In News this week, the Central Coast has been named the hot cross bun capital of NSW, showing that Coasties have a sweet tooth.
Even better news is that despite common conception, eating chocolate won’t necessarily wreck your teeth. In fact, cocoa butter can actually protect them, by impeding bacterial growth.
Ancient Aztecs didn’t call it the food of the gods for nothing.
Modern day science says it’s also good for us mere mortals.
In the spirit of celebrating the Easter tradition of feasting on chocolate, Star104.5 has a handy list of reasons why eating choc over the holidays is good for you.
And a good excuse if you’ve gotten in early.
Which comes in handy following news that the Central Coast is recording huge sales of Easter treats this year, inclding choc cross buns. Coles supermarkets at Erina, Kincumber and Tuggerah all made the top 10 sales in the state for hot cross buns, including the choc chip variety!
Made from the seed of the cocoa tree, it’s one of the best sources of antioxidants on earth. 100 grams of dark chocolate (70-85% cocoa) contains fibre, iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorous, zinc and selenium.
Dark choc also contains caffeine but in really small amounts.
The following is based on dark chocolate varieties…
Just 10 minutes after popping the choc in your mouth, the tryptophan it contains starts serotonin production – the feel-good chemical which can soothe moods.
You’ll also have improved blood supply in the brain, which can lead to better mental activity.
And if you suffer from high blood pressure well chocolate can help with that too, its vasodilating properties can improve blood flow and lower the pressure.
After few days later, you’ll have lowered your anxiety levels thanks to cocoa affecting cortisol, successfully supressed a sweet tooth for other sugary sweets, and unbelievably can help prevent diabetes by increasing the levels of nitrogen oxide in the blood.
Make chocolate a part of your regular routine and you can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, clean blood vessels thanks to antioxidants and flavonoids – which also work on improving your memory (the magnesium also helps with that), and even slow the ageing process by neutralizing free radicals.
Dark chocolate has also been known to help your skin – the flavonols can protect against sun-induced damage, and increase skin density and hydration. Naturally, this doesn’t mean you can go out without sunscreen or drink a decent amount of water.
Naturally, talk to your doctor if you suffer from any health condition, especially if you suffer from kidney stones!
And it’s a wise idea to choose quality chocs, with 70% cocoa or more.
Eat responsibly…of course chocolate contains calories so don’t overindulge or you’ll do more harm than good.
And check the environmental impact of your sweet treat – choosing ethically sourced palm oil won’t hurt habitats of orangutans, elephants and other animals. (Click here for a shopping guide to sustainable palm oil)
You can even do good for an endangered Aussie by buying bilbies not bunnies (click pic for more).
