6 Guilt-Free Sweets

February 12, 2016
Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS

Award-winning nutritionist and New York Times bestselling author.

Real treats for your Valentine and you.

This Sunday is Valentine’s Day and that means flowers, teddy bears – and likely a chocolate indulgence. You may already know that chocolate contains special antioxidants called polyphenols. These little powerhouses change how cells function, helping to ignite metabolism and improve health and well-being.

But what you may not know, is that scary substances lurk in some of our most seemingly innocent treats. You may reach for a sugar free or low carb snack or treat once in a while – but stop! Many swap sugar for an artificial sweetener, which is linked to whopping 41 percent of increased risk of weight gain, and that’s just for starters.

Artificial sweeteners trigger high blood sugar, which ultimately leads to fat storage. They’ve also been found, according to a Duke University study, to cut the number of beneficial bacteria in your intestines in half, causing yeast to grow out of control. This growing population of yeast can lead to fatigue, sugar cravings, bloat and even more weight gain. A pretty slippery slope for a Valentine’s Day treat, wouldn’t you say?

Here are my favorite treats for your sweetie (or yourself) this Valentine’s Day.

1) Taza chocolate – Chipotle Chili Chocolate Mexicano Discs
These delicious discs have a chili powder pep that gets the heart racing – and very cute packaging.

2) Salazon Chocolate Co. – 72% Organic Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt
This dark chocolate bar is packed with antioxidants, plus the pink label is perfect for Valentine’s Day.

3) Chocolove – Cherries & Almonds in Dark Chocolate
Superb for those who crave a crunch, this chocolate bar also includes a love letter inside every wrapper.

4) UNI KEY – Chocolate Whey Protein
Your Valentine will think of you long after the holiday has passed every time a delicious, protein-packed smoothie is devoured.

5) ChocoPerfection – Dark Mint Mini-Bars
This gift box contains thirty flirty mini-mint bars that are deliciously “decadent” and have 3 grams of fiber a piece.

6) Allison’s Gourmet – Vanilla-Kissed Strawberry Bark
These heart shaped treats are as festive as they are scrumptious.

I hope Valentine’s Day brings you all the lightness of laughter, the peace of contentment, and the company of kindred and loving spirits.

From my heart to yours.

Related Articles and Podcasts

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS, is an award-winning New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty books including The Fat Flush Plan series and her latest book, Radical Metabolism. She’s been rewriting the rules of nutrition for more than 40 years and is internationally recognized as a pioneer in the field of diet, detox and women’s health issues. 

For a FREE daily dose of tips and strategies for maintaining healthy weight, conquering insomnia, and much more…check out my Radical Health Tips.

I’d like to meet and greet you on my Facebook groups, so won’t you check us out at the Radical Metabolism RevolutionFat Flush Nation, or my Inner Circle!

4 Comments

  1. Lisa L.

    All these chocolates sound amazing. Thank you for sharing your health conscious choices. I’m a big fan of the Fat Flush Chocolate Whey. I have it 5 days a week with either a banana or frozen cherries in it. It also tastes good with the new Daily Greens powder added.

    Reply
  2. Julie

    Thanks for this hopeful article. Could you be more specific with ‘artificial sweeteners’? What’s wrong with Swerve?

    Reply
  3. Team ALG

    Julie,

    The artificial sweeteners we try to avoid include aspartame and Splenda. Sugar alcohols are fine including erythritol-containing Swerve.

    Reply
  4. Vicki Pfeffer

    A long time ago, I tried a whey smoothie recipe in one of your books. I can’t find the recipe and would like to use it again. Here is what I remember about the recipe: it had whey powder, flax seed oil, fruit – I used strawberries. I don’t remember anything else, except it tasted almost like a milkshake!

    Reply

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