The Joy of Six...: Milk Chocolate…The OTHER Health Food

I finally found someone to back up what I’ve been saying for years…MILK CHOCOLATE IS THE BOMB…and it’s good for you. Thank you eHow…http://www.ehow.com/facts_4793178_health-benefits-milk-chocolate.html

I have been a chocoholic all my life. I knew all the hours and hours....and years upon years I spent nurturing that yummy, melt-in-your-mouth addiction, that I was doing some good somewhere….somehow.

Forget all the hype you see and hear about the evils of chocolate and the harm it will do. It will give you a nasty sugar high? It will make you gain weight? It will rot the teeth right out of your head? Pishaw! Read it and weep you chocolate nay-sayers:

Milk chocolate is produced from the cacao bean. Used for thousands of years by native people in Central America, chocolate was spread around the world when the Spanish brought it back to Europe. It is estimated that 3 billion lbs. of chocolate is consumed by Americans annually, with more than 60 percent of that chocolate eaten between meals. Milk chocolate is loved for its sweet taste and health benefits.

Dental Protection

1. Milk chocolate contains phosphate, which protects teeth from decay.

Antidepressant

2. Serotonin, a neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of well-being, is in milk chocolate.

Stimulation

3. Phenylethylamine and theobromine are chemicals found in milk chocolate that act as a mild stimulant.

Vitamins and Minerals

4. Milk chocolate is high in vitamins B1, B2, D and E. It also contains potassium and magnesium.

Low Blood Pressure

5. Flavonoids in chocolate cause the body to produce nitric oxide, which lowers blood pressure.

Antioxidants

6. Milk chocolate contains antioxidants that boost the immune system.

Low Cholesterol

7. Eating milk chocolate can lower levels of LDL cholesterol--known as the unhealthy kind--and raise HDL cholesterol levels.

So, you can’t tell me there isn’t one of you out there that isn’t happy…NO, ecstatic, to hear the TRUTH about our beloved CHOCOLATE. And, if anyone out there has something bad to say….keep it to yourself!

I’m on a chocolate high…

I love chocolate sooo much, that the quantities I've ingested alone will probably give me the nutritional strength to live well beyond my intended years....kinda like Wonder Woman.

Now if I could only get some validation on my ‘other’ theory….that the likes of these kinds of goodies below are found to be quite healthy and nutritious for us all. NIRVANA!

Volcanic Pancakes

Hot Beef Sundae

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

Manhattan 67 Burger

Oh well, one addiction at a time....

and have a piece of CHOCOLATE on me.... ~Joy xo

Comments

My daughter and son-in-law just got back from Scotland. They brought me some dark chocolate Kit Kats. Talk about yummy!

Posted by: Betty | March 26, 2010 at 11:25 PM

Do you know why there's no 12-step program for chocoholics!!!! NOBODY wants to quit!

And yessssssssss I'm a chocoholic!!!!

Posted by: Kay Dennison | March 27, 2010 at 07:57 AM

Whoa, take a breath girl. You obviously were on a sugar high when you wrote this.

Kay has it right!

Posted by: GoingLikeSixty | March 27, 2010 at 10:16 AM

Dark chocolate is my favored form; but, have at it with milk chocolate, since that is more to your liking.

As to the pictured "treats": fortunately, perhaps, not one of them looks remotely tempting to me.

Ms Agatha Crumm always said that, "Too much is never enough." She, however was talking about money. I think you could make the same statement...about chocolate!

Cop Car

Posted by: Cop Car | March 27, 2010 at 10:59 AM

The peanut butter cake looks awesome! I'm so glad to hear about the benefits of milk chocolate. I've heard about dark, but I don't care for dare chocolate. Milk chocolate rawks!!

Posted by: Tara R. | March 27, 2010 at 06:20 PM

You really made my day. Now I can indulge without guilt. I am an unreformed chocoholic and don't intend to change. Milk or dark; I love it all.

If you combine chocolate with caramel and throw in a few nuts I am in heaven.

Posted by: Darlene | March 27, 2010 at 08:49 PM

Dear Joy ~~Naturally I love chocolate too, but have to be careful as my diabetes blood tests
are up a bit. Darn it. Have always heard that dark chocolate was good for us, but the milk is much nicer.
I loved the look of your pancakes
but couldn't believe a hot beef sundae. Thanks for your comment on Peter's post I asked him to explain my absence. I hated not having the internet for over a week. All fixed now.
I hope Joe had a great birthday.
Sounds like a wonderful son, which is lovely for you my friend.
Take great care dear Joy and ease up on the chocolate just a little.
Much Love, Merle.

Posted by: Merle | March 28, 2010 at 05:11 AM

I should be one of the healthiest people in town!! This news is actually more exciting than the news that eggs had been given a bad rap for years and years. I've always thought that if you 'crave' something, then your body must need whatever is in that food. Nature's way of giving you what you need to stay healthy and balanced. I don't eat chocolate every day but do crave it once in a while....at which time I'm more than happy to oblige my cravings. (snicker).

Posted by: Val | March 28, 2010 at 12:35 PM

This is a post to my liking – chanting the joys of chocolate. I love dark chocolate and the European kind as it is not as sweet and often is flavored with liquor, like Rhum or Grand Marnier. Belgian chocolate is one of the greatest I believe.

Posted by: Vagabonde | March 28, 2010 at 05:44 PM