1. Chocolate
Who says chocolate is only for the holidays? I sure don’t! Unfortunately, I have grown up my entire life with a hardcore sweet tooth. However, with age and much research I have come to a happy alternative: dark chocolate! Yes, ladies and gents, dark chocolate is the “sugar-lover’s” healthy paradise, and because of that it has recently jumped to the top of my favorites list.
According to Authority Nutrition, dark chocolate, in proper and moderate doses, can not only help lower blood pressure while increasing blood flow, but also improve the skin’s self-protection against harmful UV rays and boost the cognitive functions of the brain. In addition, the larger percentage of cocoa in dark chocolate provides for antioxidants that a lot of other foods seem to lack. Finally, the rich sweet contains roughly 11 grams of fiber as well as over 50% of the recommended daily amounts of each of the following important minerals/elements: magnesium, iron, copper, and manganese (all estimated for a serving size of a 100 g bar). So, in other words, forget the apple for once.
One piece of dark chocolate a day just might keep the doctor away! Below is a great way to satisfy all your dark chocolate cravings whilst appealing to that health conscious side you know deep down you have:
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/236212/homemade-melt-in-your-mouth-dark-chocolate-paleo/?internalSource=recipe%20hub&referringId=17156&referringContentType=recipe%20hub
2. BOSU Ball
Now, after all that chocolate talk, time to work it off the right way. Yes, that means the Netflix marathon will have to wait a little longer, but trust me it will be that much better once you know you’ve earned the all-nighter Grey’s Anatomy rerun sesh.
One of my favorite pieces of workout equipment is the BOSU ball. Its versatility provides for exercises that work the legs, abs, arms, and back (independently as well as simultaneously). In addition, the fact that it has a squishy side and a flat side provides for a difference in challenge and difficulty level for the many levels of athletes out there. It also provides for training one’s core strength and balance. It is somewhat challenging and thus a fun experience for a fitness fanatic like myself! Some exciting and useful BOSU ball exercises can be found below:
http://www.realsimple.com/health/fitness-exercise/workouts/bosu-ball-exercises
References:
http://authoritynutrition.com/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate/
*All images courtesy of Google Images