Happy News: Chocolate Good for the Heart and Brain!
Healthy Eating? You Decide!
This news is a month+ old, but it’s really timeless, and it made me happy, so I’m sharing with you. Science proves that Chocolate is GOOD FOR YOU!
Chocolate Good for the Heart and Brain, according to new meta-analysis
Michael O’Riordan from http://www.theheart.org/article/1268867.do
August 29, 2011 (Paris, France) — In a city renowned for its love of food, it is only fitting that researchers presented the results of a new study in Paris, France, showing that chocolate is good for the heart and brain. In a presentation at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 2011 Congress, British investigators are reporting that individuals who ate the most chocolate had a 37% lower risk of cardiovascular disease and a 29% lower risk of stroke compared with individuals who ate the least amount of chocolate.
In the study, published online August 29, 2011 in BMJ to coincide with the ESC presentation, Dr Adriana Buitrago-Lopez (University of Cambridge, UK) and colleagues state: “Although overconsumption can have harmful effects, the existing studies generally agree on a potential beneficial association of chocolate consumption with a lower risk of cardiometabolic disorders. Our findings confirm this, and we found that higher levels of chocolate consumption might be associated with a one-third reduction in the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.”
In this meta-analysis of six cohort studies and one cross-sectional study, overall chocolate consumption was reported, with investigators not differentiating between dark, milk, or white chocolate. Chocolate in any form was included, such as chocolate bars, chocolate drinks, and chocolate snacks, such as confectionary, biscuits, desserts, and nutritional supplements. Chocolate consumption was reported differently in the trials but ranged from never to more than once per day. Most patients included in the trials were white, although one study included Hispanic and African Americans and one study included Asian patients.
Of the seven studies, five trials reported a significant inverse association between chocolate intake and cardiometabolic disorders. For example, individual studies showed reductions in the risk of coronary heart disease (odds ratio 0.43; 95% CI 0.27–0.68), the risk of cardiovascular disease mortality (relative risk [RR] 0.50; 95% CI 0.32–0.78), and the risk of incident diabetes in men (hazard ratio 0.65; 95% CI 0.43–0.97).
Overall, the pooled meta-analysis results showed that high levels of chocolate consumption compared with the lowest levels of chocolate consumption reduced the risk of any cardiovascular disease 37% (RR 0.63; 0.44–0.90) and stroke 29% (RR 0.71; 0.52–0.98). There was no association between chocolate consumption and the risk of heart failure, and no association on the incidence of diabetes in women.
The researchers note that the findings corroborate the results of previous meta-analyses of experimental and observational studies in different populations showing a similar relationship between chocolate and cocoa consumption and cardiometabolic disorders.
“These favorable effects seem mainly mediated by the high content of polyphenols present in cocoa products and are probably accrued through the increasing bioavailability of nitric oxide, which subsequently might lead to improvements in endothelial function, reductions in platelet function, and additional beneficial effects on blood pressure, insulin resistance, and blood lipids,” conclude Buitrago-Lopez and colleagues.
<end of press release>
Well, I’m not even pretending to understand that last bit, about endothelial function and whatnot…. but in celebration of this news, I’m having myself a couple pieces of a Trader Joe’s 72% Chocolate bar — because even generic chocolate makes me smile!
What’s Your Favorite Christmas FOOD Memory?
One of my favorite websites just ran a “Christmas Food Memory” contest and –Woohoo! — I received an honorable mention for my entry. It’s about dark chocolate, of course. I thought I’d share with you & ask about YOUR favorite holiday food memory.
Here’s my story:
It was the fudge. Oh, god, how I waited for Christmas each year, because my mom only made her two specialties then: cinnamon shortbread cookies and her famous fudge. My mom’s fudge was deeply, darkly chocolatey, and she tossed in a tiny bit of crushed candy canes for a teensy bit of peppermint. Once the fudge was set, she cut it into little one-inch squares, so one pan yielded hundreds!
Here’s how I ate that fudge (and I still eat it this way today): open mouth, insert one piece. Close mouth. Do not chew… just let it dissolve. Ooh, feel the buttery, chocolatey, slightly granularness of it on your tongue. Mash it up against the roof of your mouth with your tongue. Feel the chocolate juices running out of it. Patience…. do not chew. Feel the silky softness, and then the tiny shards of peppermint that touch the tongue as the fudge dissolves. Close your eyes and swim around in the darkness of it. Mmmm. Patience… wait for it…. and when there is nothing left but the peppermint with just a little pool of fudginess… it’s OK to chew up the rest.
You know, once I grew up and started cooking for myself, I learned that the Dark Chocolate Peppermint Fudge was the simplest thing in the world to make. Still, it’s never tasted as good as when I was a kid and it was a mystery. Merry Christmas!
If your mouth is watering, you can get the recipe here — including specific instructions on the proper method and accompaniments for eating great dark chocolate fudge!
And now, the question: What’s YOUR favorite Christmas/Holiday food memory? Please share in the comments
P.S. If you’d like to see the rest of the winning Food Memories, visit Shelley’s blog.
Shelley at One Roast Vegetable is a Canadian entrepreneur I began following several years ago when she ran her kitchen out of Montreal, Quebec. Then a couple years ago she and her hubby followed their dreams and moved to Paris, one of the world’s food capitals. From her tiny French kitchen she video blogs and runs a membership site, along with a charitable wing that regularly bakes Banana Bread for the homeless!
Bon Appetit, and enjoy the happy fudgieness!
Life Lessons from a Coffee Cup
Filed under: About Happiness, Everyday Happiness, Happy Food
When I bought a cup at the airport coffee shop, I expected warm caffeine. What I got was a list of life tips written on the cup. It made me smile, and thought I’d share:
And it didn’t stop with the cup. Even the napkin carries some life wisdom:
Stay awake for:
…maxing out your passport
…ghost stories around the campfire
…playing an instrument
…break dancing
…Luscious, oh-so-delicious chocolate
And finally, a reminder that:
Life’s too short for:
…grudges
…Fake anything
…putting profits before people
…over-roasted coffee
…crabby people
…WiFi you have to pay for (I was typing this on an airport wifi signal I had to pay for, grrrr)
…waiting for change to happen
All this life wisdom for just $1.19. And they even threw in some hot coffee!
Enjoy your day. I will.
Coca Cola and the Happiness Machine
Yes, a high-fructose, corn syrup-based soft drink that is currently under attack for being a significant contributor to the obesity epidemic has gone on the Happiness offensive. First, watch this delightful video, then keep reading.
Coke = Brand Mastery
I must admire Coke for their masterful work in Brand Management. I mean, how can you hate a product that makes you smile like this?
What’s YOUR Brand?
I think there’s a lesson here — but it’s not about sugary soda. It’s about things YOU can do, every day, to enhance your “brand” in the world, and change the impact you have on other people:
Do the unexpected. Share joy. Do things that give people a reason to smile. Send flowers. Serve “community food” that brings people together (like pizza or a long sub). Be random. Create a positive environment. Give hugs. When people ask you for something, occasionally give them more than they asked for. Laugh. Share with friends.
Yes, I may be a Coca Cola Grouch when it comes to their product, but I LOVE their message. Share some Happiness today!
Happiness is a Great Mac-N-Cheese!
Met a client for lunch today at a little gem of a restaurant in Tremont (a ‘comeback’ region of Cleveland) called Lucky’s Cafe.
I’ve had many meetings at this location over the past year, but they’ve always been “meet for coffee” events, so my experience of Lucky’s is as a coffee shop — with a great patio in the summer.
Today was my first lunch meeting at the place. I knew as soon as I looked at the menu what I was going to order — the macaroni and cheese is legendary, plus I’ve got a warm spot for comfort food.
But I have to tell you, I was completely unprepared for how UTTERLY FANTASTIC a plain old dish like macaroni and cheese can become in the hands of a food artistan.
This was not ‘just’ a variation on comfort food. It was decadent. It was the very definition of Creamy. It was a macaroni and cheese Dessert. It was a ‘dive in and swim around in it’ entree. It was a little bit of bubbling cheese heaven on a plate. It was a Stop-The-Conversation-So-I-Can-Experience-Sensory-Pleasure dish.
Did I mention it was really good?
And that the side of homemade applesauce was just the perfect thickness, with a hint of cinnamon?
Ironically, just before the entrees arrived, my client and I were discussing the distinction between pleasure (fleeting) and happiness (more enduring). So the question becomes, can macaroni and cheese create true happiness?
Well, I’m willing to go back to Lucky’s Cafe to find out!
(from their menu)
Baked Mac-N-Cheese
Cheddar, Brie, Parmesan, And Mozzarella Cheeses, Baked With Pasta And Cream, Topped With Brioche Bread Crumbs.
Served With Housemade Apple Sauce.
Jim’s Dark Chocolate Peppermint Fudge
By popular demand:
Jim’s Dark Chocolate Peppermint Fudge
Making the Fudge
Put 4-5 candy canes into a plastic bag. Bang with a hammer till in small pieces. Set aside.
In non-stick saucepan, mix the following over low/med heat:
- 1 lb bag confectioner’s sugar
- ½ cup powdered cocoa – Hershey’s Special Dark is wonderful. If you can’t get Hershey’s try to use dark chocolate, dutch process cocoa
- 6 Tablespoons butter (3./4 of a stick — margarine also works)
- 4 Tbl milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ tsp salt
Heat over low/medium heat, stirring constantly until JUST starts to boil. Mixture will be dark and silky.
Remove from heat. Fold crushed candy canes into mixture, and immediately pour into a buttered 9×9 inch pan. Let cool, then refrigerate a couple hours. Once set, can remove from fridge.
Storing the Fudge
Remove and cut into 1 X 1” squares. It’s very rich. Keep in sealed container. Hide it from strangers. Maybe even hide it from yourself, as you’ll find yourself eating a piece every time you walk thru the kitchen…..
Eating the Fudge
Oh, sure, you can just pop a square of fudge in your mouth, chew and swallow. But where’s the joy in that?! Here are my favorite ways to enjoy it:
- Take a single square of the fudge, and bite it in half. Let the fudge lay on your tongue. As it melts, press it up against the roof of your mouth and let your tongue bathe in the sugary-grainy smooth chocolatey-ness of it. Close your eyes and breathe in the wonderful, chocolately sensuality of the fudge. Be one with the fudge. Ommmmm.
- Sit down with a steaming cup of hot coffee, freshly brewed (I make mine strong, with a french press). Sip of coffee, pop fudge into warm mouth. As the fudge melts, sip gently on the coffee and let the coffee/chocolate combo swirl smoothly down your throat. Do not try to speak — it will ruin the moment.
- Try it with a short mug of Trader Joe’s Dark Sipping Chocolate. Follow same process as with coffee, but be warned — this option is not for the weak! You must have a strong tolerance for dark chocolate-ness.
WARNING: Have a glass of ice water nearby, in case someone needs to toss on you to bring you out of your ecstasy.
Enjoy the guilty pleasure!
Happiness, the BOOK!
The 13 Principles of Happiness