Brief Walks Can Reduce Chocolate Cravings?
December 9, 2011
New research has shown that a 15-minute walk can cut down your consumption of chocolate by half during working hours.
The study was conducted by the University of Exeter. Turns out, workers eat only half as much chocolate as they normally would after this brief exercise, even when they're in a rather stressful situation.
The study utilized a simulated work environment. 78 regular chocolate-eaters, who hadn't had any chocolate in the past two days, participated.
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Chocolate Better Than Kissing?
December 8, 2011
Young couples volunteered to have their hearts and brains monitored and were then asked to melt dark chocolate in their mouths before kissing their partners.
The research was led by Dr David Lewis, formerly of the University of Sussex, and now of the Mind Lab. "These results really surprised and intrigued us," he said. "While we fully expected chocolate - especially dark chocolate - to increase heart rates due to the fact it contains some highly stimulating substances, both the length of the increase, together with the powerful effects it had on the mind, were something none of us had anticipated."
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Chocolate Brittle
December 7, 2011
You have the freedom in selecting the way you make your chocolate brittle. In this particular recipe, we will be using semi-sweet chocolate, but you can always opt for white, milk, or dark chocolate. It's all up to your liking, or the one you plan on giving it to. Especially now that it's December already, you can make some of these to give as a holiday gift.
But don't stop here, you can modify the recipe by using other dried fruits and nuts available in your kitchen or fridge. And always keep in mind, the quality of the chocolate brittle will be as good as the quality of the chocolate you will be using, so see to it that you use quality chocolate!
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The Chocolate Festival
December 6, 2011
Yael Rose has loved chocolate pretty much all her life. She finds Zen in drinking a cup of hot chocolate or munching on cocoa nibs. "To be honest, I think it’s an addiction," she said. "There’s something about the smell and colors of chocolate I simply can’t resist every single time."
She took this intense love for chocolate to a pro level and became the director of The Chocolate Festival. This event will be happening in Brighton, London and Oxford around Christmas and Easter. It will be all about chocolate and it's taking place down London's Southbank Center Square (Belvedere Road) from December 9 to 11, 2011.
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Skinny Models + Chocolate Ads = Guilt
December 2, 2011
Women are generally figure-conscious. We all root for that runway-ready body. Suffice it to say, we tend to watch almost everything we eat. Turns out, all the conscious efforts to keep and stay away from fattening food are upped when we see skinny chicks endorsing them.
A recent study done by the researchers at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow showed that when a chocolate advertisement involves larger women, then viewers are less likely to worry about indulging themselves in these sweet treats.
The said researchers conducted a study wherein they asked 84 women aged 17-63 asked about their chocolate-eating patterns and if ever they felt any guilt after having consumed some.
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The Medicinal Use of Chocolate
December 1, 2011
Chocolate has a long history of use in treating several ailments such as reducing anemia, stopping the progress of diarrhea, relieving an overworked brain, and soothing an upset stomach.
It is commonly used in helping emaciated patients gain weight and stimulating the nervous systems of the physically weak by allegedly strengthening the lungs and energizing them. Yes, chocolate is that significant in traditional medicine.
Chocolate drinks with added coconut milk and onion were used in the Dominican Republic to lessen common cold symptoms. Sounds a bit odd, I know.
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Eat Chocolate, Lose Weight
November 29, 2011
I have mentioned in one of my previous blog posts about a new experiment conducted that involved chocolate in weight-loss diets. Well, this one might just up any chocoholic's excitement just a little bit more.
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Chocolate And Chemistry Meet
November 25, 2011
Chocolate is downright mouth-watering, and most of us aren't exactly aware of the reason why we just can't resist it allure. But those who make chocolate pretty much know why people find it irresistible, and it all boils down to chemistry.
Chocolate may be sweet and all that but the main culprit for its unexplainable appeal is the fat, according to Professor Dolores O’Riordan of University College Dublin who is based in the Institute of Food and Health. In a lecture during the Science week named Smart Chemistry – Tasty Food!, she said "The melting of the fat is very important."
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Giving Thanks
November 24, 2011
By the time American Pilgrims celebrated their first Thanksgiving, cacao was largely unknown outside of Meso-America. The unfortunate side-effect of this timing is that chocolate would not have been present at that original Thanksgiving dinner. 
Well, I guess it doesn't really matter. In the grand scheme, today is a day to stop and give thanks for the many blessings we have received. Chocolate is still one of those blessings. And so are you!
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Orange Chocolate Crunch
November 23, 2011
Chocolate is divine all its own. I’d pretty much eat anything that has chocolate in it. But orange and chocolate combination is just downright scrumptious.
The tangy note of orange is just heavenly when united with the sweetness of chocolate. When a certain cake features the combo, it leaves an intricate taste in your mouth. You’ll know it's not just another boring dessert.
You can use this recipe for these up-and-coming holidays and entertain your guests with a cake that has the interesting combination of orange and chocolate with the crunch of walnuts.
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