More chocolate? Yes, Please!

Sorry I have been missing again.  I think summer is just a crazy time, I don't know how so many bloggers manage to keep up with daily posts.  However, I will try to make it up to you, with a little review and a giveaway!

A few weeks ago I was contacted by iHerb.com to review CocoCardio by Madre Labs.  They are the sole distributer of this innovative product.  They want to get the word out and share some with you!

As I become more aware of my health, I try to find new things that will help me.  One thing we have been hearing a lot about lately is the benefit of chocolate.  Not the yummy hershey's bars that call to me in the supermarket line, but healthy dark cocoa that has few, if any, additives.  I'm not entirely sure I understand all the benefits, but I like the idea of being able to add more chocolate to my diet and having it help me.  So, what is CocoCardio?  Well, according the Madre Labs website:

CocoCardio^® is a Premium, 100% Natural (Non-Alkalized) Dark Cocoa beverage which contains Freeze-Dried Beet Juice Powder and concentrated Full-Spectrum, Water-Soluble Hibiscus Extract.

CocoCardio^® is a great addition to a healthy diet and active lifestyle!

Cocoa (Theobroma cacao -- a.k.a. "Food of the Gods") Our certified organic natural (Non-alkalized) cocoa powder has been made to exacting standards. "Natural Process" Cocoa retains higher levels of naturally-occurring polyphenols compared to Alkalized (Dutch Process) Cocoa. NOTE: The more Polyphenols, the more Bitter - Which is Better!
Beet Roots (Beta vulgaris) contain Betalains & Betacyanins (richly colored pigments with antioxidant-like properties) and a host of other naturally-occurring phytonutrients, including dietary nitrates.
Our Hibiscus sabdariffa full-spectrum, water-soluble extract contains naturally-occurring anthocyanins, phenolic acids and other bioactive phytonutrients.

I received my package in the mail and I couldn't wait to try it! When I opened it, the powder looked like...baking cocoa.  I decided first to go natural, just the powder and water. It's a very pretty red color (beets and hibiscus you know) but the first taste was....bitter! This is one time I should have trusted the packaging. It said it would be bitter and they weren't lying. Have you ever tasted baking cocoa? I mean before it's mixed with the rest of the brownie ingredients?  That's the taste.

So for my next attempt, I decided to throw it into one of my favorite, though not healthiest, smoothies. Peanut Butter and chocolate. MMMMMMMM!!!!! It was so good! A nice, smooth, almost peanut butter cup taste. Next I decided to try a healthier shake. Peaches and chocolate. That one tasted pretty good, but it still needed something. I'm normally not a banana person, but I threw half of one in and it was perfect!

I shared some with S,  I think she likes it!

Here are my "recipies" though you can modify them to your liking.

Chocolate Peanut Butter
6 oz skim milk/water
2ish tabelspoons peanut Butter
1 scoop CocoCardio Powder
3 tsp sweetener(I used sugar, but you can use your favorite)
ice
Blend all the ingredients till smooth. Tweek measurements until it tastes right.


Chocolate Banana Peach
6 oz skim milk
1 fresh peach, pealed and pitted(I guess you could eat the pit, but really? hehe, I crack myself up)
1/2 banana
1 scoop CocoCardio Powder
3 tsp sweetener(I used sugar, but you can use your favorite)
ice


Would I recommend this? YES! It adds just enough chocolate flavor to treat myself and it's good for me. You can't beat that. If you would like to buy some CocoCardio, iHerb is offering MommytoMarathon readers a special deal on their first purchase. Use the coupon code WOW123 to get $5 off your first pouch! Now, the part you've been waiting for:

One lucky person will win their own bag of CocoCardio and $25 to iHerb.com!

This giveaway is only open to U.S. residents.
Winner needs to register on iHerb.com to claim their prize.

Giveaway ends August 6, 2011 at 10p.m Mountain time. 

There are four ways to enter 

Please leave a SEPARATE comment for each 

Mandatory entry: Share your best healthy treat! It can be a product or a really good recipe, anything that you like.



Additional entries:

-Follow MommytoMarathon on google friend connect (1 entry)

-Like iHerb on facebook (1 entry)

-Share this giveaway on your blog, leave a link (3 entries so be sure to leave three separate comments)

I hope you enjoy it! 

*All opinions shared are my own. I received a sample of CocoCardio and $25 of products from iHerb.com for review.