From my journal: December 10, 2012, Newbury Park, California
“Bought a shiny gold box for everyone on our team and a few for staff…pretty holiday store displays…and the smell…so sweet…!”
Is it possible that a treat often described as rich, decadent, and even luxurious can actually be good for you? Or is it that I want this smooth, velvety, melt-in-my-mouth snack to have some nutritional value so I can enjoy it without guilt? And, if there’s no physical health benefit to noshing on it, what about mental or emotional worth? These are things I need to think about. Afterall, it would seem silly not to look at the big picture, and consider all of its merits before making a decision…to eat, or not to eat? That is the question.
After some research, what I found is this…it is better for us than I thought! How often do we hear that and have science back it up? I’d say, not often enough.
So, here’s what I learned about chocolate. But before I go on, I’m strictly reporting on the dark kind that contains 70-85% cacao, not milk or white varieties. Due to its high flavonoid content, dark chocolate is antioxidant rich. Why is this important? Because these compounds stave off oxidation by offsetting free radicals in our bodies and safeguarding our cells from damage. They increase blood flow to the brain enhancing our cognitive function, learning, and memory. They help regulate our cholesterol levels by boosting our high-density lipoprotein also known as HDL, the good kind, and lowering our low-density lipoprotein, LDL, the not-so-good kind. And wait, there’s more…
Antioxidants in chocolate also reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure, and improve skin hydration. They elevate energy levels and athletic performance, improve blood sugar levels, fortify tooth enamel, enhance restful sleep, and has two other upsides that surprised me. One, cacao beans act as prebiotics so chocolate can help promote a healthy gut. Yay! And two, the theobromine in this dreamy stuff can relax bronchial muscles and soothe a savage cough!
Now that we know chocolate does a body good, what about a mind? Containing both tryptophan and serotonin, dark chocolate is a natural mood lifter! So, yes! I guess you can say that dark chocolate offers the consumer a sense of well-being. Great for the body and mind, which is great for the soul, too.
With all these positives, you may be wondering, is there a downside? Anything negative about dark chocolate? Here are some more facts. Let’s take Ghiradelli’s Intense Dark bar with 72% cacao. 100 grams of this tasty treat has 520 calories. Whew! Based on an average 2,000 calorie a day diet, that would be almost one-fourth of a person’s daily intake. But, let’s slow down a minute here. That’s true, if you eat the ENTIRE bar and the label clearly states it consists of four servings. So, for one serving you’re looking at Cal: 130, Fat: 11grams, Protein: 2 grams, Carbs: 11 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Sugar: 7 grams and no Cholesterol and Sodium. Not bad. Not bad at all.
What’s the bottom line here? If you are craving a dark, sweet yet slightly bitter, creamy, glossy, snaps clean when broken apart, silky snack with notes of floral, fruit, nuts and vanilla, go ahead and indulge yourself…a little, 1 to 2 ounces, or 30 – 60 grams little.
Arriving just in time for Halloween, some good news on a favorite nibble that you can really sink your teeth into. Savor and enjoy each and every bite!
A Journal Journey 