Lessons on eating chocolate sans guilt or gain!
If one seeks out the right kind of chocolate, and consumes it using healthful eating behaviors, what once was decadent now can become healthy. Here are some valuable lessons on instant chocolate gratification from Dr. Will Clower, renowned author of “The Fat Fallacy".
Eat the dark chocolate: As popular as milk chocolate is, it’s the dark chocolate that’s healthful. What gives chocolate its trove of amazing health properties is cocoa. So, to gain the health benefits, choose the rich dark chocolate – the higher cocoa content the better.
Go small: Just as two glasses of wine help the heart and two bottles per day kill the liver … a little chocolate is beneficial, but becomes a health (and weight) liability when over-consumed. Thus, what makes chocolate “good for you” or “bad for you” has more to do with eating habits than the chocolate itself. To keep it healthy, start small.
Make it last as long as possible: Chocolate melts at about 90 degrees, but body temperature is 98.6 degrees. As a result, just a small piece of chocolate “melts in your mouth,” and slowly, lovingly gives of itself while doing so. Moreover, the natural vegetable oils in chocolate help avoid the between-meal gobble fest that usually occurs about mid-afternoon. Thus, wait five to 10 minutes after finishing lunch, then savor a small piece, making it last as long as possible. The satiating qualities of the vegetable oil help prevent hunger between meals. After all, one can spend five solid minutes with a non-stop chocolate experience and still have had only one piece.
Understand the benefits: Chocolate acts like an antibiotic as well as an anti-platelet akin to aspirin. It raises good cholesterol, lowers bad cholesterol, and its polyphenols can prevent the DNA damage that can lead to tumor formation. Flavenoids and flavenols (compounds also found in grapes, apples, tea, and other plant/foods) are found in high concentrations in cocoa. Flavenoids are proven to keep blood healthy, prevent cell damage and inflammation.
The bottom line, Clower says, is that chocolate can be a health food. Plus, he cites research that finds chocolate may boost memory, attention span, reaction time and problem-solving skills by increasing blood flow to the brain.
Whether it’s Valentine’s Day, or throughout the year, Clower says, “Go for it.” Just keep in mind, however, his four lessons for instant chocolate gratification.
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