Chocolate, the Secret Ingredient for Glowing, Beautiful Skin?

Splurge your way to gorgeous skin? I'm liking the sound of this! More on the news that an ingredient in chocolate may have skin-boosting qualities...

According to reports, British scientists are investigating compounds in chocolate and say they've made a breakthrough. The flavanols in chocolate, they say, may have anti-aging, skin oxygenation properties. The scientists are working on supplements based on these compounds in chocolate that may increase the body's absorption of cocoa's flavanols.
In the meantime, we can wishfully think that maybe the occasional squares of chocolate we enjoy now and then may be be good for our complexion. Nothing wrong with a little wishful thinking!

Go chocolate!

Allergic to Chocolate? No, Probably Just...Cockroach Parts

I'm fully aware that the FDA allows a certain amount of insect parts (and other unsavory contaminants, like rodent hair and cigarette butts) in food--I just don't like thinking about it very much. Are you with me? Still... this link between chocolate allergies and, ahem, cockroach fragments is worth finding out more about.

 

Here it is: most people who are allergic to chocolate are actually not allergic to chocolate. They're allergic to the cockroach parts that are in chocolate.

The average chocolate bar contains about eight bug parts. (The FDA allows up to 30 bug parts per bar.) Allergists says eliminating cockroaches from cocoa is impossible; the contamination happens at the beans' source (farms), and using chemical pesticides to eliminate the bugs completely would actually be worse for your health than ingesting them.

So people may suffer allergy flare-ups after eating chocolate due to the cockroaches. Reports MSNBC: "The roach bits can affect people with asthma, as well causing migraines, cramps, itching or hives in people who are allergic to them." Oh, and it's not just chocolate that allergy sufferers should beware of; cockroach parts can also be found in peanut butter, macaroni, fruit, cheese, popcorn and wheat. 

But if you're thinking of trying to nix foods that contain bug parts, better think again: Morton Teich, an allergist at Mount Sinai School of Medicine says that avoiding insects in your food is "almost impossible. You probably would have to stop eating completely."


Do you ever think about these kinds of "natural contaminants" that are in the foods we eat every day? Does it gross you out? Are you at peace with it? Are you--or anyone you know--allergic to chocolate?

Australia Clears Red M&M of Bullying Charges

Balitang wala lang: After what could be history's most prolonged ethics investigation of a piece of candy, advertising authorities in Australia have decided that the red M&M is not a bully. The ad bureau—after a 2-month investigation—rejected complaints from viewers that the M&M's behavior in TV ads set an unacceptable example for children, AdWeek reports. Ads in which the red M&M berates M&Ms of other colors are "humorous rather than bullying," the bureau proclaimed. Marketers shouldn't have send a message to children "showing them that the red M&M can dominate the rest of the group," one critic said. "Children will see this as a normal way of life as the M&Ms portray to them those they mix with at school."

Snacks That Can Boost Your Mood :)

If work is piling up and you're feeling grumpy, consider one of these snacks that experts say can perk you up a bit...

Bananas: They're rich in tryptophan, an essential amino acid that can help our brains produce serotonin, the feel-good hormone which makes us feel relaxed and in control. Don't care for bananas? Have an avocado or some pumpkin seeds instead.

Blueberries:  Foods rich in antioxidants and vitamin C may reduce feelings of stress. 

Chocolate: It contains anadamine, a chemical naturally found in the brain that is known to brighten our mood and make us feel happier.

Nuts: Rich in omega-3, which is not only good for both your heart and brain, it has also been used to treat clinical depression.

http://www.bettyconfidential.com

Chocolate Fire

Chocolate Fire is not your usual chocolate store. As their website says, Chocolate Fire is a Chocolate Deli and is best described as a café/lounge/bar experience with all the selections of a delicatessen.  

Together with my friends we decided to try out one of the best chocolate places in the metropolis which is Chocolate Fire.

It is hiding in the inside street of tall buildings around Makati. The exterior is plain white which boldly stated its name. As you enter the store you'll gaze up a dim setting which only used brightly lit. 

The environment has a good ambiance. You can easily glimpse on the sparkling variety of chocolates placed on a row of long table. There are fresh dipped cherries, truffles, milk chocolate dipped Pringles, gaga fantasy and more.Everything is covered with chocolate!

Their chocolates are like one of those I see on TV from Europe. Most European countries treat their chocolates as a luxury not just a chocolate.

The food and drinks are quite expensive but its all worth it coz the service, the food, the ambiance, equals PERFECT.

It's a great place to bring that special someone.

I'd like to come back here to try out the other chocolate concoctions they make especially their vodka with chocolate in it.

We really had fun raving from all those chocolates but if you took every pieces of each type you'll sure get a high bill so BE careful :)

Chocolate Fire
PDCP Building, Corner of Leviste Street & Rufino Street,
Salcedo Village, Makati, Philippines, 1227
Telephone: +63 920 6058692

Mon-Thurs: 11am-12mn; Fri: 11am-2am; Sat: 4pm-2am; Sun: 4pm-11pm

Price Range per Person: Php 201 – Php 500

The Dos and Don’ts of Chocolate

Regardless of your hopes, expectations, or reservations about Valentine's Day, chocolate has long been a favorite gift for lovers. Since katatapos lang ng VDAY, let me share these interesting facts about chocolate’s surprising health benefits and how you can eat it to your advantage. 

*DO be choosey about your chocolate.To get all of the good-for-you benefits of chocolate and cocoa, you have to know what you’re eating. Ideally, you should pick dark chocolate that contains at least 70 percent cocoa—the higher the cocoa percentage, the more health benefits the chocolate contains. The label on your chocolate should also say non- or lightly alkalized or non-dutched. And if you’re eating the stuff for health benefits, skip white and milk chocolate, which don’t have as many of the good-for-you flavanols the dark variety does.

*DON’T worry if you haven’t developed a taste for the dark stuff yet. You can develop a palate for the dark stuff by gradually increasing the percentage of cocoa in your chocolates and can even find some milk chocolates with 50 percent cocoa or more.

* DON’T forget about portion control. A little bit of chocolate is all you need. One study found that as few as 30 calories of flavanol-rich dark chocolate lowered blood pressure. Enjoy a couple of individually wrapped squares of your favorite chocolate to keep the calories in check.

* But DO forgive yourself for splurging. Eating that whole heart-shaped box of chocolates isn’t the worst thing ever. A 500-calorie indulgence amounts to only about a two-ounce weight gain—easy enough to work off in a single gym session or by skipping your usual Venti Vanilla Frappuccino with whip the next morning.

*DON’T turn to chocolate if you’re looking for an aphrodisiac. Men have long believed that giving a woman chocolate will put her in the mood to get busy. Hate to break it to them, but scientists have not been able to prove that chocolate increases sexual desire in women.

* DO drink hot cocoa to keep skin young. Cocoa beans are filled with antioxidants that combat inflammation from free radicals, which can leave skin puffy and red. When cocoa beans are converted into chocolate bars, they can lose much of their antioxidants, which is why she recommends drinking cocoa with skim milk. Plus, it’s a great mood boosting food.

*DON’T worry too much about the caffeine in chocolate. Even dark chocolate won’t keep you up all night. A 100-gram chocolate bar (made with 70 to 85 percent cocoa) has 80mg of caffeine, as compared with the average cup of coffee with 95mg of the stay-awake substance. And that’s assuming you eat the entire 605-calorie bar in one setting—also a DON’T.

*DO eat chocolate for your heart. High cholesterol is a big contributor to heart disease—the number one killer of women. A low-cholesterol diet tends to limit eggs, meat, cheese (you know, the yummy stuff), but chocolate should stay on the list of heart-healthy foods to eat! A study found that substances derived from antioxidant-rich cocoa powder may contribute to a reduction in LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) and an elevation in HDL cholesterol (the good kind).

*DON’T blame chocolate for your cavities. Your mom was wrong about this one. Chocolate may actually help prevent cavities and plaque build-up on the teeth.

 *DO use chocolate to scrub your skin. The antioxidants and cocoa butter in chocolate help moisturize and promote healthy skin-cell development, keeping skin soft and supple, if you’re looking for a DIY spa treatment.

*DO think outside the (chocolate) box. To get the health benefits of chocolate without the added fat and calories, suggest you start using natural cocoa powder in oatmeal, coffee and yogurt as a low-calorie way to get your daily dose of flavanols.

Source: glamour.com