February is the month of love and chocolate. For the chocoholics out there, you will be happy to know that high-quality dark chocolate is good for your health and hearing. So in light of Valentine’s Day and National Nutrition Month (starting tomorrow in March), we want to share one of our favorite healthy hearing recipes with you. Our recipe below is chock full of antioxidants, magnesium, selenium, copper, zinc, and other nutrients needed to prevent off noise-induced and age-related hearing loss, fight inflammation, improve circulation, and improve immunity. All of which is needed for healthy ears and healthy hearing!
If you are looking for healthy hearing recipes, you’ve come to the right place. For our healthy hearing recipe below, do your best to use organic ingredients, and ensure that the dark chocolate is high quality. Look for organic dark chocolate that has at least 70% cacao.
Dark Chocolate Bark Recipe for Healthy Hearing
Ingredients:
• 1 pound of organic dark chocolate (at least 70% cacao)
• 1 Tbsp. of organic hemp seed
• ½ Tbsp. of organic cacao nibs
• 1 Tbsp. of organic pumpkin seeds
• 1 cup of crushed organic Brazil nuts
• ¼ cup of organic shredded coconut
• 1 Tbsp. of coconut oil
• Himalayan pink salt (adjust to taste)
• Honey or maple syrup (adjust to taste)
Directions:
1. Using a small saucepan, or double-boil method, melt and mix the coconut oil and dark chocolate over low heat. Make sure you stir frequently.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and spread the Brazil nuts evenly across the sheet.
3. Once the chocolate is melted, add the honey or maple syrup (or your choice of sweetener, if desired) and adjust to taste.
4. Remove chocolate from heat and slowly pour onto the Brazil nuts. Use a spatula to distribute the chocolate over the nuts evenly. Save some of the melted chocolate and set aside (if necessary, place it back on the stovetop to keep melted.
5. Sprinkle the rest of the ingredients onto the chocolate and nut mix. Then spread the remaining chocolate evenly across.
6. Set in refrigerator until fully solid.
7. Once ready, break or cut into pieces. Leftovers should be placed in an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator.
Frequently Asked Questions
High-quality dark chocolate contains antioxidants, magnesium, selenium, copper, and zinc which help prevent noise-induced and age-related hearing loss. These nutrients fight inflammation, improve circulation, and boost immunity, all of which contribute to maintaining healthy ears and hearing.
For the best health benefits related to hearing, it is recommended to use organic dark chocolate that has at least 70% cacao. Higher cacao content ensures more antioxidants and essential minerals for ear health.
Yes, you can use your choice of sweetener if desired. The recipe allows flexibility, so alternatives to honey or maple syrup can be used to suit your taste or dietary preferences.
Leftover dark chocolate bark should be placed in an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator. This will help maintain its freshness and texture for several days.
The recipe includes organic hemp seeds, cacao nibs, pumpkin seeds, Brazil nuts, shredded coconut, and Himalayan pink salt. These ingredients are rich in nutrients like antioxidants and minerals that support hearing health by reducing inflammation and improving circulation.
Yes, using organic ingredients is recommended to avoid pesticides and chemicals that may be harmful. Organic ingredients also tend to have higher nutrient levels, which supports the goal of promoting healthy hearing.
The chocolate and coconut oil should be melted together over low heat using either a small saucepan or a double-boil method. Stir frequently to ensure even melting and prevent burning.