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Friday, 31 December 2010

Oh the love of chocolate is one of the pleasures in life. Not that mass produced kind, but good quality chocolate say from Europe. I find their chocolate is not a sweet and it is just better in texture and taste. Although there are good chocolates in the United States, European can't be beat. And now people are finding out that chocolate the dark kind, is actually good for the body. From the Maya and Aztecs to the kings of England chocolate has been a powerful food. Chocolate is like a best friend but without the back talk, it soothes, it comforts and will energize your body and spirit. Chocolate has a language all its own, it will tell you I love you, I am sorry and anything you want it to say. It makes a great gift if you do not know what else to give.

What our ancestors knew many centuries ago we are discovering the benefits of dark chocolate, such as lowering the blood pressure as it contains a chemical known as epicatechin, it creates a healthy blood flow throughout our bodies. It will not raise your cholesterol, and in fact could lower the LDL cholesterol. It is also an extremely powerful antioxidant. It will fight the free radical damage and can prevent disease. The USDA ranks dark chocolate at the top over green tea when it comes to ORCA (a scale that calculates the antioxidant levels in certain foods.)

Another good reason to eat dark chocolate is it has been said it is good for the teeth. It contains phosphate and other minerals that will not harm your teeth. It will fight decay as it has tannins in it, this protects teeth from cavities. Dark chocolate can help in your digestive system as well. It has been used for centuries to cure diarrhea and other intestinal problems. It can also help with that pesky cough as it coats the throat, relieving the urge to cough all the time.

Some say that dark chocolate can be used as an anti depressant, as we all know that it does. No one has to tell me that one. Eating a piece of dark chocolate boosts your energy level and will help get your mood in a better place. Even smelling it gives one a sense of relaxation. Now these findings do not give you the license to eat a box of dark chocolate in one setting. Taken in moderation, as all things, it will help your overall health and make you enjoy the day.








Richard likes to also write about normal cholesterol levels on one of his new websites. You may also find the information on mini maglite bulbs interesting on my new site.


Wednesday, 29 December 2010

In spite of knowing about the ill effects of eating chocolates, chocolate lovers find it impossible to resist them. Interestingly, over a long span of time, this sweet indulgence has managed to retain a long list of loyalists. According to most chocolate lovers, they are favored not just because of their distinct flavor and taste. Avid eaters report that chocolates can respond to them emotionally helping them to deal with stress and everyday problems. For the health conscious chocolate eaters, there cannot be a better option than dark chocolates that have become widely popular all over the world.

Dark chocolates that have a higher anti oxidant value are also extremely beneficial for our health. This is chiefly because the dark varieties are prepared from raw cacao. As we all know, cacao beans contain more than 300 chemical compounds that make them rich in anti oxidants. The presence of anti oxidants in the this type of chocolate equates to reduced degeneration of cells in our body. This in turn, helps the eater to work more energetically. Apart from the anti oxidant value that these possess, it is further interesting to note that dark chocolates contain vitamins such as A, B1, C, D and E along with calcium, potassium and iron. These essential elements help you to remain active.

Dark chocolates are also helpful in lowering possibilities of heart related diseases such as cardiac arrests and heart attacks. This is made possible by the flavonoids present in cacao beans. Flavonoids reduce fats thereby preventing blockage of arteries. As a result, chances of heart diseases are minimized to a great extent. Moreover, dark chocolates are known for lifting moods and increasing alertness in stressed out people. These factors make dark chocolates the best choice when it comes to enjoying a tempting treat without compromising on health.








Roland Poitevin is a dedicated writer with a passion for business and environmental issues.

You can check out his new website at Poker Tables which helps people find the Best Poker Tables available and information they are looking relating to this subject.


Monday, 27 December 2010

In the last couple of years dark chocolate has been cropping up in the news and online, health journals and financial reports. But is this just a sudden revelation? You either are a chocoholic or you know one. Haven't these people known for as long as memory serves them that chocolate makes them feel better? For those who try to control their chocolate consumption, it is their greatest guilty pleasure. What if chocolate is not just a new kid on the block? The latest health fad? What if I told you chocolate had been around for over 3500 years. And from the beginning ancient peoples realized its healthy properties. They ground the beans into a paste or powder, mixed it with water and sipped the foam. No heat, no chemicals, no sugar, no milk, no added fat. "YUCK", you say. But king Montezuma marched his troops for days consuming nothing but this pure, raw chocolate. And money literally grew on the cacao tree. The beans were traded for other valuable goods in the market system of civilized cultures all over the Americas.

When Europeans visited the New World, they saw the value in this rare fruit and took it with them back home. But the more delicate crowd in the refined cities of Europe couldn't get past the taste. So over time they learned to roast the beans to alleviate the bitterness. A little later, someone figured out if you treated them with alkali, it took away even more of the bitterness. Did no one ever consider that consuming alkali might not be the healthiest thing? And then the clever chocolate makers found out that by adding sugar and milk they had a highly consumable, and marketable, product. But at this time, they didn't realize that through all that processing they had left behind up to 80% of what made the chocolate an all purpose food and ancient energy drink. But they didn't leave behind it's value in the marketplace. As manufacturers and candy makers discovered more and more ways to present chocolate, they discovered more and more ways to make money with it. Chocolate has remained a marketable commodity during economic downturns and upswings. Statistics show that when times are good, people celebrate with chocolate, and when times are bad, they soothe themselves with it.

So, in keeping with the pattern, when science began to recover the healthy properties of chocolate the makers leaned their ears in that direction. And when consumers began to look for it, they started tweaking their recipes with stronger cocoa content and nuts and berries. But even at their best they still typically roasted and alkalized their beans so they could use cheaper sweeteners to make it edible. At first, you could only find the real stuff in small candy kitchens, where they were willing to hand process the beans in tiny batches. So only the chosen few could buy it. A few of the finer ones got internet sites and sold their wares more widely. But how many customers can one small kitchen serve? Gradually some of the larger companies improved their chocolate, so the average Walmart shopper had a chance to at least choose something a little healthier than a chocolate flavored kiss. And one or two even put all their energy into producing a chocolate that takes it all the way back to it's ancient Mayan roots in purity and nutrition. And once again, historically, a company that has taken the time and resources to make the superior product will reap the most benefits in the market. And in this case, those who get on the bandwagon of either consumption or marketing of these chocolates could find their life situations changed in ways they never imagined.








Terri, along with husband Johnny, operates a healthy chocolate business from their home and on their travels. They live in rural western Kentucky and have one daughter and a brand new granddaughter. They are passionate about sharing what eating healthy chocolate, and being in the healthy chocolate business, has done for them in the three years since they first discovered it. Although their favorite way to share chocolate is face to face, they also have a lucrative online business and look forward to each new friend it brings their way.

http://eatchocolategetpaidnow.com
http://myfitchocolate.com