Chocolate > Can You Live Without Chocolate?

Can You Live Without Chocolate?

Copyright 2006 Eva Moffat

Is chocolate a craving with you?
Are you a secret chocolate eater? Are you denying it even to yourself?

Research has shown that certain chemicals in the brain may cause the cravings.

So does having cravings make you addicted to chocolate?
Are you a chocaholic?

The problem is that constantly telling yourself that you are addicted and therefore unable to help yourself is self-defeating.
Whatever you tell yourself will if said often enough, make the subconscious mind believe what you are saying is the truth.
Your subconscious mind does not reason it just accepts whatever it is told without question.

If you are addicted to chocolate, like any other addiction it is an illness, no different from being addicted to drinking, smoking, gambling or drug taking.
Many homes have broken up because one of the partners has developed an addiction and this usually can quickly impoverish the family, as the addict has to keep finding the money to satisfy his or her addiction.

Can Being Addicted To Chocolate Harm You?

What if you are addicted to chocolate?
What harm can it do you?

If you are on a weight loss diet, eating chocolate can sabotage your efforts.

What's In Chocolate That Can Make You Fat?

Chocolate contains more of the ?harmful fats'.
But if you must eat some chocolate, go for dark chocolate rather than milk chocolate, because dark chocolate has less ?harmful fat' than milk chocolate.

Why Do We Crave?

There are chemicals in chocolate, both dark chocolate and milk that are similar to taking Marijuana.

But you would have to eat about 25 pounds to get the same effect.

But just as Marijuana is a drug that if taken often leads to addiction.
So taking excessive amounts of chocolate can have the same effect and give you a ?high'.

Your Addiction May Have Started In Childhood

You can inherit a sweet tooth from your parents.
New York University did some research on mice and found there is a genetic reason why some people crave sugary foods.

Two strains of mice were used in the experiment.
One group preferred sweetened water and the other group unsweetened.
It was found that a certain gene was missing in one of the groups.

They then looked for this gene in humans.

The Chemistry of Chocolate

Chocolate like other sweet foods stimulates the release of endorphins that make us feel good.
With over 300 chemicals in chocolate is it any wonder we crave it?

One of these chemicals found in chocolate is Theobromine that relaxes the smooth muscles in the linings of the lung.

What Other Chemicals in Chocolate Make Us Feel Good?

Neutrotransmitters are the chemical messengers of the brain.
Electrical Signals are transmitted between nerve cells.
These transmitters make changes in the emotions and sensations.

Another chemical is Tryptophan that produces a neurotransmitter called Serotonin.
High levels of Serotonin can give you a feeling of elation or even ecstasy.

Does Chocolate Cause Tooth Decay?

According to scientists at Japan's Osaka University, they have found that the husks of the cocoa beans that chocolate is made from contains an antibacterial agent that fights plaque.

But quite often these husks are thrown away when making chocolate.
So if they are added back to the chocolate it may turn out that chocolate will make a good toothpaste but this is not really thought to be recommended.

Do You Want More Good Reasons To Eat Chocolate?

A Scientist in California Professor Carl Keen and his team have suggested that eating chocolate might help fight heart disease.
Another chemical called Flavinoid can help thin the blood, so helping to prevent blood clots.
Some sceptics are saying that Professor Keen's theory is flawed as his research is funded by the makers of Mars products.

Now For The Bad News

Excessive eating of chocolate can cause obesity so shortening the life expectancy of the chocolate eater.
So the old saying that everything in moderation is the best way to eat chocolate or anything else you may be addicted to.

You Can Eat Chocolate and Add A Year To Your Life

Researchers at Harvard University carried out experiments and found that eating chocolate three times a month can add one year to your life.

What Will You Choose?

To be a Chocoholic or not to be a Chocoholic?
The question you must ask yourself is ?..

can you live without chocolate

Eva Moffat has written several health related articles and has now been awarded the prestigious title of ?Expert Author?. Her other writing successes; she was voted Journalist of the Year for 2004 and 2005 by British Ethnic Health Awareness Foundation. Her other common sense articles can be found on her website http://www.weight-loss-4-you.com
She wants to send you her monthly newsletter ?It?s A Question of Health?
Details can be found on her website.
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DailyOlive.com Valentine’s Day “What I’ve Done for Chocolate” Contest Awards Richard Donnelly Chocolates

Los Angeles, CA (ContentDesk) February 2, 2006 -- Most of us have a humorous, impressive, or embarrassing story about the lengths we've gone to in order to get a chocolate fix. DailyOlive.coms What Ive Done for Chocolate Valentines Day contest (http://www.dailyolive.com/chocolate/what_ive_done_f.html) rewards one lucky chocoholic with an indulgence thats truly worth the effort.
The winning confessor will receive an 8 oz. Richard Donnelly assortment (a $65 value) and the tale will be posted on DailyOlive.com on Valentines Day. Richard Donnelly Chocolates, located in Santa Cruz, CA, opened in 1988 after Donnelly bought a caramel apple store.

He then studied with master chocolatiers in Paris and Brussels. Donnelly Chocolates are made from French and Belgium couvertures. Kyeann Sayer, from DailyOlive.com explains that To many, premium chocolate is associated with elaborate packaging...

DailyOlive.com Valentine’s Day “What I’ve Done for Chocolate” Contest Awards Richard Donnelly Chocolates

Chocolate > DailyOlive.com Valentine’s Day “What I’ve Done for Chocolate” Contest Awards Richard Donnelly Chocolates

How To Eat Less Chocolate

Chocolate contains important minerals, such as potassium and magnesium. It also contains vitamins B1, B2, D and E. It even contains antioxidants, subtsances that protect against cancer and old age. But let's not fool ourselves, you can get all these benefits in other foods: you don't have to eat chocolate to get these important nutrients.There's nothing wrong though with chocolate in moderation, but the key phrase here is 'in moderation', because unfortunately many people find it difficult to eat chocolate in moderation. If you're one of these people, try taking a good zinc supplement.

Many people find a regular intake of zinc, reduces their chocolate craving - you need to look for a zinc supplement that contains 10 mg to 15 mg of elemental zinc, and take one each day. Tea, coffee and alcohol interfere with the absorption of zinc, so make sure you leave a gap between taking your zinc supplement and drinking any of these.Zinc is a vitally important nutrient, so taking it is likely...

How To Eat Less Chocolate

Chocolate > How To Eat Less Chocolate

Best Recipes: Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

Have a little fun with your plain ole cheesecake by adding some yummy chocolate chips. Another great way to use our favorite chocolate morsels.Crust1 cup chocolate wafer crumbs3 tablespoons margarine, meltedFilling3 8-oz. pkgs. cream cheese, softened? cup sugar? cup flour3 eggs? cup sour cream1 teaspoon vanilla1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate piecesDirectionsPreheat oven to 350 degrees.Combine crumbs and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.Combine cream cheese, sugar and flour, mixing at medium speed on electric mixer until well blended.

Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in sour cream and vanilla. Stir in chocolate pieces; pour over crust. Bake at 325 degrees for 55 minutes.Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool before removing rim of pan. Chill.

Garnish with whipped cream and red or green maraschino cherries..

Chocolate > Best Recipes: Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

Can You Live Without Chocolate?

Can You Live Without Chocolate?

Chocolate > Can You Live Without Chocolate?

How to grow Chocolate Cosmos

Love Chocolate? Here's How to Grow Chocolate CosmosChocolate cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguinea) is both nose and eye candy for your garden. When it's in full bloom, mature blossoms on long, slender stems look like candy kisses on a stick and fill the late afternoon with the sweet scent of vanilla tinged chocolate. New blossoms hug the foliage of the plant, nearly concealing it with their numbers! Add to that the sweet chocolate fragrance and you end up with something very special.Although chocolate cosmos is endangered in the wild, transplants are easily found at most nurseries and garden centers in the spring. However, gardeners who are inexperienced in how to grow chocolate cosmos may overlook what seem to be small, messy tangles of miniature dahlia leaves, unaware that once established, prolific blossoms nearly conceal the foliage. Once in bloom, chocolate cosmos blossoms continuously throughout the summer into the first frosts of autumn.

If you're planning a gothic garden, chocolate...

How to grow Chocolate Cosmos

Chocolate > How to grow Chocolate Cosmos

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