Food and Beverage Blog

Researchers have found some intriguing and wonderful health benefits of dark chocolate, which may encourage consumption of this wonderful product. These benefits are for dark chocolate, and the darker, the better. So the more cocoa (the higher percentage), the more health benefits you will gain. Most people can’t tolerate the 100% cocoa for its extreme bitterness, but at the 70-80% levels, after acquiring the taste, you can begin to enjoy the numerous health benefits.

* Acts as an appetite suppressant. Two research studies conducted at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, found 1) that consumption in moderate amounts reduces cravings for salty, sweat, and other foods, and 2) that eating a meal after consuming dark chocolate 2.5 hours previously, the caloric consumption is reduced by 15%. [Check out the website scientistlive.com for more information about their research.]

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Easter Sunday is the day when everyone can indulge his or her love of chocolate without feeling guilty-and rightly so. Chocolate is universal. It is said that nine out of ten people say they like chocolate and the tenth is lying.

So why is there guilt about chocolate, and do we need to feel guilty? Simple answer -NO Chocolate is not intrinsically bad for us. At levels of cocoa of 70% it is actually good for us. What applies to you will depend on how much you eat and the quality of the chocolate.

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