Check out my e-book Chocolate Treats. Inside you'll find 23 recipes that are all GAPS legal, gluten-free, grain-free and honey [affiliate link] sweetened. Click here to get yours: Chocolate Treats
Chocolate on GAPS, is it true?
I'm here to make your day! The quick answer is yes, you can have chocolate if… your digestive symptoms are gone. Whoohoo!
Let's face it. Chocolate is something that most people love. There are a few here and there that don't like it but they are far and few between. I do know one person who does not like chocolate and won't eat it. A woman. Yes, they exist. 🙂
Naturally, chocolate lovers are less than thrilled to learn that chocolate is not allowed on GAPS when they are first looking into the diet. And every single time I post a recipe that includes cocoa powder [affiliate link] on my Facebook page, someone asks me about it.
But doesn't Dr. Natasha say no chocolate?
Yes, it is true that Dr. Natasha's book Gut and Psychology Syndrome (both versions) does list chocolate as food to avoid. However, there has been an update published on Dr. Natasha's Frequently Asked Questions page.
Rejoice! Cocoa powder is permissible once digestive problems have subsided.
From Dr. Natasha’s FAQ page:
“When can cocoa be introduced?”
“Cocoa is SCD illegal. However, I find that many people can start having it occasionally on the Full GAPS Diet, once the digestive symptoms are gone. Find pure organic cocoa powder. Mixing the powder with some honey and sour cream makes a delicious dessert, and you can add it to your homemade ice cream or cakes. After trying it for the first time, observe your patient for any reactions. Cocoa is very rich in magnesium and some essential amino acids and, unless your digestive system is not ready for it, there is no need to avoid it.”
Baden Lashkov, who wrote The GAPS Guide has a blog post on her site called Pure Cocoa – Tried and True? where she asks people, who are on GAPS and SCD to weigh in on if they can tolerate cocoa powder. Some can; some can't. It's worth a try if you don't have digestive issues going on!
I do have one caveat. Cocoa powder does contain some caffeine, so if you suspect that your adrenals are fatigued, you may want to limit or avoid consumption. The amount is rather small, and for comparison, there are 8.4 milligrams of caffeine per tablespoon as opposed to an 8-ounce cup of coffee [affiliate link] which contains 95 milligrams.
Has your gut healed enough to tolerate chocolate? I have several GAPS legal recipes here at the blog that contains chocolate.
Click here for 20+ GAPS legal chocolate recipes!
Check out my e-book Chocolate Treats. Inside you'll find 23 recipes that are all GAPS legal, gluten-free, grain-free and honey sweetened. Click here to get yours: Chocolate Treats
is this cocoa or CACAO? thank you!
Lisa, you can use either one!
Hi Starlene, I made the yummy looking Chocolate Cake pictured above, and can’t wait to serve it tonite at a dinner party. The only problem I had was I didn’t see where in the directions I was to add the Apple Cider Vinegar, so I ended up not using it. Maybe that is why the cake layers didn’t rise as tall as your photo?? I followed your recipe to a T, and couldn’t find the directions for adding ACV. Maybe I missed it, or maybe somehow it wasn’t included. 🙂 The batter and the icing tasted great, I just hope that it will be as delicious as I expect! Thanks so much for this recipe, and for taking the time to provide alternative baking recipes and tips. Have a great day! Libby
Hi Libby! Thank you for leaving a message to let me know how your cake turned out. I looked at the recipe and you are correct, I forgot to mention when to add the ACV. Yikes! I think the cake will still be delicious, let me know how it turned out, okay? The usually add the ACV last, right before Step 8. Thank you again for taking the time to leave me a message. Best regards, Starlene
Starlene,
The cake turned out delicious, just not very “tall.” I am looking forward to making it again and adding the ACV. My friends LOVED it, and so did my family! I will definitely put this in my favorites file!
Thanks again for this recipe and for letting me know when to put in the ACV.
Have a great day!
Libby