Your Valentine’s Day Gift: Say “YES!” to Dark Chocolate

Why do some people feel that because I am a nutritionist, I will place all the foods they enjoy off-limits.?”Thou shalt eat nothing but carrot sticks and rice cakes!” she declares! When I attend a party, eventually someone will lean over and whisper: “I know it’s bad for me, but I really like to eat (fill in the blank ) so don’t look.” Sigh. Do they look upon me as a god of “no?”

Do you equate God with a “Thou Shalt Not . . . ” Spirit also? God wants to give you the desires of your heart. But He also realizes that just like a spoiled child, if one receives all they want, it is not healthy for the mind, body or spirit of the one they love.

Sometimes however, man makes his own rules and disregards God’s mercy! 1 Corinthians 10:23  states “I have the right to do anything,” you say–but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”–but not everything is constructive.”

As we’ve seen throughout my recent diet post series, many popular diets state that one shall NOT consume legumes, sugar, fat, potatoes, eggs or any controversial food of the moment. Thus they make themselves out to be gods of nutrition. (With all due respect, who died and left them boss? That’s not God’s Plan.)

Let’s discuss my favorite dietary outcast: Chocolate.  After all, it is Valentine’s Day and my preferred gift is dark chocolate! In moderation, it’s one of God’s gifts to mankind:

• Dark chocolate contains powerful anti-oxidants, including flavonol (found only in chocolate) which protect against harmful free radicals, while protecting and building our immune system.
• It is very high in nutrients: magnesium and potassium have a calming effect on the body, even preventing strokes and heart attacks. Iron protects against anemia while copper protects the skin against wrinkles and sun damage.
• This wonderful product contains nitric oxide, a gas that relaxes arteries, increases blood flow which reduces blood pressure.
• Chocolate is a natural anti-depressant  producing serotonin which increases pleasure-seeking mood endorphins, such as phenylethylamine, a chemical that produces the same feelings as being in love.
• It guards against heart disease by decreasing plague buildup, thus increasing blood flow, lowering blood pressure and reducing stress on the arteries.
• Chocolate improves cognitive function by  stimulating blood flow in the brain cells. Containing caffeine, it also stimulates the mind’s memory cells.
• It allows your body to use insulin more effectively! Therefore, dark chocolate in moderation, works fine as a tiny treat for Type 2 Diabetics.
• It increases good HDL while lowering bad LDL cholesterol production.
• Remember how tooth decay was contributed to sugary candy? Well, chocolate contains an ingredient called theobromine, which actually hardens tooth enamel. (I’m surprised no one has come out with a chocolate flavored toothpaste! Anyone want to get rich?)

There were two scientific studies that followed a large group of men for two years. (Men, not women???!!!)  Each group lived longer, had less disease and professed a happier life overall.

So knowing what you do now, do you believe God would ever state that chocolate is unhealthy for us? No! Rather, He states He would never withhold any good thing from us.

“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” (Psalm 84:11)

So are you still following after diet gurus who profess that God has made mistakes and have adapted their philosophy of “Thou shalt not eat chocolate?” If so, continue on . .  . that means more for me!  Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

 

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