Chocolate, is it your constant craving?

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Recently when my car was stolen, a friend of mine sent me an email saying "what you need is a bag of chocolate chip cookies and a quart of milk". I don't know about you but I love chocolate chip cookies or any chocolate for that matter. I could eat it every day. Do we have to feel guilty about our desire for this luscious melt-in-your-mouth treat? No, not any more. Studies conducted at Pennsylvania State University have found that chocolate does not elevate the LDL (evil) cholesterol. Although chocolate does contain the saturated fats palmitic and stearic acids that are found in cocoa butter, stearic acid has a neutral effect on your blood cholesterol. Chocolate also contains monounsaturated fat (the more healthy type).

Need to be more convinced? What many of us don't realize is that chocolate is a plant-based food. Originating from the cocoa bean, chocolate contains phytochemicals (those naturally occurring plant substances that are beneficial to your health) as well as minerals. Flavonoids, also found in green tea and wine, are one of the phytochemicals in chocolate being studied for its possible health benefits. Now that's some good news worth a piece of dark chocolate!

But what makes us crave chocolate? Some research suggests that the desire for chocolate may be cultural. In the US, more women (50%) long for it than men (less than 20%). In countries such as Spain, the desire is the same (25%) by both men and women. Other research points to the incredible sensory attributes of chocolate including taste, smell and mouth feel. It's time to say goodbye to guilt.