Calling All Chocoholics - You Can Feel A Little Less Guilt

If you ask me, this should be called the season for chocolate! It's a gift I certainly won't turn down! If, though, you are feeling a twinge of guilt for getting chocolate for someone, I'm here to make you feel better. There are some benefits to be had by eating chocolate, dark chocolate in particular.

• Dark chocolate is loaded with flavonoids. Flavonoids are known for their antioxidant activity, and antioxidants are know to reduce a human's chance for cancer and heart disease.
• A new study shows that dark chocolate may actually help to satisfy your appetite and lessen your cravings for salty, fatty and greasy foods.
• Chocolate can be mood-lifting! It contains not only the chemicals caffeine and theobromine to pick you up, but when mixed with sugar and fat, it appears to actually increase the feel-good chemicals (endorphins and serotonin) in your brain.
• Chocolate, is one of the few foods with a high content of chromium, which is thought to help control blood sugar.

Now don't you feel better for giving/eating more chocolate? Now, I'm not advocating you run out and gorge yourself on it, but a little nibble of chocolate, while watching your calories in other areas, may actually have some health benefits. If you are looking for some incredible gourmet chocolates, (like my favorite, the chocolate covered apple!) Gertrude Hawk Chocolates offers everything from chocolate covered pretzels and apples, to classic candy bars. And right now you can get up to 50 % off on select items.