Hazelnut Hot Chocolate

Chocolate? What?! Seriously!

I did not think I would ever see the day when I would post a recipe with chocolate on Journey Through SIBO.

When I went through my SIBO treatments chocolate was so taboo, it seemed sinful. I remember trying to figure out ways to sneak it in, but unless I decided just to throw dietary rules out the window I couldn’t justify it. And I did do that… Three times.

There were three times between treatments when my SIBO was back but my symptoms were at a controlled level that I did indeed take a break and sneak taboo foods into my diet to gain weight. One time, that was chocolate. For my second break, I snuck chocolate into my diet via Black Bottom Banana Cream Pie (hold the whipped cream, double the custard). To be clear, during my “break times” I had test results showing my SIBO was back, my symptoms were controlled, and I needed a break both emotionally and physically. And I can always convince my husband to make me pie. During my break times I needed to gain weight. I was supervised by my doctor and my doctor’s rule for me was, “if it would help me gain weight and NOT cause symptoms,” I was allowed to have it. Avocado, Black Bottom Banana Cream Pie, and my homemade low carbohydrate Pumpkin Cheesecake were my top three foods for gaining weight between treatments. I would not recommend straying from your diet if you have just finished a successful treatment, have raging symptoms, or have not been approved by your doctor. During treatments if I needed to gain or maintain weight I would use smoothies, beverages, and bone broth as I talk about in this SIBO Q&A.

The longer I live, the more I see that all things change, including the dietary guidelines for SIBO.

Raw cacao powder is allowed on the Bi-Phase Diet, and Dr. Allison Siebecker rumored in the 2017 Integrative SIBO Conference in March that she would be adding it to the new SIBO Specific Food Guide set to be released later this year as many SIBO patients tolerate it. For now, this recipe qualifies under Phase 2 of the Bi-Phase Diet. The almond milk used in the Bi-Phase Diet is Sanitarium Unsweetened Almond Milk. There are a couple different brands sold in the United States with similar ingredients.

I hope you enjoy!