Mmm, mmm, chocolate

Hooray, it’s February. Not only is winter almost over, but Valentine’s Day is approaching and that means chocolates, lots of chocolates. And who doesn’t like chocolate? In fact I have friends who claim to be chocoholics and in light of recent studies this may be a good thing. Now whenever we indulge we can profess to be practicing preventative medicine, thus freeing ourselves from any guilt feelings attached to our chocolate cravings.

Apparently catechins, an ingredient in chocolate, are powerful anti-oxidants that help prohibit cancer and heart disease. Researchers from Holland’s National Institute of Public Health and Environment found that chocolate, specifically dark chocolate contains 53.5 mg of catechins per 100 grams. This is approximately four times more catechins than are found in a cup of black tea.

In addition, “Chocolate of good quality”, wrote Francis Joseph Victor Broussais a celebrated physician who practiced during the late 1700’s, “calms the fever, nourishes… the patient and tends to restore him to health”.

Likewise, chocolate can aid us when we are having a ‘blue’ day. Besides containing a neurotransmitter called serotonin which acts as an anti-depressant, it also contains over three-hundred chemicals that give us pleasurable feelings. Chocolate also stimulates the secretion of endorphins giving us a sense of well-being.

My friend Rosemary, who used to worry about the harmful effects of chocolate, was delighted to discover that these negative myths are being disproved. As far as acne is concerned, there are no findings that chocolate cause it or make it worse.

Although chocolate may not be considered the healthiest of snacks, it is high in potassium and magnesium. As well, it also provides us with several vitamins such as B1, B2, D, and E.

If there are any parents concerned about tooth decay, relax. The Eastman Dental Center in Rochester, New York have concluded that it is unlikely that milk chocolate would contribute to tooth decay, since it contains phosphate and other minerals.

So this Valentine Day be good to yourself. Say “yes” to a chocolate treat and have an mmm… mmm chocolate day.

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