Chocolate > Chocolate as Medicine

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 and increase alertness.
But as a chocolate lover, you probably already knew that.
Chocolate does more than that.

An unexpected side effect is that chocolate acts rather like a cannabinoid on the brain.
These are substances which mimic marijuana.
The chemical in marijuana that makes people "high" -- tetrahydrocannabinol -- joins to specific receptors in the brain.
One of the chemical constituents in chocolate can bind to the same receptors, thus producing a similar ?high'.
Who isn't familiar with the popular press, doctors, and health organisations, encouraging us, even urging us,
to eat more fruit and vegetables.
One of the main reasons for this is their high content of antioxidant chemicals.

These ?mop up' marauding bunches of free radicals intent on etching more evidence of your age on your face and body, than you would like.
So loading up on the good guys (antioxidants) will help in the battle.
But did you know that milk chocolate, dark chocolate and even cocoa powder has higher free radical absorption capabilities than many foods, such as blueberries? Another plus for us chocolate addicts; scientists have discovered that the flavonoids in chocolate are substantially more powerful than vitamins, such as ascorbic acid, in protecting lipids which are circulating in your blood from oxidization.
Another huge plus for eating chocolate.
And here is the clincher -- Harvard School of Public Health discovered that those of us who eat chocolate up to three times each month, live almost a year more than those who steer clear of chocolate altogether.
The raw cacao bean has an exceptionally high
level of flavonol, but processing destroys some of the value.

Cocoa processors and chocolate manufacturers are beginning to take action to minimise the loss.
Mars developed a proprietary method for processing cacao beans which they call "Cocoapro".
This method preserves the valuable active chemicals by changing the way the beans are selected, fermented and dried, as well as how they are processed.
Some Mars candy bars feature the CocoaPro label.
Look out for them, this is the way consumers can identify chocolate which retains much of the beans benefits.
So for those of us who have been self-medicating ourselves with our chosen chocolate treats over the years were right -- we were simply way ahead of our time.

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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

Chocoholics Rejoice..Chocolate is Healthy?

I've always considered chocolate to be one of the most decadent, satisfying and unquestionably addictive foods on this earth (along with countless other women, I'm sure).

It's been there for me as a pleasure-producing comfort food through rough times, blue moods and trying times on the job.
So, how could something that elicits such feelings of bliss be "bad" for me?

Well, researchers are now saying that chocolate, especially the high quality variety, offers certain unique health benefits never before discussed or studied.
Now, does this mean it's ok to consume a king sized Hershey bar every day?

No, of course not.
Because you see, unfortunately along with the indulgent good flavor and body of chocolate, there comes an inherent "unhealthy" factor in the sugar and fat added to accomplish it's distinct texture and flavor.

The ingredient in chocolate that gives it that unique flavor that so much of us crave as...

Chocoholics Rejoice..Chocolate is Healthy?

Chocolate > Chocoholics Rejoice..Chocolate is Healthy?

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...

Georgia Catering Company Offers New Low Carb Drinkable Desserts for Chocolate Lovers

Chocolate > Georgia Catering Company Offers New Low Carb Drinkable Desserts for Chocolate Lovers

Chocolate and heart health ? fact or fallacy?

Wouldn't it be wonderful if chocolate and heart health went hand in hand. However, there is so much information lately about the health benefits of chocolate that it is only natural that people get confused.It is true, that if people only ate pure cocoa, then there might be heart health benefits. The problem is that most people eat processed chocolate bars containing sugar, corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, dairy cream not to mention other "baddies" contained in some of those tasty fillings. Some of these added ingredients can clog up arteries and create havoc to your waistline.That said, you might be surprised to find out that chocolate isn't all that bad. In fact, the fat content in chocolate, contained in premium grade dark chocolate, is comprised of equal amounts of oleic acid (a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat also found in olive oil), stearic and palmitic acids.

Stearic and palmitic acids are forms of saturated fat ? not so good. Saturated fats are linked to increases in...

Chocolate and heart health ? fact or fallacy?

Chocolate > Chocolate and heart health ? fact or fallacy?

Chocolate as Medicine

Chocolate as Medicine

Chocolate > Chocolate as Medicine