Chocolate Dips

Want to make someone’s mouth water? All you have to do is say “chocolate.”  It’d be terrifically hard to find someone who’s never heard of of this aromatic treat. From the dawn of ancient times  to the husting, bustling present, chocolate has come to take its place as one of the world’s most popular flavors and food ingredients.

Of course, chocolate in isolation is phenomenal, as evidenced by the grand success of Hershey. But it can also be used to make a mind-boggling array of taste treats.

What would Valentine’s day be without chocolate? — pretty dull and boring. Roses are nice and smell pleasant, but not as pleasant as chocolate. It’s no coincidence that chocolate is a staple of nearly every holiday. Christmas and Easter are two obvious dates where people lavish chocolate on friends and lovers by the pound. And of course there’s Halloween. Sure, it might not be a “chocolate holiday,” but it always has its share of trick-or-treaters who are saddened to receive anything else!

The process of chocolate-making starts when the seeds of the cacao tree are first fermented, then dried and roasted. After roasting, the shell of the bean is removed, and the remaining seed is ground. The ground-up seeds are now raw chocolate, a favorite indulgence of vegans and health enthusiasts world-wide. But you’ll find plenty of other uses for this magical elixir. Some people use it directly in their baking; others add water, milk or other liquid to create a chocolate liquor. This doesn’t mean there’s suddenly alcohol in the candy, of course!

A chocolate lover is lucky to have a wealth of delicious ways to enjoy chocolate. Hot chocolate is a big hit when the weather is cold and nasty outside. Chocolate ice cream, made by adding chocolate syrup or liquor to ice cream, is equally popular when the sun is sizzling. And there are a trillion other delectable delights you can make with chocolate: “Death by Chocolate” cakes, cookies bristling with chocolate chips, and gooey brownies, to name a few.

Although at first it was thought that chocolate acted like a natural aphrodisiac, this has never been scientifically proven. But we now know that some of the natural ingredients in chocolate can interact positively with chemicals in the human brain. This interaction releases endorphins, which can help dispel a bad mood and increase your sense of well-being. Studies are still ongoing, but it’s never poor planning to have a sweet snack around if you’re feeling run down.

Here are some famous names in chocolate you’ve doubtless heard of, if not sampled for yourself: Hershey, the cute little bar you’re never far from, and Godiva, which is famous for some outrageously delicious treats (and one white horse). Gertrude Hawk is another quality candy maker found throughout the Northeast, who’s been in business for a very long time. Chocolate has played a central role in our affections and celebrations   since ancient times. Wouldn’t it be hard to imagine life without it?

Emily Ayers writes for Favorideas, a lovely source for chocolate wedding favors and elegant wedding favor boxes to place them in.

Every food has a good or bad effect on the body. Some foods help us maintain healthy bodies while others give us energy or help our mood. Did you know that certain foods, including dark chocolate, can also help your eyesight?

Dark Chocolate

In moderation (the tricky part!), dark chocolate can help to improve your eyesight drastically. The flavanoids in the chocolate help to protect the blood vessels in your eyes, thus strengthening your cornea and lens. However, make sure that you eat only pure chocolate and that it contains at least 60% cacao extracts in order to reap all the benefits. Most candy bars only contain 20% cacao extracts. The phenols in dark chocolate not only help to improve your eyesight but they also calm you, help you feel better and sleep more soundly. It may even improve your memory and reduce your blood pressure because of its low glycemic index. Dark chocolate is full of antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. However, while most people like to enjoy a glass of milk with their chocolate, doing so will actually prevent the body from absorbing the antioxidants.

Some people like to eat pieces of dark chocolate with a glass of red wine, also proven to help maintain a healthy heart and good vision. Consume these in moderation, but know that while you are doing so, you won’t have to feel guilty about eating dark chocolate any longer!

Vegetables

Most leafy greens contain high levels of lutein, an antioxidant, and zeaxanthin, both of which are essential to protect your eyes from degeneration. Cabbage, squash, collard greens and sweet potatoes are just a few vegetables you should consume regularly in order to promote better eye health. Carrots have high levels of vitamin A and beta-carotene, making them one of the best vegetables to eat in order to protect your vision. Spinach and kale have a substance called lutein in them and help to protect against various age-related eye diseases such as cataracts and problems with eyesight. Broccoli also contains lutein and zeaxanthin, which have been known to help relieve the eyes from damage caused by free radicals.

Fruits

Some people tend to prefer fruits over vegetables so make sure you eat plums, blueberries, lemons, grapefruit, and grapes. Most berries are rich in antioxidants and bilberries also contain anthocyanosides, which may help you reduce your chances of developing poor vision further down the road. The vitamin A in apricots can help you to see better and also help the eyes to repair themselves from free radical damage. Apricots can also help you promote better eyesight because of the amount of carotenoids found in them.

Other Foods

Olive oil, fish oils, almonds, milk and pumpkins are among the other foods you should consume to improve your eyesight. Salmon is one of the most popular choices because the omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins A and D boost your brainpower as well as improve your eyesight. Egg yolks contain B-vitamins, zinc, lutein and other necessary fatty acids that are required for good eye health.

Sara Roberts is a content contributor for Just Eyewear, a prescription eyeglasses and prescription sunglasses retailer.