National Brownie Day Should Be Every Day…

A brownie a day keeps the grouchies away! Sitting atop the list of most loved foods, brownies are a bulletproof way to turn that frown upside down. With that being said, there is no other way to honor this sweet treat than by celebrating National Brownie Day on December 8^th.

Just when you think brownies can’t get any better, there are many health benefits that can stem from this fantastic food. Inherently, brownies are made from chocolate which is a flavanol-filled ingredient. Flavanols are antioxidant-rich, anti-inflammatory molecules, yielding many health benefits.

Do you feel that there is an overwhelming amount of chocolate in brownies? Not to worry, there are many ways to spice up this traditional delight to add different flavors!

The Do-It-All Treat

Brownies are not just delicious, but they can also be nutritious. These are some ways that the flavanol content of brownies can actually better your health:

Lowers cholesterol and protects against high cholesterol. The antioxidant content from the chocolate in brownies assimilates into the blood lowering LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol), thus protecting these lipoproteins from oxidative damage.

Improvement of cardiovascular health. Studies have shown that flavanol-filled foods can improve heart health and lower blood pressure. Improved heart health can be due to the lack of cholesterol build-up in the arteries from the decrease in LDL cholesterol.

Improvement of brain function. Flavanols have also been found to enhance blood flow to the brain, allowing for improved cognitive function.

Unoriginal, Originals

Are conventional brownies boring to you? Here are other options that make this simple dessert more exciting:

Swirl in some peanut butter. Chocolate and peanut butter?! Truly a match made in heaven. All you have to do is add a dollop of peanut butter to your already-made brownie mix.

Mix in some espresso. When you’re in need of a greater pick-me-up than just a dessert, this will do the trick. Adding some espresso or espresso beans to the batter will give you the added caffeine boost you need!

Top it with cream cheese icing. More of a cheesecake dessert-lover? This just might be the alternative for you. Top your fudge-filled brownie with a cream cheese frosting, either homemade or store-bought!

Scrumptious, versatile, and has health benefits, is there anything brownies can’t do?!

Your Turn to Take Action: How will you be celebrating National Brownie Day? Let me know in the comments below.