Tag Archives: chocolate

On Chocolate

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When you think of chocolate, do you associate it as a “junk food”? For all you chocolate lovers, this article may just make your day!

Chocolate is a plant-based food that contains several minerals such as magnesium, copper, zinc, and iron. In addition, it contains a group of phytochemicals called polyphenols. Phytochemicals have been recently shown to possess antioxidant properties. “Antioxidant properties” means that it possesses little chemicals that help fight off certain diseases.

Now, this article is not telling you it is okay to make chocolate a major part of your diet. What it is telling you that it is perfectly fine to include it as part of a well balanced diet.

The plant phenols found in chocolate include a subclass known as flavonoids. Flavonoids are found in tea, wine, cocoa, and chocolate. Studies have shown that flavonoids seem to have a positive effect impact on heart health.

Chocolate flavonoids possess a very unique chemical structure compared to other plant-based foods and beverages. These flavonoids are actually rarely found in food sources. But, of biggest interest is the fact that they are particularly powerful antioxidants.

The polyphenols in chocolate have been reported to decrease the oxidation of LDL cholesterol both in vitro and in humans. This finding is especially important in regards to heart health. LDL cholesterol levels have been linked as a potential risk factor for heart disease.

“Isn’t chocolate high in fat?”, you ask. “And, isn’t it saturated fat?” Yes, and yes. However, studies have shown that chocolate is no longer a concern in regards to its saturated fat content. Why?

Early on, it appeared that ALL saturated fats had a negative effect on cholesterol levels. New research shows that not all saturated fats act the same way in the body. The type of fat contained in cocoa butter include oleic acid (a monounsaturated fat – heart healthy) and stearic and palmitic acids (both saturated fats).

Stearic acid has unique properties as a saturated fat. Stearic acid’s effect on blood cholesterol is neutral – it neither raises or lowers cholesterol. Other saturated fats increase blood cholesterol levels. In case you are wondering what it is exactly that makes a fat saturated vs. unsaturated, it quite simply is the chemical structure. So, while stearic acid’s chemical structure defines it as a saturated fat, it does not effect cholesterol levels the same as other saturated fats.

Conclusion – Chocolate eaten in moderation may actually contribute to a heart healthy diet. Plus, indulging a little will likely boost your spirits.

Enjoy!

The Rules of Chocolate

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  • If you’ve got melted chocolate all over your hands, you’re eating it too slowly.
  • Chocolate covered raisins, cherries, orange slices and strawberries all count as fruit, so eat as many as you want.

  • The problem: How to get 2 pounds of chocolate home from the store in hot car.
    The solution: Eat it in the parking lot.

  • Diet tip: Eat a chocolate bar before each meal. It’ll take the edge off your appetite and you’ll eat less.
  • A nice box of chocolates can provide your total daily intake of calories in one place. Isn’t that handy?
  • If calories are an issue, store your chocolate on top of the fridge. Calories are afraid of heights, and they will jump out of the chocolate to protect themselves.
  • If I eat equal amounts of dark chocolate and white chocolate, is that a balanced diet? Don’t they actually counteract each other?
  • Chocolate has many preservatives. Preservatives make you look younger.

  • Q. Why is there no such organization as Chocoholics Anonymous?
    A. Because no one wants to quit.

  • Money talks. Chocolate sings. Beautifully.
  • Chocolate has many preservatives. Preservatives make you look younger. Therefore, you need to eat more chocolate.
  • Put “eat chocolate” at the top of your list of things to do today. That way, at least you’ll get one thing done.
  • If you can’t eat all your chocolate, it will keep in the freezer. But if you can’t eat all your chocolate, what’s wrong with you?

  • If not for chocolate, there would be no need for control top pantyhose. An entire garment industry would be devastated.
    You can’t let that happen, can you?

The Chocolate Bar Test

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Take this cute chocolate test to find out about yourself! When you send this e-mail on, put your candy bar in the subject box above! Also, send it back to the person who sent it to you!

If you were buying candy and you had your choice of the following, which would you choose?

  • Clark Bar
  • Three Musketeers
  • Butterfinger
  • Snickers
  • Hershey’s
  • Almond Joy
  • Baby Ruth
  • Good ‘n’ Plenty
  • Energy Bar
  • Chocolate Coated Raisins

OK – Now that you’ve made your choice, this is what research says about you! NO . . . you can’t change your mind once you scroll down so think carefully what your choice will be!

NOW . . . scroll down!

  • Baby Ruth
    Sweet, loving, cuddly. You love all warm fuzzy items. A little nutty. Sometimes you need an ice cream cone at the end of the day.

  • Three Musketeers
    You are adventurous, love new ideas, are a champion of underdogs and a slayer of dragons. When tempers flare up, you whip out your saber.

  • Butterfinger
    Smooth and articulate, you are an excellent after-dinner speaker and a good teacher. But don’t try to walk and chew gum at the same time.

  • Snickers
    Fun-loving, sassy, humorous. Everyone enjoys being around you, but you are a practical joker. Others should be cautious in shaking hands!

  • Hershey
    Romantic, warm, loving. You care about other people and can be counted on in a pinch. You tend to melt.

  • Almond Joy
    Sexy, always ready to give and receive, very energetic, and really likes to get into life. The opposite sex is always attracted to you.

  • Clark Bar
    You like sports, whether baseball, football, basketball, or soccer. If you could, you would like to participate, but enjoy watching sports. You don’t like to give up the remote control.

  • Good ‘n’ Plenty
    You are a very fun loving person, who likes to laugh. You are fun to be with. People like to hang out with you. You are a very warm hearted person.

  • Energy Bar
    Life is passing you by. Get a life! Go eat a plum.

  • Chocolate Coated Raisins
    You go to the bathroom often.

Why Chocolate is Better than Sex

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  • You can GET chocolate.
  • “If you love me you’ll swallow that” has real meaning with chocolate.
  • Chocolate satisfies even when it has gone soft.
  • You can safely have chocolate while you are driving.
  • You can make chocolate last as long as you want it to.
  • You can have chocolate even in front of your mother.
  • If you bite the nuts too hard the chocolate won’t mind.
  • Two people of the same sex can have chocolate without being called nasty names.
  • The word “commitment” doesn’t scare off chocolate.
  • You can have chocolate on top of your workbench/desk during working hours without upsetting your co-workers.
  • You can ask a stranger for chocolate without getting your face slapped.
  • You don’t get hairs in your mouth with chocolate.
  • With chocolate there’s no need to fake it.
  • Chocolate doesn’t make you pregnant.
  • You can have chocolate at any time of the month.
  • Good chocolate is easy to find.
  • You can have as many kinds of chocolate as you can handle.
  • You are never too young or too old for chocolate.
  • When you have chocolate it does not keep your neighbors awake.
  • With chocolate size doesn’t matter.