Did You Know?

Bittersweet Chocolate
In sufficient amounts, the theobromine found in chocolate is toxic to animals such as horses, dogs, parrots, voles, and cats. The toxicity is the result of the animal being unable to effectively metabolize the theobromine, which can remain in the bloodstream for up to 20 hours. The result can be epileptic seizures, heart attacks, internal bleeding, and eventually death. Medical treatment involves inducing vomiting within two hours of ingestion, or contacting a veterinarian.

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Chocolate Article

Give a Chocolate Box Gift with a Twist
Okay, so you've waited until the last minute. Or you've
tried really hard but have drawn a blank and can't seem to
think of any good anniversary gifts.

It's time to pull out that bag of traditional romantic
gift ideas. And this time you've decided to go with
chocolate candy gifts ...
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Chocolate

Okay, no secret here: chocolate tastes fantastic! You wouldn't be here if you didn't agree. There's nothing quite like letting it melt in your mouth, enjoying the creamy texture, savoring the fine aroma. The finest chocolate is smooth and coates your mouth in its flavors. You may initially encounter a slightly bitter, roasted chocolate flavor, then sweetness, then other flavors that have been added. And with the finest chocolate there should be a wonderful aftertaste.

Paradise.

It's simply paradise.

And you know what's even better?

Chocolate can actually provide health benefits.

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Benefits of Chocolate

The reputation chocolate has for being a mood elevator is based in part on its chemical content. Chocolate contains several natural mood altering chemicals, including phenylethylalanine and anandamide. (Phenylethylalanine is the chemical found in the blood of people who are in love.)

One of the active ingredients, anandamide, stimulates the same parts of your brain as marijuana. However, it would require eating 25 pounds of chocolate at one sitting to receive anywhere near the effects you receive from marijuana.

Now, the once-prevailing thought was that since cocoa beans, cocoa powder and plain dark chocolate are all high in saturated fats, chocolate must increase the potential risk of heart disease. For instance, milk chocolate has both high levels of saturated fats and cholesterol. These high levels in your blood can increase your risk of heart disease.

On the flip side, there are studies that appear to contradict these findings. These studies have shown that foods high in stearic acid, the saturated fat in cocoa products, actually lower the risk of blood clots. In addition, chocolate is high in flavonoids, which are the antioxidant chemicals that have the same heart-healthy reputation as red wine.

There are drug interactions to chocolate, the MAO inhibitors used to treat depression inactivate the natural enzymes in your body that metabolize tyramine, which is found in fermented or aged foods, like chocolate. Blood pressure can be increased by tyramine which constricts blood vessels.

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Chocolate lovers every where have been viewing the studies showing dark chocolate as having certain health benefits with excitement. These studies have inspired some dietitians to promote chocolate as contributing to a healthy diet. Wouldn't that be wonderful? Unfortunately, the jury is still out. Chocolate is an energy dense food, and responsible health care providers should use caution when making recommendations about including it in a healthy diet.

You may have heard that chocolate has been linked to cardiovascular disease because of the high concentration of fat, most of which is saturated. However, the saturated fat in chocolate is stearic acid, which does not appear to cause cholesterol levels to rise.

The studies are still out, however.

They're still out in regards to dark chocolate as well. While some studies have found that eating dark chocolate is not harmful to serum cholesterol levels, reports that dark chocolate is able to improve cholesterol concentrations are mixed. No matter what the effect of cocoa products on cholesterol concentrations, they have been shown to decrease the likelihood of LDL cholesterol oxidizing.

Another cardio-protective action of cocoa products is the ability to thin the blood by decreasing platelet activation. These studies have shown a decrease in platelet activity after being given cocoa beverages, cocoa flavonol supplements or dark chocolate.

Bottom line: as much as we'd all love to hear that chocolate has incredible health benefits, it's just too early to determine if this is true or not. So while we all wait for the final verdict, it's probably best to be honest with yourself. You aren't eating chocolate because of the health benefits. You're eating chocolate because there's no other taste on God's green earth that can match it!

Endulge yourself!