Quick and easy home-made vegan pomegranate chocolate with a fresh kick of pomegranates and creaminess from the peanut butter

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In case you are craving some semi-healthy snack or just want to enjoy a chocolaty treat with a hint of something different, you are at the right place.

This easy vegan pomegranate chocolate recipe will impress all your chocolate-loving friends. Also, chocolate nay-sayers could easily be converted, thanks to pomegranates and peanut butter.

I am not a big fan of plain chocolate but fruit and chocolate? Yes please, and yes please again.

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Have you tried my vegan chocolate lamingtons recipe?

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Pomegranates – Nutrition Benefits

Nutritional value (100g)

• Calories: 83cal
• Protein: 1.7g
• Carbs: 19g
• Fat: 1.2g

Pomegranates are a great source of vitamins and minerals. They are also high in antioxidants. Actually, one of the most antioxidant-packed dried fruits is dried pomegranate seeds. Always try to choose fresh pomegranate over juice due to the lack of fibre in the juice.

“Pomegranate has three times more antioxidants than red wine and green tea.”

Antioxidants found in pomegranate seeds help prevent your blood from forming dangerous clots and coagulating which can lead to some serious issues like stroke, heart attack, lung problems, etc. Those antioxidants “thin” your blood and that way prevent blood clots from forming.

Note: If you are taking any blood thinners medication, pomegranate juice can cause some side effects so please consult with your general practitioner if you have any concerns.

What are antioxidants?

Antioxidants (Vitamins A, C and E and minerals Copper, Zinc, Manganese, Selenium) can help to prevent the harmful effects of oxidation and protect the body cells and tissues against damage from free radicals.

Okay, but what are free radicals? A free radical is an atom or molecule that has a ‘free’ or unpaired electron. Free radicals can react with other atoms and cause ‘oxidative damage’ to tissues and cells. Yes, that is some serious science here, I know. 🙂

Our bodies are impressive and the same as you are aware that smoking, alcohol consumption, processed food, food high in fat, sugar, is bad for you, your body knows the same. Although, bad habits and bad food choices are not the only situations when your body is ‘stressed’. Believe it or not, exercise can increase free radical content and cause stress as well.

No, do not stop exercising. Yes, exercising is still healthy 🙂

So when your body is under oxidative stress it’s trying to repair all the damage that’s been done by getting rid of the free radicals and neutralising them with antioxidants to return everything back to ‘normal’. This is why antioxidants play an important role in your diet. They help to get rid of those nasty free radicals and prevent diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Oxidation is not all bad. It is a normal and necessary process in your body. Free radicals can help fight off pathogens. Pathogens lead to infections. Not to confuse you, I will talk about it some other time.

I could talk about the health benefits for ages but for now, let’s just say pomegranate a day, keeps the doctor away 🙂

Resources: https://nutritionfacts.org/ , Dietary Reference Values of Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom: Report of the Panel on Dietary Reference Values of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy

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• Ultimate Vegan Grocery list + printable PDF
• Top 10 Myths About Veganism and Plant-based Diet
• Iron on a vegan diet: Can you get enough?
• Vegan Food in Bali – Is Bali vegan-friendly?
• Top 11 Vegan-friendly Warungs in Ubud, Bali

What is your favourite chocolate and fruit combination?