We know. This already sounds a trip, but don’t shoot the messenger. We’re thinking that they don’t mean milk chocolate (it contains lots of sugar) so much as cooking with

dark chocolate.

Come to think of it, that makes a lot of sense. Dark chocolate has a lot of antioxidants in it. It also contains the kind of flavonoids that help

to keep your heart healthy and keep cancer at bay. The cocoa butter that’s in dark chocolate has oleic acid in it, an ingredient that can keep your cholesterol under control.

So

don’t feel guilty about making yourself a dark chocolate banana smoothie or some dark chocolate pancakes every once in a while. Apparently, you’ll be doing your body

some good.

What is plant water? Pretty much what it sounds like. Remember when we were all drinking coconut water (and milk)? Now the new coconut water is cactus, cucumber and other

drinks that come directly from plants.

Birch water? It has xylitol in it; that helps to prevent tooth decay. Cactus water has prickly pear concentrate in it; that helps combat

nausea and dry mouth (especially following a hangover). Maple water has abscisic acid in it; that’s good for helping you to combat stress. And who doesn’t need that out of

their system?

It’s kind of interesting that jackfruit has the nickname “the jack of all fruits”, when so many of us are just now hearing about it. But once you see all

of its health benefits, you’ll realize that it’s a well-deserved slogan. 

Jackfruit contains vitamins, minerals and even electrolytes and protein. It fights wrinkles; clears up your complexion; increases blood circulation to

the scalp; boosts your immune system; gives you more energy; improves digestion; keeps your blood pressure in check; relieves asthma; stabilizes anemia and fights colds and infections. And that’s just

scratching the surface! Get some. You won’t regret it.

A wonderful noodle substitute is bean pasta (preferably black bean pasta). It’s high in fiber and because it digests slowly in your system, it makes you feel fuller quicker and

for longer periods of time. It’s also gluten-free, easy to digest and a plant-based protein if you’re a vegan or vegetarian. Click here for some delicious black bean

pasta recipes.

Cauliflower is low in calories but high on nutrition. It provides you with over 70 percent of your daily Vitamin C allowance, plus it also contains Vitamin K, folate, pantothenic

acid, Vitamin B6, choline and Omega-3 fatty acids. Cauliflower fights inflammation, decreases the risk of brain damage and heart disease, detoxes your body, balances out your hormones and helps you to

lose weight. Riced cauliflower is just one way to enjoy eating cauliflower. Click here to learn how to make it yourself.

At the end of the day, a power bowl is how you get a ton of veggies, all packed into one meal. You can create this however you choose. It’s

a great trend because you’re able to get a lot of nutrients while being able to monitor your portion control at the same time. You can go here

to read some of our favorite recipes. Follow them, or use them as inspiration to make your own. You’ll be good to go either way!