Before you get too excited about the latest research study showing that chocolate cures everything from cancer to athlete's foot, consider the source. Many chocolate health studies are conducted by chocolate companies that have an interest in promoting their product. In the end, although chocolate does have some nutrients and a few beneficial chemicals, the best chocolate strategy is one of moderation.
Forget apples-chocolate may be the next health food. Research has shown that people who eat a moderate amount of chocolate actually live longer than those who eat other candies or who eschew sweets altogether. The theory is that phenols contained in chocolate protect against heart disease, much like the phenols in red wine. However, the best chocolate strategy is to eat it moderately as too much chocolate can contribute to obesity, which significantly raises your chances of heart disease.
With the wide variety of chocolate available today, there's no reason to keep eating the same old chocolate bar day after day. Treat yourself to a deliciously extravagant Godiva chocolate. Try a new chocolate recipe featuring mint chocolate chips or peanut butter chips in a chocolate cookie. Try a new truffle flavor, or treat yourself to one of the many new types of gourmet hot chocolate on the market.
With sugar-free varieties of chocolate getting better and better all the time, people with special food restrictions, such as diabetics and low-carb dieters, no longer need to worry about giving up their favorite treat. Dark chocolate, which is higher in chocolate liquor and lower in sugar, is also a good choice for dieters as long as it's eaten in moderation.
Because different types of chocolate have different chemicals in them, it's always best to follow your chocolate recipes exactly. But if you get halfway through a recipe and realize you don't have the exact ingredient, don't panic. The following combinations can be substituted for each other for similar effect:
One square of unsweetened baking chocolate
One packet of pre-melted chocolate
Three tablespoons of cocoa powder mixed with one tablespoon of oil
I eat more chocolate daily than anyone! LOL Heck with food... Gimme my chocolate! H5
select one here...