Today I’m trying something new for me, a Blog Hop. If you’re new to this too, a blog hop is an easy way to discover new people with a common interest and read some great posts. This time, we’re all talking about our love affair with chocolate and invite you to join in through the comments. Below my article is a list of links to other hoppers, this same list appears on all the hop stops. Here, have a brownie, read my article, leave a comment if you like, then click a link in the list to go there. Repeat as often as you like or until you’ve visited them all.
My Favorite Chocolate
I love dark chocolate. Yes, I know: to most of you this qualifies me as a psychopath. “Normal” people prefer the sweetness of milk chocolate. Be that as it may, I remain committed to the dark variety. But then, even though I’m a Southerner, I don’t drink Sweet Tea and I prefer the taste of a diet soda over regular just because I can’t handle the syrupy sweetness. In the meals that we cook we reduce or eliminate sugar. It’s what we’re accustomed to.
My favorite every-day treats are Hershey’s Nuggets: Special Dark with Almonds. I keep a canister of these on the counter in the kitchen, and use them as a reward to myself for having completed all my tasks for the day and behaved myself. On special occasions I may receive Ghirardelli or Toblerone bars.
Chocolate Benefits
- Aside from tasting incredible, dark chocolate is high in antioxidants and low in sugar – making it a health-food. (wink)
- Dark chocolate also contains several chemical compounds that have a positive effect on your mood and cognitive health.
- Studies show that eating small amounts of dark chocolate can help lower your blood pressure.
- Dark chocolate improves blood flow and may help prevent the formation of blood clots. Eating dark chocolate may also prevent arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
- Dark chocolate increases blood flow to the brain as well as to the heart, so it can help improve cognitive function.
- Dark chocolate also helps reduce your risk of stroke.
- Dark chocolate helps keep your blood vessels healthy and your circulation unimpaired to protect against type 2 diabetes.
- The flavonoids in dark chocolate also help reduce insulin resistance by helping your cells to function normally and regain the ability to use your body’s insulin efficiently.
- Unlike milk chocolate, dark chocolate also has a low glycemic index, meaning it won’t cause huge spikes in blood sugar levels.
- Dark chocolate contains theobromine, which has been shown to harden tooth enamel. That means that dark chocolate, unlike most other sweets, lowers your risk of getting cavities if you practice proper dental hygiene.
The Hershey bar must be popular, i have read so many blogs choosing them as their favourite, being from Oz, I have never tried one.
Oh, well, you’re just going to have to get the Wizard to instruct the Munchkins to import a few cases. Although… delivery charges might be astronomical…
Thanks for hopping in Carolyn.
toblerone – I always associate with christmas
In fact, I usually got the Toblerone bars at Christmas from a relative stationed in Germany. Thanks for hopping in!
Hi, nice to meet you – I’m chocolate bloghopping! I completely adore dark chocolate – how dark do you go? I’ve got 81% in the cupboard at the moment – yum yum! That’s a great list of benefits too.
Anything above 85% gets a bit bitter for me, Annalisa, but I do enjoy chocolates in the 75% to 80% dark range. Thanks for hopping in!
I enjoy dark chocolate best, too. I’m not a big sugar person, so that’s probably why. It’s nice to know chocolate is good for us, too. The chocolate man tells me the nibs are good for the skin.
I’m *firmly* convinced that all the best people love dark chocolate. 😉 I’m envious of your chocolatier, Mary. When we lived in St Louis we frequented a similar establishment. Wonderful stuff! No such luck here. Thanks for hopping in!
Hi Allan – gosh a clear glass jar with chocolates inside – especially almond ones – the jar would be emptied pronto .. but again I’ve been seduced away to a forgotten chocolate – chocolate marzipan – just too good to be true ..
I’m a dark chocolate fan … cheers Hilary
It serves as a reminder and motivator, Hilary. Every time I pass through the room I see my reward and it keeps me on track. Without a proper incentive, I have been known to procrastinate on things… :-/
Thanks for hopping in!
I’m a dark chocolate fan too, Allan. And now that I’ve read your blog I know that I owe my health to chocolate! 🙂
There ya go! Let’s spread the word: dark chocolate is health food! Thanks for hopping in Ute!
Ohh Toblerone, I love to get that as a treat for myself, it is so good! And thank you for adding the health things, makes me feel a little better next time I dive into some chocolate
You’re welcome, Arlette. Just remember, those benefits come with dark chocolate. Milk chocolate is so much higher in milk solids (fat) and sugar and lower in cocoa that it can not claim these benefits. Thanks for hopping in!
I guess I’m a psycho because I ONLY like dark chocolate. Milk chocolate tastes dull to me.
I agree Ciara. In the past I have had abuse heaped upon my head for loving the dark side by those who favor milk chocolate. Today, it seems the milky ones have fallen down a well. It’s been pretty much unanimous in favor of dark chocolate. Very strange!
I like lots of different chocolates, but it’s hard to argue with the health benefits of the dark.
True!
I knew chocolate had some health benefits but I’m really adding to my knowledge today.
Knowledge is our friend, Susan – especially when it helps us enjoy our favorite treat! 😉 Thanks for hopping in!
Actually, for me the milk and white varieties of chocolate (or “chocolate” in the case of that white stuff) are way too sickly sweet and I’d much rather a big hunk of dark chocolate. However, lately I’ve noted that my “dark” chocolate that I buy isn’t really all that dark, and I wonder if it’s just not got enough cocoa in it for me. Maybe I need to go for the 70%+ choccy.
Really: white “chocolate” is like non-alcoholic beer or polyester “jeans”… what’s the point? Like weight training or marathon running, stepping up to the next level is part of he love. Thanks for stopping in Trishia
Stopping by and saying hi from a fellow chocolate blog hopper. Though, I don’t like chocolate, so I find it hard to relate to your love of the cocoa!
You DON’T like chocolate? Such heresy! 🙂 Ah well, more for us, right? Thanks for dropping in!
I’m finding many people prefer dark chocolate over milk on this blogfest. Thanks for joining in!
It just goes to show, Laura, that we ARE a particularly intelligent group of people. 😀
Awesome chocolate blog…. I really loved it