inflammation, and better gut health.
Obviously, people shouldn’t overload on chocolate, as the sugar and calorie content will eventually outweigh these perks. But there are ways to include a healthy chocolate-flavoured dessert in your diet that longevity researchers have backed.
Experts behind the Blue Zone diet, which focuses on habits formed by those who live in parts of the world with enhanced lifespans, have created a ‘healthy’ Chocolate Mousse recipe. It uses a selection of superfood ingredients, like dates, organic tofu and tapioca flour, that are designed to make this tasty treat something that could ‘help you live longer’.
It uses dates to add sweetness to the treat – a fruit that’s been backed by ITV doctor Amir Khan as something he recommends to patients and eats himself daily. He claimed that dates are proven to “lower your average blood sugars and even lower your cholesterol”.
Online, it claims: “Many recipes for plant-based chocolate mousse include melted chocolate chips for an overly sweet result that is high in refined sugars. Sweetened with dates and made with an unconventional mousse ingredient, this is the perfect dairy-free, vegan, guilt-free chocolate mousse recipe.”
Ingredients you’ll need:
- 8 dried dates
- 2 (12.3-ounce) packages of Mori-Nu Silken Firm Organic Tofu
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup cacao powder
- 2 tablespoons tapioca flour
- 1 tablespoon triple sec (optional)
- 1 tablespoon crème de cacao (optional)
Once you have everything prepared, the method is straightforward and takes minutes to put something “guilt-free” together to enjoy after your meal. You could eat this pudding plain or, for some added flavour, top it with strawberries, raspberries, cacao nibs, or whipped cream.
Tofu is the main ingredient in the dessert. It contains compounds that can protect against various health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, and some forms of cancer. This soy-based food might also support brain and bone health and provide several other advantages.
However, more research is needed to determine if tofu can help you live longer. Below is a quick look at some of its main health benefits.
- Protein: Tofu is a complete protein – containing all nine essential amino acids.
- Heart health: Tofu is cholesterol-free and low in saturated fat.
- Bone health: Tofu is rich in calcium and magnesium, which help keep bones strong.
- Weight management: Tofu is high in protein and low in calories, which can help you feel full.
- Cancer risk: Tofu contains isoflavones, which may help lower the risk of certain cancers.
The method you’ll follow:
- Cover the dates with ½ cup of hot water and let sit for an hour or overnight.
- Steam the tofu over boiling water (use a steam rack as you would for vegetables) for 10 minutes. Let cool.
- Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender and process until creamy.
- Pour into individual dessert cups and chill for several hours before serving.
There are many recipes available online that follow the Blue Zone principles. They can be filtered into breakfasts, main meals, sweet treats, or snacks.
Speak with your doctor first to check if tofu and all the other ingredients mentioned are suitable for you. Eating tofu and other soy products daily is usually regarded as safe.
However, if you have breast tumours, it might be wise to limit your consumption. Some doctors recommend this due to the mild hormonal effects of tofu, especially for those with estrogen-sensitive breast tumours.
Consuming a lot of tofu can lead to digestive issues like bloating or gas, particularly for individuals not accustomed to a high-fibre diet.