chocolate in the news
Scream For National Ice Cream Day
July 13, 2012
Every year, we celebrate several different holidays. Some are simultaneously recognized all over the world while others are exclusive to their respective cities, states or countries. Often, these festivities are dedicated to popular personalities who have made an impact in the society.
However, the most delightful holidays of all celebrate in the name of food. Who would not want that. I know I would. It is something pretty sweet, enjoyed by people of all ages, in all walks of life and in all parts of the world... It is ice cream.
Sunday, July 15, 2012, is National Ice Cream Day. How awesome is that?
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Chocolate as Poison?
July 10, 2012
Not being able to eat even a piece of chocolate for a short period of time is bad enough, how much more for a little girl who at the age of five is not allowed to taste even a little bit of this sweet heaven. For normal people, too much chocolate candy could cause maybe cavities, increased sugar levels, sore throats and inflamed tonsils. But to Lola Raine, this could cost her entire life.
Even before she was born, Lola's parents Natalie and Tim already found out that she had Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease or ARPKD. This is one very rare kidney and liver disease that is inherited by a child from her carrier parents. In this condition, kidneys do not function well. They do not dispose properly the waste materials of the body. Because of that, potassium and other toxic agents accumulate in the body, thus poisoning the blood and posing grave threat to the life of a person.
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Irish As The Biggest Chocoholics
July 3, 2012
A recent report by Food from Britain shows that the the Irish people have the highest per capita consumption of chocolate globally. Around 24.7 pounds (11.2kg) of chocolate are devoured every year per capita in Ireland.
According to reports, the Irish chocolate market is valued at a staggering $677 million dollars, and places such as Lily O'Briens and Butlers Chocolate Café are reaping some major benefits. Chocolate manufacturers like Nestle, Cadbury, and Rowntree have to be thankful to the Irish chocoholics, as well. The latter should be particularly thankful as they are celebrating their 150th birthday.
Currently, Ireland is Britain’s largest export market for chocolate. Sweet treats that aid in the thriving of business include the British-made Kit-Kat bars.
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Say No To Chocolate-Filled Syringes
June 29, 2012
Dubai Municipality's Food Control Department was forced to issue a warning when rumors about chocolate-filled medical syringes started circulating in the United Arab Emirates.
Photos of these syringes filled with a chocolate spread by Nutella first started surfacing on social media sites, and some concerns were forwarded to the Dubai Municipality hotline.
Khalid Sherif, Director of Food Control Department, said: "The Ministry of Health confirmed that the medical needles are not clean or sanitized and might be used in hospitals to take blood or inject medicine," He also added: "We strongly advise the public to purchase food products from authorized establishments only as they get approval for all food items, apart from the periodical check up by the civic body."
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Chocolate Before Doomsday
June 26, 2012
I know all of us have managed to watch at least a couple of movies whose plot is focused on alien invasion, world destruction, or whatever a screenwriter could think of as long as it is related to ending all the life on this planet. This trend became more elevated with the infamous doomsday thing in the year 2012. I’m not sure if people are just plain masochists thinking about losing their souls or are really curious on whether this suspicion is true and if so, when is it exactly going to happen.
Of course dying is an unpleasant thing most especially if you are unprepared for it. So if it is my turn to go, I think it would be helpful if I knew about it ahead of time. That is not for me to stop it because I am no superhero or God, but the awareness of it will somehow make sense.
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From Diamonds To Chocolate
June 22, 2012
Designer Azature Pogosian, the jewelry designer who has black diamonds as a specialty, is all the rage in Hollywood. Hollywood A-listers such as Beyoncé, Rihanna, Fergier, Scarlett Johansson, and Miley Cyrus, among others, have been seen sporting his designs down the red carpet.
In 2007, he was able to launch his upmarket jewelries and has added an up-to-date fashion jewelry line, AZ by Azature, which you can get for $50-$850. In Houston, for a showcase of his collection at the St. Regis Hotel through Saturday, "The Black Diamond King" has also ventured into the chocolaty world. The designer has recently launched a high-end line of black-diamond pralines hand-made out of the rare "Wild Treasure" cocoa bean.
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Bring Home the Chocolate-Covered Bacon!
June 19, 2012
Ed Gotwalt, the owner of Mister Ed's Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium based in Orrtanna, Pennsylvania, recently introduced the phenomenon of meat and chocolate in his store. He started serving chocolate covered bacon about a month ago. Since then he's been keeping his supply up, ordering 25 to 50 pounds nearly every week.
According to Gotwalt, it has been so much of a rage that their supply is having a hard time keeping up with the demand. Their store’s sign says "Bring home the bacon to Dad. It's covered in chocolate." That seems to be pulling people into the store. "Dad always bring home the bacon. Now you can bring home the bacon for Dad, and it's chocolate covered," he said.
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Dark Chocolate for Kids?
June 15, 2012
If it's sweet, kids will eat it. Make that sweetness chocolate, and it's gone without even thinking about it. For most kids that's true even if it's dark chocolate (except, strangely for our son, who loves milk chocolate and won't touch dark chocolate).
Dark chocolate often in the news for its heart healthy consequences, such as lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke in adults. Now someone has finally asked the question, "is dark chocolate healthy for children?"
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Part-time Rower, Part-time Chocolate Maker
June 12, 2012
Many of us have dreams. For some, those dreams include the Olympics.
Will Newell is a world class rower who trains much of his time at the Oklahoma City High Performance Center in the Devon Boathouse and Olympic Qualifier. He pointed out that many countries around the world provide their athletes with provisions that are much higher compared to United States athletes. That means the U.S. athletes have to find a way to make a living.
The Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation sponsors athletes and helps them find jobs and housing while training as Olympic athletes. Newell and his fellow athlete Robin Prendes are currently members of a four lightweight crew. They have earned their way to the 2012 Olympics and are currently working part-time for Devon Energy.
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Dark Chocolate for Reducing Cardiac Diseases
June 8, 2012
As a self-proclaimed and a self-confessed chocoholic, I have always been particularly keen about the things I come across on the Internet that talk about my favorite sweet treat. In recent years, there have been many stories about the health benefits that dark chocolates are able to provide.
Recent research brings up a certain metabolic syndrome, which is a combination of many risk factors that include an elevated blood pressure as well as high cholesterol and abdominal obesity. This condition places a person in a position that can lead to diseases like coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes and many different types of carcinoma or cancer. The participants in the study showed no symptoms of coronary heart disease, and were not takers of any medications that can lower blood pressure.
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