Great News For The Sweet Tooth!

Now creamy chocolate goodness is not only delicious but healthy too!  For years dieters and health nuts alike have avoided this sinful indulgence because of its terrible reputation for a high content of saturated fat, calories, and sugar.  If you are anything like me you avoid that entire wing of the mall to evade even glancing at the tempting morsels.  So instead now you can say hello to milk chocolate's wholesome cousin: dark chocolate. 

Some call it semi-sweet or baker's chocolate yet scientists are beginning to call it beneficial.  Apparently the flavonoids present in this type of chocolate can prevent damage to cells and even lower “bad” and raise “good” cholesterol.  The cacao more prevalent in dark chocolate contains essential trace elements such as iron, calcium, potassium and various l vitamins.  It appears to have the same benefits as drinking a glass of red wine since they both have phenols which can minimize the risk of coronary heart disease.  These ingredients help keep blood vessels elastic and can reduce clotting to the same degree as taking an aspirin.  And which one would you prefer a daily dose of?

But what is it in chocolate that we find so deliciously enchanting?  There are a variety of ingredients in small, but effective quantities that cause pleasing chemical reactions throughout the body.  Caffeine increases resistance to fatigue as well as intellectual acuteness, phenylethlamine is the same gratifying chemical released when falling in love, endorphins are natural opiates to elevate mood and reduce pain, and Tryptophan is an amino acid that increases serotonin production of anti-depressants and reduces stress.  So now not only are nutritious benefits of dark chocolate being recognized but some popular myths are being discredited as well.  Despite what your parents may have told you growing up chocolate and its consumption does not cause acne and will not rot your teeth.  Contrary to popular belief it actually consists of antibacterial agents that fight tooth decay and it is the high content of sugar in milk chocolate that is the cavity culprit.  Chocolate is not addictive nor can it make you “high” unless you eat about 25 lbs of it in one sitting—an impressive feat that could also leave you with quite a stomach ache.

With this all being said I encourage each and every one of you to indulge.  For convenient and local treats I’d try one of these tasty choices: Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Canipe Chocolates & Candies, The Fudgery or River Street Sweets.  Buy with confidence and the next time you need a guilty pleasure, reach for an innocent piece of dark chocolate instead and rejoice in your healthy choice.  Feel free to gloat to jealous spectators or health conscious critics that eating “2 ounces a day can keep the doctor away”.