Chocolate Spa Treatments: Aphrodisiac or Therapeutic?
Clearwater Bch, FL (ContentDesk) February 14, 2006 -- This Valentine's Day, employees at Sharmaines Salon & Day Spa ask, "Why is it when we see a creamy chocolate fondue fountain we smile and feel tingly all over? What is it about chocolate that affects our mind, body and soul the way it does? What does chocolate do to us?"Well heres the good news. Chocolate contains flavinoids and antioxidants, which help reduce blood pressure. Of course a large part of the chocolate pleasure is in the taste, a deliciously rich concoction that satisfies the most intense craving. But, several chemical reactions are also at work. Chocolate stimulates the secretion of endorphins producing pleasurable sensations and seratonin also found in edible chocolate is shown to have mood lifting effects! So what this means is that we end up having feelings of happiness, love and passion.
The real truth however, is that scientists are not really positive how the over 300 chemicals contained in chocolate make us feel so great.In most parts of the world chocolate is associated with romance, and not without good reason. It was viewed as an aphrodisiac by the Aztec's who thought it invigorated men and made women less inhibited. So when it was first introduced to Europe, it was only natural that chocolate quickly became the ideal gift for a woman to receive from an admirer or a loved one, and of course, vice versa.
So we had the marriage of chocolate and Valentines Day. But when a chocolate sauce is massaged into your feet or body at a Spa, what is it doing? Well first, its not a melted HERSHEY bar applied to the skin right from the microwave.
This treatment is created for the body from chocolate oils, cocoa butter, essential oils, moisturizers and other healthy hydrating ingredients and yes, it smells just like chocolate brownies. (not edible, but very nosefriendly.)The Chocolate Spa treatment is massaged, pressed, slathered, and pasted on the feet, legs and/or body of anyone who wants to indulge. Here's what happens with a chocolate pedicure: the feet are soaked and rubbed with a scrub that is clear in color, but smells like a freshly baked chocolate cake. After the scrub is removed a mixture that looks and smells of Hershey's finest is painted on the feet and legs. Hot towels are then wrapped around the feet and legs and after ten minutes the chocolate is wiped away leaving soft, exfoliated, hydrated skin.
In the next step, the feet are massaged after being covered with oil that smells of chocolate-covered raspberries. It is warm and hydrating on dry winter skin, and therapeutic in every sense.But, the only thing that really matters for chocoholics like me is that the benefits of spa chocolate services in pedicures, body treatments, and massages is nothing short of spectacular. Your mind, body, and soul are left feeling pampered and ooh so special. So, we think it's both an aphrodisiac and therapeutic.For more information on spa services contact Sharmaines Salon & Day Spa on Clearwater Beach at 727-447-2025 or visit www.sharmaines.com.
Chocolate as Medicine
Which would you rather take to help prevent heart attacks and strokes? Chocolate or aspirin?
Amazingly, researchers in California have found that taking a flavonol rich cacao drink, equates almost exactly to taking a low dose aspirin, when it comes to blood thinning properties.
It seems that the cacao drink acts in a similar way to low dose aspirin in ensuring your blood flows freely -- and the platelets do not stick together, thus reducing the risk of stroke or heart disease.
But as usual with these studies, the boffins urge caution, they stress they are not advocating a couple of candy bars in place of your daily physician prescribed aspirin.
There are a substantial number of people who cannot tolerate aspirin, and possibly for those people, eating flavonol rich cacao may be useful to them.
You may also be interested to know that there are bioactive compounds in chocolate that promote well being, lessen the pain response...
Chocolate > Chocolate as Medicine
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
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
Georgia Catering Company Offers New Low Carb Drinkable Desserts for Chocolate Lovers
A specialty catering company in Alpharetta, Ga., says, "Pity the poor carb counters no more."
Coinciding with the annual Valentine's Day chocolate overload, Mocha My Day Mobile Espresso is launching a new drink menu that will allow carb counters to once again imbibe in the pleasures of chocolate. Quite literally, they want you to drink it."For more than five years now, we have specialized in creating ?drinkable desserts' for parties and special events. Guests at our parties get to choose from a large selection of chocolate mochas, flavored lattes, hot chocolate and more. Many of these drinks are topped with whipped cream, chocolate shavings and even a cookie straw. People love them, but they are really not on the ?OK' list for any weight loss program," explains Todd Reddeman, owner and operator of the gourmet catering service that proudly "brings the coffeehouse to you." "While there are several sugar free and carb free chocolate bars, there hasn't been a sugar free chocolate...
Chocolate > Georgia Catering Company Offers New Low Carb Drinkable Desserts for Chocolate Lovers
Best Cookies: Chocolate Walnut Fantasies
There are a lot of great food fantasies. Now you can add these delicious cookies to your list. These taste sensations feature cream cheese, walnuts, coconut, and milk chocolate.Chocolate Walnut Fantasies1 cup butter, softened? cup firmly packed brown sugar? cup sugar4 oz. cream cheese, softened2 eggs2 ? cups all-purpose flour1 teaspoon baking soda1 ? cups coarsely chopped walnuts1 cup sweetened flaked coconut1 (7 oz.) milk chocolate candy bar, cut into chunksDirectionsHeat oven to 350 degrees.Combine butter, brown sugar, sugar and cream cheese in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed.
Add eggs; continue beating until well mixed. Reduce speed to low; add flour and baking soda. Beat until well mixed. Stir in walnuts, coconut and candy bar chunks by hand.Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls, 2-inches apart, onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until edges are golden brown.
Let stand 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets...
Best Cookies: Chocolate Walnut Fantasies
Chocolate > Best Cookies: Chocolate Walnut Fantasies
Chocolate
This page loaded in 0.04632 seconds.