"The Good News on Chocolate"

rivercitygiftco.com

I am a foodie. My mom is a foodie, my dads a foodie, even my dogs a foodie. One thing about us as a tribe (and indeed, foodies make connections in the most random parts of the world over things like a love for blueberry smoothies!) is that we are emotional eaters. And no, by that I don’t mean that we raid the fridge every time life gets tough or use snickers to fill our inner void (trust me, that habit can come with a big, big price – not to mention waistline!). What I mean by emotional eaters is simply this; that eating good, tasty food, makes us happy :)


So you can imagine the super warm and fuzzy feeling I got in my belly when I discovered the news about chocolate. Turns out, the stuff is not all trans fat, acne, and butt enhancing after all! Actually, researchers have discovered that eating chocolate can have the effect of relieving aches and pains in the human body. In fact, they go further to say that eating or even drinking anything for pleasure (read chocolate, caramel custard, honey nut crunch ice-cream) can literally act as a natural painkiller, and thus make us feel a little better when dealing with physical discomfort. Now you know why its called comfort food. Or why it just feels better to eat something a little decadent when you are dealing with those awful monthly cramps ladies.

And getting back to the matter at hand, chocolate (specifically dark chocolate) also contains antioxidants which protect the body from the damage done by free radicals (which cause aging and cancer among other things). Studies have found that consuming a bar of dark chocolate everyday can reduce blood pressure in individuals who suffer from high blood pressure. They also say that eating moderate amounts of the dark stuff is good for the cardiovascular functioning of the heart and that consuming it regularly has been shown to reduce LDL (the bad cholesterol) by up to ten per cent! Chocolate also contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant, and stimulates the production of endorphins in the body, which give you that “feel good” sensation. And now for the best part : it tastes grrrrreat :)

"Smart Snacking"

oregonwomensreport.com

Remember when we were kids and ate practically everything in sight without a second thought? Back when we counted scoops of ice-cream and not calories, when “deep fried” and “trans fat” were not evil words, and when we were ALWAYS ready for seconds? Sigh! Unfortunately, as adults we see the consequences of our eating habits show up pretty soon (usually in the form of a widening ummm silhouette or having to fight your way into that pair of jeans which used to fit like a dream!) Reality Check: You are what you Eat and the sooner you start taking control of your eating habits, the fewer issues you can expect later in life (read: high bp, obesity, diabetes, heart problems).
Here are 3 easy ways to get started snacking smart!



1. Save your second helping. For tomorrow. – This is not your last day on the planet. In any case, no food tastes as good if you’re eating it after you are already full. the secret to eating the right quantity? Stop when you are three quarters full, and then just wait… Voila! You will notice that in about fifteen minutes you are not in the least bit hungry. And best of all, you don’t feel like you have stuffed yourself silly!

2. Chew, Chew and Chew again! It’s a proven fact that the more you chew and the slower you eat, the more time your body has to register fullness. Not just that, when you chew your food completely (say about 18 times per morsel) the saliva in your mouth is able to work on it most effectively and begins to start breaking it down immediately, making it that much easier to digest!

3. If it’s not around, you cant eat it! You’re on your fav spot on the sofa watching “Channel V’s Get Gorgeous” when you suddenly get the urge for Brand X Extra Cheesy Potato Chips. If all you have to do is walk to the kitchen, you’re guaranteed to grab that bag and attack! But what if you have to put on your shoes, get in the car, and drive to the store? Chances are you just couldn’t be bothered. Guess laziness isn’t always a bad thing. :)