Ah, Chocolate! The sweet, gooey, mood-enhancing goodness that simply tastes like yum and smiles. This delectable treat has come a long way since strange rituals were held around frothy bowls of bittersweet chocolate in Central America more than 4,000 years ago. It wasn’t always just about sugar-highs; studies show that early, good chocolate may hold the key to optimal health. No wonder our taste buds are dancing and our love for chocolate is so enduring.
Have you ever wondered why you feel so good every time you eat some chocolate? You’re not imagining things. Chocolate contains several compounds that make you feel good. Some of these include phenylethylamine (PEA), a chemical that stimulates your brain to produce endorphins, the body’s natural ‘feel-good’ hormones.
When you bite into a piece of chocolate, PEA stimulates your brain to release these natural hormones, which is why you feel ‘high’ or ‘in love’.
Furthermore, in addition to endorphins, chocolate contains serotonin, another feel-good neurotransmitter that plays an important role in our mood and anxiety regulation.
Both antioxidants and magnesium help in the production of serotonin, with dark chocolate containing both of these. So, if you are feeling depressed, then a couple of squares of dark chocolate will take your mood up.
Moreover, a study in the Journal of Psychopharmacology reported that participants who ate a little bit of dark chocolate every day over the course of a month felt calmer and happier than those who didn’t.
Flavonoids in chocolate are thought to improve cognition and mood by increasing blood flow to the brain. Chocolate isn’t junk food: it’s good for your mood. Next time you are having a bad day, try eating some chocolate.
When you eat chocolate, it’s pleasurable and now we know it’s heart-friendly too. A fair amount of research shows that eating dark chocolate in moderate amounts offers considerable beneficial effects for the cardiovascular system.
The reason appears to be the dense levels of flavonoids in chocolate, especially a form of flavanols, which can help improve blood flow, reduce blood pressure, and cut the risk of heart disease.
In a study published in the ‘British Medical Journal’, researchers discovered that those who ate chocolate at least twice a week had a 37 per cent lower risk of cardiovascular disease, and a 29 per cent lower risk of stroke, in comparison with those who didn’t. Dark chocolate’s flavanols help blood vessels expand and contract more effectively, upping blood circulation and reducing inflammation – all of which benefits the heart.
Also, dark chocolate increases levels of HDL, or ‘good’ cholesterol. It also decreases LDL, or ‘bad’ cholesterol, especially in cases of elevated cholesterol. Healthy levels of HDL and low levels of LDL help to prevent deposits of plaque from building up in your arteries, and reducing your risk of heart attacks.
Of course, it helps to keep things in moderation. While the health benefits are impressive, chocolate is also loaded with calories and sugar, so getting the most health benefits while not overeating means sticking to no more than a single small square of dark chocolate with at least 70 per cent cocoa content per day. So don’t feel guilty for reaching for a chocolate bar. Chances are, the cardiovascular system appreciates it.
Chocolate makes you smarter. It’s true. Deep down inside, you’ve always thought that it made you happy, certainly, but now research is proving it’s making you smarter too. We’re learning a lot more about the effect chocolate, especially dark chocolate, has on our brains.
This should come as welcome news if you’ve been told by your best friend or your doctor or your eye doctor that you can’t eat chocolate because it gives you either headaches or makes your eyes runny, or increases your risk of getting obese, or makes you have breakouts on your skin.
For nearly a decade now, scientists have been reporting on the cognitive benefits of flavonoid-rich foods such as dark chocolate, welcoming smart eaters everywhere to a powerful and tasty brain boost. For example, those who consumed chocolate had both a better memory and attention span over a two-hour period compared with those who did not (2008).
A study by University of Nottingham academics found that a cup of flavonoid-rich cocoa may increase the blood to the brain by up to three hours with improvements in brain function leading to better performance on tasks demanding attention and memory.
Regular consumption of flavonoid-rich cocoa could help improve cognitive function in older adults preventing or delaying dementia, according to a study in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Furthermore, chocolate contains small amounts of caffeine which help sustain alertness and concentration levels. The caffeine content in chocolate is much lower than that contained in coffee but, when limited quantities are consumed, it helps to counter fatigue and boredom without the frequently irritating effects of high caffeine intake.
And besides, the magnesium in dark chocolate helps the brain too, since studies have reported a connection between low levels of this mineral in the body and increased risk of neurological disorders, such as migraines, depression and anxiety. There’s more: the less highly processed a food is, the more easefully your body can digest it.
So if you have an exam to study for, a deadline to hit, a clock to beat – or just want to keep your brain functioning at its best, there’s a delicious way to help make that happen.
Dark chocolate is also loaded with antioxidants: substances that protect your cells against damage from molecules that have been damaged by free-radicals – unstable molecules left over from your body’s metabolism that, if left to accumulate, can cause oxidative damage and lead to chronic disease and aging.
The dark chocolate has such an incredibly high concentration of antioxidants because it has a high concentration of cocoa.
Epicatechin, which accounts for a significant percentage of the antioxidants in chocolate, is a type of flavonoid that can prevent inflammation, improve circulation and cut blood pressure. Dark chocolate also contains far more antioxidants per gram than many ‘superfoods’, such as blueberries and acai berries.
One in particular, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, revealed that cocoa powder and dark chocolate had significantly higher antioxidant activity, polyphenols, and flavonols than all the other fruits tested.
This antioxidant content shows the greatest ability to quench free radicals, helping to stabilize your cells and protect your body from oxidative stress and disease.
Plus, dark chocolate’s anti-inflammatory properties can also help your skin; it contains flavonoids that give your skin some protection against UV damage, keep it hydrated, and enhance blood flow for a healthy glow. Does this mean chocolate can be included in your skincare regimen, too?
One easy way to increase your antioxidant intake is by eating some dark chocolate with a high cocoa content regularly.
Making chocolates at Dallmann Confections isn’t just a job, it’s a family affair. Their online chocolate shop is the brainchild of Isabella Knack, a third-generation Austrian chocolatier modestly recorded in history. A proudly female-led business.
Her latest destination is in little Hathekskirchen near Salzburg, where her grandfather Guenther Dallmann had started his first pastry shop in 1954. Guenther focused on always using the best ingredients, and soon earned himself a pretty good reputation. He passed his handcraft on to his daughter Sylvia and her husband Franz, who built an empire out of it.
Isabella took the legacy of the family business to San Diego, California, in 2006 with Dallmann Confections, determined to launch authentic Austrian Mozartkugel and similarly daring confections on the US market.
Today, Dallmann Confections offers handcrafted artisan chocolates with premium, fair-trade ingredients. It’s old-world craftsmanship and new-world tastes, together in one bite.
And, since these treats are so delicious, if you are hunting for high-quality chocolate that is vegan, intended for gifting, or for treating yourself, the Vegan Collection is the treat for you! Here goes from most affordable to delectable artisanal truffle.
Think vegan chocolate that retains a great snap from toasted quinoa and almonds, and which is then wrapped up with dark chocolate and a shivery zing of orange. Such a treat is not just delicious, but restorative. A taste holiday, if you will.
Second, this sweet and salty taste is your new best friend. Vegan chocolate filled with finely grained pieces of sea salt, creamy caramel surrounded by dark chocolate all at once. You got chocolate, caramel, and salt… it’s the vegan chocolate exploration of a complex world of sweet and salty taste. I know: you should try it.
And, last but not least, the pièce de résistance: cardamom and rosewater ganache. Vegan and absolutely divine in its spicy and floral aroma, it combines cardamom and rosewater in a match made for your taste buds. Spice meets sweetness in this vegan chocolate, and it might just become your next favourite thing.
This just in: ready to treat yourself or someone special to chocolatey indulgence in all its vegan glory? Head on over to the Swizzels Vegan Collection.
Bella’s Favorites is a collection of chocolate flavours curated by Bella where every bite is an extraordinary taste experience! Sample our most popular offerings: flavors handpicked by Bella herself!
And inside? You’ll encounter a collection of Bella’s favorites: from classic to exotic to contemporary; from the traditional to the experimental; and from small, delightful treats to large, indulgent exquisiteness, using only the finest ingredients of truffles possible. This is especially ideal for chocoholics of all ages.
Are you a chocolate purist who dreams of getting back to basics? Or perhaps a foodie explorer who revels in the fantasy of flavour pairings? I invite you to partake, either way. For everyone who delights in a simple, perfect forkful of chocolate or cherishes the divinity of unexpected notes, Bella’s Favorites is the box for you. This is your introduction to the Divine World of Dallmann Confections.
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