ARE YOU A CHOCOLATE LOVER?

      I know..I know.., you think oh no…here it comes..Marianne is gonna slam chocolate this week!  Can’t I enjoy anything anymore…right?..Well not so fast!

        Many of us are aware of the most recent findings regarding dark chocolate (more so than milk chocolate) having very beneficial flavanols  (flavanols are plant substances that are high in anti-oxidants) which are so important to our overall health, and shown through studies, even beneficial in preventing cancer.  Additionally, the flavanols in chocolate have been shown to help process the nitric oxide in our bodies, which is very vital to healthy blood flow and blood pressure.

        Well, I am going to offer another benefit of chocolate that you may not be aware of.  For those of you who consider yourself true “chocolate lovers”…do you find that when you eat chocolate, you actually get somewhat of a euphoric/”warm fuzzy” feeling?  I have met soooo many people who truly believe they are “addicted” to chocolate & the thought of having to give it up seems almost impossible.  Well if you are one of these true chocolate lovers, join a very large crowd…but here is some information that will possibly help you understand the attraction.

        A study was done, that monitored couple”s brain & heart rates while they 1) kissed & 2) melted chocolate in their mouths.(hmmm..sounds like a study we might all like to be participants in).  What the study showed was that “Chocolate caused a more intense and longer lasting “rush”, “buzz”….”warm-fuzzy feeling” than kissing!!”…I’m not sure this is good or bad news…In fact the research showed that the buzz from chocolate, & it works best when it is allowed to melt in your mouth, lasted as much as four times longer than the “buzz” from a “most passionate kiss”.

        So, it is easy to see why some people truly are “addicted” to the “buzz” from chocolate.  The reason this happens, is chocolate contains phenylethylamine, which raises the levels of endorphins (pleasure giving substances) in the brain.  Chocolate also contains caffeine, which will further stimulate the brain..

        Probably many readers can relate totally to the feeling of “happiness” when eating chocolate…now, at least you know it’s not your imagination…there is a scientific explanation for why you feel this way.  The important thing to remember regarding your love & “indulgence” in chocolate, is moderation.  Chocolate does contain a lot of saturated fats  & calories…so limit your intake.  Moderation…as usual, is the key.  Be good to yourself! 

Article written by Club Fitness Nutritionist Marianne Miller:

Marianne Miller 

(Peoria Club Fitness Nutritionist)