Celebrate the “Not-So-Guilty” Pleasure of Chocolate!

There are a lot of days throughout the year that are celebrated as national food days, but October 28^th is a most important food celebration as we raise our ice cream cones to America’s favorite flavor: chocolate on National Chocolate Day!

Recently published data has actually found that chocolate is the most craved food in North America, especially by premenstrual women.  Chocolate is often labeled as a “guilty pleasure”, one food that we should stay away from because it is just that good.  As it turns out, chocolate might not be so “guilty” after all, so don’t put down that chocolate square just yet.

It may come as a shock to you that chocolate actually originates from a plant, the tropical Theobroma cacao tree.  Pure cocoa has a very bitter taste, which is why over the years sugar has been added to it through processing to mask the strong flavor.  Years ago, chocolate was only consumed in beverage form and it was valued so much in ancient civilizations that the Aztecs even used it as a form of currency.  No matter the variety, chocolate is still considered a luxurious food today not only for its decadent flavor, but because of the nutrients it contains (yes, there are nutrients in chocolate!)

Chocolate is now commonly being referred to as a functional food, which is good news for all you chocoholics.  Often times we think of foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes and seeds as being functional, meaning they contain active compounds that provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition.  The components in chocolate that classify it as a functional food are antioxidant flavanol compounds that reduce free radicals that damage your cells, lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, reduce blood pressure and reduce platelet aggregation that leads to blood clots.

The amount of flavanols chocolate contains varies depending on the type of chocolate.  Dark chocolate is the highest in these compounds, whereas milk chocolate and white chocolate contain lower amounts.  Basically, the more bitter the chocolate is, the more cocoa it contains and the more flavanols it will provide.  Look for chocolate that contains 70% cocoa or higher.  Chocolate does contain large amounts of sugar and fat, so eat It mindfully, savoring every bite you take so  you can get the health benefits plus the great taste, without overeating.

I bet National Chocolate Day will become your new favorite holiday.  With Halloween just around the corner, there is no better time to appreciate chocolate – hopefully your kids will share!

Your turn to take action: What is your favorite chocolate?

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