National Chocolate Day - 7th July 2016

Chocolate Day is celebrated every year on 7^th July and is an excuse for all Chocoholics to indulge ! Chocolate is special and can make you feel wonderful, loved and luxurious !

It has been said that July 7^th marks 465 years since chocolate was first introduced in Europe as before that it was used as a form of currency by the Aztecs and Mayans and was known as “The Food of the Gods”

Chocolate is made from cocoa beans, the dried and partially fermented seeds of the Cacao Tree and around 50 million people around the globe rely on its production for their livelihood.

Chocolate is the ultimate comfort food, a sure-fire standby in times of stress, a reliable source of consolation when life lands us a blow and a mood enhancer in more positive circumstances. It is not good to eat too much of it but there is increasing evidence that “good” chocolate with a cocoa percentage of around 70% can really be good for us if eaten in moderation – remember a little goes a long way !

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE BENEFITS OF CHOCOLATE ?

• Raw cacao is one of the best food sources of Magnesium – a mineral that many of us lack in our diets and is essential for energy production, healthy brain and nervous system, for muscles and for strong bones and teeth.
• Cacao is a source of Iron which builds the blood and helps to transport oxygen around our bodies as well as Potassium, Copper, Zinc, Manganese and Selenium.
• Cacao is also high in flavonoids which have antioxidant properties and are linked with heart health. It has been noted that the Kuna Indians of Panama who drank cocoa as their main beverage had very low blood pressure (high blood pressure is a leading cause of heart disease and stroke)
• Cacao contains a compound called phenylethylamine (PEA for short) which is thought to elevate the mood and support energy.
• Raw cacao is also very low in sugar and does not contain any milk so is suitable for those who are milk sensitive or following a low sugar diet.
• Some clinicians are supporting an idea that a small square of good chocolate melted on the tongue 20 minutes before a meal triggers hormones in the brain that say “I’m full” cutting the amount of food you subsequently consume. Possible finishing a meal the same could prevent  further unnecessary snacking !
• Dark chocolate in moderation has also been shown to improve insulin sensitivity so it may help delay or prevent onset of diabetes.
• Whilst most of the evidence for health benefits revolves around dark chocolate there is growing opinion that milk chocolate has some of the benefits but it should be remembered that it contains milk powders or condensed milk and often large amounts of added sugar so may also contribute to weight gain. Much commercial chocolate is highly processed (chemically treated and heated) and many nutrients can be lost or reduced.

Why not celebrate the day by baking a cake or making a creative dessert ?

 http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/chocolate-recipes/raw-chocolate-cake/#kusdokWzWOHkXk1K.97

 http://www.hemsleyandhemsley.com/recipe/chocolate-avocado-mousse/

Natures Healthbox sell a wide range of Chocolate and Cacao products to suit all tastes and dietary requirements – why not treat yourself and see how good it makes you feel ?