Chocolate’s health benefits: Some Reasons Why you Must Eat Chocolates

1. Chocolate reduces blood pressure. The flavonoids found in cocoa help in the control of the arterial tension, by increasing the amount of nitric oxide in the blood. Studies showed that dark chocolate is as effective as the antihypertensive drugs are and can lower one’s blood pressure by 10%.
2. It improves blood circulation for two to three hours after you eaten chocolate. The chemicals found in chocolate are referred to as flavonoids. Flavonoids have been determined by scientists to have the effect of lowering LDL cholesterol and prevent coronary heart diseases.
3. Chocolate increases the quantity of sugar in your blood, due to the above-mentioned flavonoids. Chocolate helps the process of sugar metabolism, and dark chocolate helps reduce the risk of developing diabetes.
4. The flavonoids found in chocolates are a natural substance that prevents diarrhea.
5. Chocolate contains various antioxidants, which is much more than those found in fruits, vegetables, tea and wine.
6. Theobromine and methylxanthines found in chocolates can prevent depression. Chocolate gets into a good mood and they are recognized as antidepressants. Chocolate gets into a good mood. Chocolate contains serotonin, the "happiness" hormone, which stimulates the release of endorphins. Thus, chocolates act as antidepressant drugs which increase the brain's serotonin levels, since low levels of serotonin induce depression.
7. The bitterest chemical found in chocolate, theobromine, an alkaloid similar to caffeine, was found to fight off tooth decay, being more efficient than the fluoride in strengthening the crystalline structure of teeth against erosion by acid-producing bacteria (linked to tooth decay).

Chocolate Nutrition Facts

100 g / unit	Chocolates	Green Tea	Red Wine	Fruits and Vegetables	Milk
Flavonoids	15g (3 times greater than red wine)
Protein	7.5 g				> 7.5g
Calcium, Magnesium	9g				> 9%
Vitamin B2	2 g				> 2g
Polyphenolic	12 g(4 times greater than greentea)	3g			> 2g
Catechin	12 g (2 times more than red wine, 3 times more than green tea)	4g	6 g		> 2g

The ideal temperature to preserve pralines is between 15C and 18C; the atmospheric humidity must never exceed 60%.

Traditionally confected fresh chocolates must be preserved at room temperature. If the filling contains cream or whipped cream, preservation is limited to three or four days. Other pralines can be kept up to three weeks.

Pralines mainly suffer under humidity and extreme warmth, which can cause real “havoc” to the surface of the praline. At extreme temperatures the crystals of the cocoa butter will migrate to the surface and re-crystallized, causing a thin “mat” film to appear, which we called “BLOOM” phenomenon, however, this film will not alter the taste, only the appearance.

Tasting
Each of our senses-smell, hearing, touch and taste-plays on important part in the enjoyment of quality chocolate. The chocolate must be smooth and shiny and the smell of sugar must not be too strong. You can tell if the chocolate has a perfectly firm texture if it cracks on the first bite. The chocolate is too dry if it falls to pieces. If the opposite happens, then the consistency is too soft.

If a praline begins to melt in your hand before you have taken a bite, this indicates a high amount of cocoa butter, which is a good sign. The ideal temperature to enjoy pralines is 20C. Allow the chocolate to melt in your mouth for a short while. It should begin to melt immediately without leaving the slightest hint of graininess, doing full justice to the flavors and the aroma of the coating.

Two to three bites suffice to release the secondary aromas in order to fully enjoy the filling. Then gently push the chocolate against your palate, causing the taste to linger in your mouth and prolonging the pleasure of the exquisite aftertaste.

I. The Name “Chocolate”
EU directive specifies a minimum of 35% cocoa solids to be able to use the sale name “ Chocolate” or it will only be considered as “Candy.” In November, 2015, Ministry of Health, the Food and Drug Agency also declared that Taiwan will follow CODEX and updated the food labels in all retail commodities in between “chocolate” and “chocolate flavored candy.”

Act	Date of entry into force	Final date for implementation in the Member States
Directive 2000/36/EC	03.08.2000	03.08.2003
A. SALES NAMES & DEFINITIONS 3. Chocolate (a) designates the product obtained from cocoa products and sugars which, subject to (b), contains not less than 35 % total dry cocoa solids, including 14 % of dry non-fat cocoa solids;	4. Milk chocolate (a) designates the product obtained from cocoa products, sugars and milk or milk products, which, subject to (b) contains: not less than 25 % total dry cocoa solids, not less than 14 % dry milk solids obtained by partly or wholly dehydrating whole milk, semi- or full-skimmed milk, cream, or from partly or wholly dehydrated cream, butter or milk fat,

With that being said, Diva Life Chocolatier has been using 100% cocoa butter since day one to make the highest quality of Belgium chocolates; provides the finest chocolates by European rules and Codex. The melting point of cocoa butter is just below the human body temperature -- explaining why it literally melts in your mouth.

Reference Index:

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2000:197:0019:0025:EN:PDF

II. One piece dark chocolate per day, a doctor away

1. Chocolate reduces blood pressure. The flavonoids found in cocoa help in the control of the arterial tension, by increasing the amount of nitric oxide in the blood. Studies showed that dark chocolate is as effective as the antihypertensive drugs are and can lower one’s blood pressure by 10%.
2. It improves blood circulation for two to three hours after you eaten chocolate. The chemicals found in chocolate are referred to as flavonoids. Flavonoids have been determined by scientists to have the effect of lowering LDL cholesterol and prevent coronary heart diseases.
3. Chocolate increases the quantity of sugar in your blood, due to the above-mentioned flavonoids. Chocolate helps the process of sugar metabolism, and dark chocolate helps reduce the risk of developing diabetes.
4. The flavonoids found in chocolates are a natural substance that prevents diarrhea.
5. Chocolate contains various antioxidants, which is much more than those found in fruits, vegetables, tea and wine.
6. Theobromine and methylxanthines found in chocolates can prevent depression. Chocolate gets into a good mood and they are recognized as antidepressants. Chocolate gets into a good mood. Chocolate contains serotonin, the "happiness" hormone, which stimulates the release of endorphins. Thus, chocolates act as antidepressant drugs which increase the brain's serotonin levels, since low levels of serotonin induce depression.
7. The bitterest chemical found in chocolate, theobromine, an alkaloid similar to caffeine, was found to fight off tooth decay, being more efficient than the fluoride in strengthening the crystalline structure of teeth against erosion by acid-producing bacteria (linked to tooth decay).

III. Bitter V.S. Less Sweet
Often times, people think bitter chocolates contain higher percentage of cocoa solids, therefore, bitter chocolates are better! In fact, a good chocolate or better chocolates MUST NOT taste bitter! A higher percentage chocolates only means we add less sugar in making chocolates, which makes the chocolates taste LESS SWEET, but definitely now bitter! (same logic with tasting wine, will you think a bitter wine is a good wine?!)  
Because the opposite of “less sweet” in meaning is NOT bitter, therefore, it does not make bitter chocolates a good chocolates. Contrarily, a good chocolate MUST NOT taste bitter not unsmooth. It should taste a bit pure or fruity sour, sweet and smooth.

 

IV. How do you tell a good chocolate?

A good chocolate must be slightly shiny and mahogany brown in color. Must not be dull or too dark. Because of its fine coating, a good chocolate must not be brittle but must melt in the mouth. Must never be bitter or astringent. The taste of a good chocolate must linger and be mouthwatering.

V. Chocolate will NOT make you fat!
10 grams of milk chocolates contain only 40 calories; serving the same minimal amount of calories as 50 grams of spinach does. With regular exercises and a maintaining health lifestyle, chocolates will not make you fat!

VI. Chocolate does NOT cause acne
Chocolates do not aggravate acne. Experiments conducted at the University of Pennsylvania indicate that consumption of chocolate will have no effect on the cause of acne. Professional dermatologists today do not link acne with diet.

VII. Chocolate pairing
Champagne and sparkling wines do not pair well with milk or dark chocolate because of their acidity, which reacts with chocolate, causing a tart taste to occur. Instead, try white chocolate with champagne and red wines with dark chocolate.
It’s now very trendy to combine chocolates with caviar too, try 1 round bar of white chocolates plus 5 g caviar, you will learn the new meaning of “happiness”!

 

How to combine chocolate and caviar?

 

One of the “sweet and salty” combinations proved to be very tasty is chocolate and caviar. Analysis of both ingredients showed that they have flavor components in common. This combination set the base of the Food-pairing hypothesis. Originally, the combination was made with dark chocolate. For the visual aspect this was replaced by white chocolate, which is as good as indicated by the Food-pairing tree. (see food pairing chart below)