Chocolate Resources
16.1.09
Tooth Decay?
When we were kids most of us loved chocolate. However, many times when we would ask for our favorite treat we had our request denied. Our parents would say things like "It will rot your teeth!". In recent years researchers have made some discoveries that kids across America will want to know. It's now being said that it's not the sugar content in food that causes tooth decay, but how long it stays in your mouth. So, a piece of chocolate won't cause too much harm; it's food like cookies that tend to stick to your teeth that will cause decay.
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Take Your Time!
I just found out that good quality chocolate contains about five hundred different flavors. That's way more than any other food we eat. This is exactly why you're supposed to eat it slow. I know, it's hard to resist eating it fast. I have a hard time with that myself. But if you really want to get the full range of flavors you'll want to let it melt in your mouth and savor it. Given time, your taste buds may be able to identify all of those flavors, but you probably won't be able to consciously distinguish them.
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No Link to Acne!
Another chocolate myth that has been recently proven false is that chocolate causes acne. Research has shown that even large amounts of chocolate don't make acne worse. In fact, studies that were conducted as far back as the 1960's have shown no link between chocolate and acne. Where did we get these crazy ideas from?
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High Quality Chocolate
If you want to be sure that you are buying good quality chocolate the first thing you want to look for is 50 to 70 per cent cocoa solids in the contents. This should be listed on the wrapper. Cheap chocolate usually contains about 10 per cent. Another thing to look at is the sugar content. High sugar content in chocolate is a good indicator of bad chocolate. Good quality chocolate will usually contain about 30 per cent sugar. Also, try to avoid chocolates with vegetable fat and artificial flavors.
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Good News About Chocolate
I just found an awesome website that made me feel a lot better about eating chocolate. The site is called Good News About Chocolate. It basically goes over all of the health benefits of dark chocolate. I've posted a link below for you guys to have a look.
www.goodnewsaboutchocolate.com
www.goodnewsaboutchocolate.com
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Genetic Research
Cocoa farmers lose over 700 million dollars per year to crop disease. That is why scientists have been hard at work trying to dissect the cocoa genome. Researchers aim to study over four million parts of the genome, hopefully providing information that will help make the plants less susceptible to disease. It could lead to improvements in taste as well!
The companies that are financing the project say the research will greatly benefit the farmers, especially those in Africa, where about seventy percent of the world's cocoa is produced. Researchers hope to be able to determine which breeds will be best for the specific area in which they are grown and which will better withstand crop disease.
One would think that due to the fact that virtually no cocoa is produced in the United States, America would have little interest in cocoa research. However, many other industries, such as raisins, rely heavily on chocolate.
The companies that are financing the project say the research will greatly benefit the farmers, especially those in Africa, where about seventy percent of the world's cocoa is produced. Researchers hope to be able to determine which breeds will be best for the specific area in which they are grown and which will better withstand crop disease.
One would think that due to the fact that virtually no cocoa is produced in the United States, America would have little interest in cocoa research. However, many other industries, such as raisins, rely heavily on chocolate.
Permanent link to Genetic Research.
