Chocoloate

IT’S OFFICIAL - CHOCOLATE IS GOOD FOR YOU!!

According to latest research scientists are now saying that Chocolate contains four times the amount of anti-oxidants found in tea. All I can say is now we’re talking!!! All my dreams have come true.

Holland’s National Institute of Public Health and Environment carried out a recent study and discovered that dark chocolate contains 53.5mg of catechins per 100 grams. If you compare that to, for example, black tea - it contains only 13.9mg. So what actually does all that mean???? NO GIRLS unfortunately it doesn’t mean we can gorge on chocolate ALL day! What it means is that when we do submit to temptation it’s not as bad as we think. “What the heck is a catechin I hear you yell?” A catechin is a powerful anti-oxidant that can help in the prevention of cancer and heart disease. So, can eating chocolate help you to stay healthy?

Well, like anything moderation is the key and the type of chocolate is all important. We have been told that drinking red wine has its benefits but we also know that binge drinking is bad for us. So, that rules out 3 bottles of red wine a night then as the effects of the excess alcohol counteracts against any of the health benefits from the wine. The same rule would apply to chocolate. The purer the chocolate the better for us it is as milk chocolate and cheaper chocolates contain much more added fats which saturate and the cocoa amount would be less therefore, the benefits are greatly reduced and the health risks would be increased. So, I suppose what we are being told in effect is, that a glass of red wine with a chunk of dark chocolate is the perfect, healthy way to wind down after a hard day at the office or after a day of dealing with tantrums (and that’s just the other half - never mind the kids!!)

Here are some interesting chocolate facts:

• It turns out that chocolate is non-addictive but the reason we crave it is because the sensation of eating it is so pleasurable! (Maybe why so many people use it as a substitute for sex)
• Chocolate contains many healthy compounds such as copper, iron, zinc and magnesium
• Headaches such as migraines are not linked to chocolate.
• Another piece of good news is that acne is NOT caused by chocolate - doctors have proven this!!!
• Chocolate is not any more responsible for tooth decay as any other foods - clean your teeth!! Chocolate apparently stays in the mouth for a lesser period of time than other foodstuffs which means it has less contact with your teeth than other foods.
• Dark Chocolate is healthier for you as it contains a higher proportion of flavanoids. Flavanoids are a healthy benefit from chocolate - many of which are lost in the process of making milk chocolates.
• Forest Gump was famous for the line “My momma used to say - life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are gonna git!” How true!!

Remember girls moderation is the key here and when you do indulge occasionally then here is the proof that you don’t need to beat yourself up too badly over it!!

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