For many of my clients, giving up chocolate when they embark on the Endometriosis Diet is one of the hardest things to do.

And I get it! I do like a piece or a hot chocolate drink when it’s cold. Sometimes there’s just nothing like it.

And we’ve all heard it: it is good for you because it contains antioxidants!

So why then do I tell my clients to stay off the chocolate?

The most important reason has actually nothing to do with the cacao component. You see, even the darkest chocolate contains a shocking amount of sugar! One small serve of 80% dark chocolate contains 2 teaspoons. And a serve of milk chocolate contains a whopping 6 teaspoons of sugar. It’s the sugar that is a serious problem when you have chronic inflammation as it is a powerful inflammatory. And let’s be honest, how many of us can restrain ourselves to one little 2-square serve?

So what about these anti-oxidants? Well, the milk version doesn’t really contain any as there is very little cacao in it, only about 26%. The anti-oxidants are no match for the brute force of all the sugar you’re eating with it.

Dark chocolate fares a little better and contains around 40-50% cacao, but the sugar still outnumbers the healthy antioxidants.

What is also a worry is that there are additives – flavours and emulsifiers – in the chocolate bars you buy. These chemicals are known to produce inflammation for all of us.

And then there is the problem of the dairy as an ingredient: when you have leaky gut, the dairy protein will cause you all sorts of problems.

But what to do when you really crave some?

Raw cacao would make a good option, organic if possible. Most supermarkets, and definitely the health food stores, sell good quality raw cacao. It is just powdered roasted cacao beans, no sugar added. I use it to make a chocolate drink - just add your favourite non-dairy, non-soy milk. You can also use it in baking and there are even recipes for making your own chocolates. Initially you’ll probably want to add a little bit of a sweetener, such as coconut sugar.

Give it a go, and let me know what you think 😊.

And if you are ready to reclaim your life from Endometriosis by eating right for your disease, sign up to “Use Diet to Reclaim Your Life from Endometriosis”. Enrolments are now open, but close on Monday 13 July midnight AEST, or when 20 new clients have signed up. If you miss out you’ll have to wait until October.