Do you ever wonder why there are some people who pamper themselves with chocolates the moment the feeling of sadness strikes and they feel down? But what is it really with chocolates that enable a person’s happiness to be triggered and stimulated? These are very interesting questions especially for a chocolate lover like me!

And why are toddlers and big kids getting too hyperactive every time they have eaten chocolates in less than an hour? Maybe it is not just the sweetness of the chocolates that make us happy and perks us all up, but something only medical science can explain to us. And as studies have shown, there are really some components in chocolates that actually give us that heart-pounding, mood elevating and breath-enhancing experience. And for parents of toddlers and young children who go extreme after some bites of their favorite chocolates, that is one thing hey are dying to know. Researching and learning about these things can actually bring you some peace and quiet in the house!

Since we know that all chocolates are very high in caffeine content, a natural substance that elevates our blood pressure, makes us breathe a little faster and gives us a higher level of awareness, we are also aware that there are possible effects to our health, positive or negative. Other chemical studies have shown components that evoke similar effect as that of marijuana. Although it is likened to the “same high”, the chemicals have been found to be non-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), so you’re not breaking any law by eating chocolates. Plus, you will have to eat about 25-30 lbs of chocolates before you get the exact marijuana high that you will get from smoking the real thing.

But however love and passion you have for chocolates, you must always be conscious of their possible effects later on in your lives. You must keep your love for chocolates in check, even though there are no clear addictive proofs that can affect your mental health. While the body more slowly absorbs sugar from chocolates than any other foods, you have to keep in mind that too much may cause obesity and increase your chances of acquiring or worsening diabetes.

So, whether you call yourself a chocolate lover or a chocoholic doesn’t really matter. We all have a soft spot for chocolates; we just have to remember that nothing beats moderation – in life and in health. Here is a recipe where you can be health-conscious and at the same time, satisfy your hunger for chocolates.

Fettuccine with Chocolate Sauce

Ingredients
• 8 ounces regular or chocolate fettuccine
• 2 cups skim milk, divided
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preparation
1. Cook and drain pasta.
2. In a small saucepan, combine 1/4 cup milk and cornstarch, mixing until smooth. Add cocoa, sugar, cinnamon and remaining milk.
3. Heat just until boiling, stirring constantly.
4. Cook one minute until sauce is thickened.
5. Pour sauce over pasta and combine.
6. Top each serving with your choice of crème fraîche, sour cream or vanilla yogurt.

Truly, regular pasta has just become more interesting! Now you’ve combined your favorite chocolate with a satisfying meal of energy-giving pasta! Who would have thought that this chocolate recipe could be this phenomenal?

Chocolates are really a kind of food that most people say as irresistibly sweet and delicious. Well, a huge part of chocolate aroma depends on its taste a rich and delicious chocolate which satisfies our desire and craving. But beyond that feeling, we don’t know that chemical reactions are also working for the benefit of creating a good and satisfying taste. For example, we can feel a feeling of satisfaction and pleasurable sensation like the feeling of being satisfied after a long run or jogging n the field for several minutes.

Facts about chocolate are really much unreachable to produce a final statistic or data. Chocolate contains a so called neurotransmitter and a kind of substance known as serotonin. These compounds have an action similar to that of a Theobromine and Phenyethylamine that stimulates and works as an anti depressant. But the mere fact is still unknown for scientist to explain what and how these 300 compounds and substances can stimulate our body and gives a positive result in making us feel better and satisfied.

One thing that we are always concerned is a bad effect or being worried if there are any harmful substances that we may get from eating chocolate or for being one of the millions of chocoholics. A person who really loves chocolate is a lot worry to eat so much of it as to mention their need to lose weight and satisfying their craving would only lead to. Other worries would include rotting teeth to acne. However, through some good intentions of our scientist to prove something, their group and other group of researchers are beginning to unproved these theory and myths regarding this danger for loving and eating so much chocolate. For example it is not a fact that consuming chocolate is a threat to a healthy good teeth nor it is a false thought that eating this chocolate will only cause acne or even make it worse.

Even though both chocolate and cocoa contain sugar, they have a kind of antagonizing substance that tends to produce a kind of oral bacteria that will finally lead to a fear of having dental decay and any other dental problems associated to decays. According to a group of Researchers from the Eastman Dental Center in Rochester, New York, they have concluded based on their studies that milk chocolate can contribute a component that fights against any form of tooth decay. Through its composition of a substance known as Phosphate and other minerals that fight and prevent tooth decays.

Chocolates are said not to be the consumed as this is not a healthy snack. Nevertheless, its components are essentially high in magnesium and potassium. Chocolate also gives several vitamins such as Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin D, and Vitamin E. And if we mention about the calorie contents, a Nutritionist or even a Scientist can never claim that chocolate is a kind of diet food. But then, in a bar of chocolate, the average calorie is approximately 250 calories which far enough beyond level of a person on diet to suppress their craving. Some chocoholics wash the chocolate down with a glass of milk which really tastes good but researchers and scientists have studied that this could only prevent the antioxidants being absorbed or consumed by the body. It is advised that chocoholics must look for chocolates with nuts and/or orange peel, etc. But not with caramel, nougat or other fillings since these flavored fillings are just adding fat and sugar that is not essential to the body anymore and these fillings only throws a lot of the benefits than can be obtain in chocolate eating.

When the craving for chocolate strikes, it becomes such a complicated and difficult situation when you cannot give in to that yearning that is why never deprive your self. Remember, anything taken in moderation is safe for you! And besides, chocolates, especially the dark chocolates have been found to be good for the heart. Eating a small bar everyday can actually help your heart as well as your cardiovascular system do well. So, why not include chocolates in your chocolate-related species and get lower blood pressure from dark chocolates as well as lower cholesterol! Just make sure that you integrate the following tips to your chosen home cooking using chocolate-related recipes.

Chocolate Tip 1 – Chocolates Remain a High-Calorie and High-Fat Food

When you say balancing calories in the body, it does not mean that you are prohibited from eating chocolates from now on. No! You may still eat a pound of chocolate each day. As a matter of fact, chocolates remain to be a high-calorie and high-fat food. There are studies to prove that not even 100 grams of chocolates were used, or that is about 3.5 ounces of pure dark chocolate eaten each day can already give you the benefits.

Again, one bar of pure dark chocolate is found to have around 400 calories. If you eat just half of a bar of chocolate per day, then you should balance those 200 calories you get from the chocolates by eating a little less of other foods. It might be best to cut out on your other sweets or extra snacks and replace instead with some chocolates that will maintain your total calories.

Chocolate Tip 2 – Combining Taste of the Chocolate with your Recipes

Chocolate is a composite food with more than 300 compounds as well as chemicals in every bite. And the only way to really enjoy and appreciate eating chocolates is to take some time to savor its taste. And this you do not only do with your mouth, but professionals taste chocolates by using the mouth for the taste, eyes for the appearance, nose for the smell, and then getting the total taste of each chocolate.

Chocolate Tip 3 – Incorporate Dark Chocolates in your Recipes

Dark chocolates are found to have greater antioxidants content than milk or white chocolates. These other two variants of chocolate cannot make any of the health claims that the dark chocolate has always claimed. This may be attributed to the fact that dark chocolates have higher cocoa content of about 65 percent compared to the milk and white chocolates.

Chocolate Tip 4 – Skip the Nougat in your Chocolate-Related Recipes

Always go in search for the dark chocolates that are pure and not combined with anything. You may also go for those dark chocolates that are mixed with nuts, some orange peels or with other flavorings put on it. The key here is to avoid anything that has caramel in it, nougat or any other fillings as these will just add up to the sugar and fat which are already inside your body.

Chocolate Tip 5 – Avoid Combining Milk and Chocolate in your Recipes

Combining chocolate and milk when cooking your favorite recipes, or concocting your own recipes may taste very good; however, some studies show that pouring milk over the chocolate may actually prevent the antioxidants from being absorbed and used by your body. Therefore, never combine chocolate with milk for al your chocolate-related recipes!