Carob Raspberry Tart

Going sentient is your next plan on “going sentient and healthy”? Try the vegan dark carob raspberry tart for a new taste experience.

Before I got into health mentoring and coaching a sentient lifestyle, many students asked, “Is dark chocolate healthy?” I said YES, because it’s loaded with nutritional benefits, and NO, because its caffeine content can be a stimulant. For example, pure chocolate can be dangerous for dogs due to its high caffeine, which may accelerate a dog’s heartbeat. Please be cautious.

Chocolates are often sweetened with sugar and loaded with milk, making them less healthy unless you choose 100% pure chocolate, cacao powder, or nibs. I have used whole cacao seeds soaked in water for 24 hours, blended into a paste with bentonite clay and applied over the entire body. Then I lay down on the beach until the clay dried out. After about an hour, we all dived into the ocean and playfully washed away the chocolate.

My skin remained shining and smooth for three days. My students were amazed during our 10-day detox camp in Mexico. Chocolate’s minerals, essential oils, and other nutrients made it as valuable as gold during the Maya civilization. In its pure state, chocolate contains 632 antioxidants and theobromine (from the Greek words for 'god' and 'food for gods').

Have you met people who don’t like the taste of chocolate? As you become more in tune with your body, you might notice how chocolate makes you feel—perhaps causing mild headaches, especially in summer when consumed in large quantities, or upsetting your digestion. Heed the call when your body speaks.

Raspberries contain potassium, which is necessary for heart function and helps decrease blood pressure, and omega-3 fatty acids, which can help prevent stroke and heart disease. They also provide manganese, important for bone and skin health as well as blood sugar regulation.

Chocolate the Darkside :)

The caffeine and sugar in processed chocolate can trigger headaches, irritate the intestines, and stress various glands and the endocrine system. High-quality dark chocolate, with its 632 antioxidants, is powerful. However, for those sensitive to caffeine, with auto-immune conditions, IBS, or high stress levels, a chocolate alternative like carob is much better.

There is no need to give up chocolate entirely to avoid negative effects. Moderation is key. But if you choose to switch, try this delicious Carob Raspberry Tart as an alternative.

Alternative Chocolate

Carob comes from the pod of a tree that grows along the Mediterranean Sea, in Italy, Greece, Turkey, northern Africa, and the Iberian Peninsula. It has a sweet, edible pulp that is dried and ground into a powder resembling cocoa powder in appearance and similar in taste to chocolate, making it a one-for-one replacement in recipes. It is available in most health food stores.