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Death
By Chocolate?
Chocolate
Chai
Chocolate
Cocoa
Chocolate
Coffees
Brownie
Mixes
Perfect
Pots
The
Health Benefits of Chocolate
By Susie Michelle Cortright
Good news: Research says you can have your cake and eat it, too — as
long as that cake is chocolate. For centuries, chocolate has been used
to treat diseases
and maladies such as depression. Civilizations from Mexico to Europe have
hailed chocolate as an aphrodisiac. The U.S. government officially recognized
its
virtues in World War II, making the chocolate candy bar standard issue
for the military.
Chocolate’s
scientific name, theobroma cacao, is literally translated
as “food of the gods,” and we chocolate cravers don’t
need any studies to tell us the power of chocolate in mood alteration.
Its feel good chemicals have long been associated with feelings
of love, safety and comfort. Maybe that’s why Americans
eat an average of 12 pounds of chocolate per year.
Live long and prosper
Chocolate contains vitamins A, B1, C, D and E as well as potassium,
sodium, iron and fluorine. Now, researchers say those creamy
chocolate
confections may actually help us live longer, too. Harvard researchers
tracked nearly 8,000 males with an average age of 65. Those men
who enjoyed chocolate and candy lived almost a year longer than
those who did not. Those who ate one to three candy bars per
month
had a 36 percent lower risk of death (compared to the people
who ate no candy), while those who ate three or more candy bars
per
week had a 16 percent lower risk. Why? The researchers say they
don’t know for sure, but that it might have something to
do with antioxidants.
Chocolate contains the same antioxidant chemicals as wine (phenols).
In the chocolate bar, phenols help preserve the fat. In our bodies,
phenol can help prevent atherosclerosis. Like anything, chocolate
is best enjoyed in moderation. Just one ounce of solid chocolate
packs about 150 calories and can be as much as 50 percent fat. So
for your next chocolate fix, consider reduced-fat alternatives such
as chocolate-covered foods or chocolate syrup.
Susie
Cortright publishes Momscape.com,
a website devoted to helping busy women find balance. The site
features resources for conscious living and soul-based parenting,
including Susie's popular "Soul Snacks": creative ways
we can nurture ourselves -- and others -- in 15 minutes or less.
Susie is also the author of More
Energy for Moms, a mind-body-soul fitness book, program
and community, and Rekindling
Your Romance After Kids. Susie lives in Breckenridge,
Colorado, with her husband and three young children.
