The Upside of Our Chocolate Indulgence

"There are four basic food groups: Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate and chocolate truffles". (Anonymous)

I never thought a simple topic like chocolate can generate so much interest, as some of you wrote to me wisely advising after reading my articles that eating chocolates may not be all that good for my health in the long run. It may be good now, but not all good things last forever right?

 

Well, I might be just the sprite to prove some of you chocolate skeptics wrong. I may not be a chocolate expert but I take my chocolate seriously (like the cartoons in Sunday's pullout or the shocking headline of Wednesday’s Herald Tribune). I'm not sure what I meant by that personally,but I never know how to write things short and sweet and if my cocoa bean knowledge would serve me right today - I shall try to defy the standard myths on chocolates and share with you why chocolates should be your next best friend.

 

The first people known to have made chocolate were the ancient cultures of Mexico and Central America around 2000 years ago. But the real blame could actually be placed on the Spanish conquistador, Cortez who brought back cacao and added cinnamon and milk to the original bitter recipe and turn it into a devil-to-health irresistible velvety indulgence.

However it’s ridiculous as much as it is true that it is chocolate itself that lures and drugs us to become a willing devotee to it.

 

Chocolate has the super power that triggers several chemical reactions that stimulates our mind and senses. Firstly, it proudly secretes endorphins when it melts in our mouth. In the science world, endorphins produce a pleasurable sensation that can make you feel absurdly high – similar to the feeling that Stallone’s character Rocky gets when he triumphly reaches the top of the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s stairs. (note: pardon the awkward metaphor).

 

In other words, eating chocolate makes you feel like you won something real nice. Why?Because endorphin as a study shows, is the brain’s painkiller and it is 3 times more potent than morphine with no similar health dangers. Whoa…

 

The other brilliant side effect is that Chocolate contains serotonin, a neurotransmitter that acts as a powerful anti-depressant. To a non-science person like me it translates to acting like a kind of moderator for our emotions like anger, mood, appetite and uh, even stimulating vomiting. However the most important role serotonin plays is triggering the emotion of happiness, bliss and contentment. Exactly the feelings after those occasional hot chocolate drinks at midnight eh?

 

Despite all these highlights, the "so-what skeptics" would immediately point out the prevailing facts that eating too much chocolate would create mountains of acnes, rotting teeth and unwanted-bonus around the waists!

 

An aficionado of chocolate would prevail in this battle because disagree as you may but a recent study shows that many scientists are beginning to disprove the common myths plaguing chocolates. For an example, in an International Heart Congress in 2004, it was presented that eating dark chocolates can actually improve healthy blood flow, prevent clot forming in the vein, and smooths the skin. Ergo, good news for the heart!

 

And for you chocolate critiques, researchers from University of Athen proved that dark chocolate is rated highest in content of anti-oxidant compared to all other vegetables and fruits available. Plain chocolates increased levels of anti-oxidant in blood nearly 20%. Hah - no more facials or moisturizers, after this just plain ol’ chocolate for me!

 

What about the myth of teeth rotting? I mean seriously, even if you eat anything be it a 10 pound steak or steamed broccolis slathered in Dijon’ mustard and do not even bother to brush your teeth, that’s just you hitching a first class ride to planet instant-teeth-decay.

 

Though both cocoa and chocolate inevitable contain sugar or alternative sweeterners (as without is said to be as bitter as charcoal, not that I’ve ever tasted charcoal before), scientifically it also contains properties like phosphates and important minerals that believe it or not work against sugar’s tendency to produce the oral bacteria that lead to dental decay.

 

In fact researchers of the Dental Centre in New York even concluded that milk chocolates is one of the snack foods that least likely to contribute to tooth decay (as you can see, I’m now doing the wave cheer).

 

Lastly, on the issue of chocolate and weight. I have to admit, all the butter and sugar cannot be all that flattering to anyone who stopped growing taller when they reach the age of 18 years ago and instead, actively growing sideways perpetually.

 

Despair not chocolate lovers, because the average chocolate bar contains approximately 250 calories, which is low enough as an occasional treat. Therefore wouldn’t you agree that it is better to eat chocolates from time to time rather than eating a whole bar at one time because satisfying a craving frequently would definitely help prevent the dieters nightmare of chocolate bingeing.

 

But in the end be it good or bad,  there is a saying by a Portugese poet Fernando Pessoa (1888-1935) “Look, there's no metaphysics on earth like chocolates" and ultimately if chocolate is the answer, the question is completely irrelevant. Enjoy!