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Dark Chocolate: A Sweet Way To Cheat!
by: Laura Turner
If your diet is making you a humbug this season, there’s some good news.
Turns out dark chocolate, that decadent confection, may actually be good for
you!
Yes, recently conducted studies published in the American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition have shown that a dose of dark chocolate will heed all
sorts of healthy results. And with the holidays just around the corner, this
news couldn’t have come at a better time.
So just for fun, I thought I’d conduct a mini-research project of my own
and get the “skinny” on our friend dark chocolate. Here’s some of the
interesting “factoids” I came up with:
- Cocoa—the precursor to chocolate--has been around a long time. A few
thousand years, in fact. It has been thought that cocoa beans were brought
to Europe in the 1500’s by Christopher Columbus.
- Cocoa, later made into chocolate, was given to American Soldiers in
WWII. A source of high energy, each solider was given a three chocolate
bar per day ration, according to historical data.
- Researchers started getting more involved when studies began showing
that in addition to being a high energy food, chocolate also seems to
stimulate elevated moods. Researchers found truth to this, showing that
dark chocolate does, in fact, increase levels of the mood-altering
chemicals such as serotonin and endorphins.
- Some researchers have also gone on to conduct major studies to prove the
correlation between chocolate and a true physiological craving. (Check out
“Why Women Need Chocolate,” written by Debra Waterhouse, Registered
Dietician in 1999).
- And, the best news yet. Upon further study, it has been found that the
“flavonoids” in dark chocolate are scientifically proven to act as
antioxidants, preventing “bad” cholesterol (LDL) in the blood from
oxidizing and clogging arteries.
So, if you are looking for a healthy way to “cheat” this holiday
season, dark chocolate may not be all together a bad option. Facts aside,
however, and before you run out to fill your shopping cart full, keep these
guidelines in mind:
- Heed the advice of Aristotle: “Everything in moderation.” Refrain
from taking the “chocolate factory tour.” Keep your chocolate fix to a
minimum. Enjoy it, but please don’t over do.
- When you are shopping for chocolate, try to find “dark” varieties
with at least 70% cocoa.
- Also, make sure “sugar” or “butter fat” are not the first items
listed.
If you’d like to skip the treat and not the fun, send a virtual
chocolate postcard from this fun chocolate website (no calories included) : http://www.virtualchocolate.com/index.cfm
To summarize my findings, it appears that dark chocolate is in fact our
friend (and we will just leave its aphrodisiac qualities to your own private
discussion groups, thanks).
As for the cravings….Well, do we really “need” chocolate?
Survey says: Dunno. But, with the holidays upon us, a Hershey’s Special
Dark Chocolate once in a while—now available in the “sugar free”
variety, mind you--sounds sweet enough to me.
(Research Ref: Eat To Beat Cancer, Hatherill. 1998 St. Martins Press, New
York)
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