cacao

"Move over, red wine. Make room for chocolate milk. A new study suggests that regular consumption of skim milk with flavonoid-rich cocoa may reduce inflammation, potentially slowing or preventing development of atherosclerosis. Researchers noted, however, that the effect was not as pronounced as that seen with red wine. Scientists in Barcelona, Spain, recruited 47 volunteers ages 55 and older who were at risk for heart disease. Half were given 20-gram sachets of soluble cocoa powder to drink with skim milk twice a day, while the rest drank plain skim milk. After one month, the groups were switched. Blood tests found that after participants drank chocolate milk twice a day for four weeks, they had significantly lower levels of several inflammatory biomarkers" - RAPatton

"Participants also had significantly higher levels of good HDL cholesterol after completing the chocolate milk regimen, according to the study, which appears in the November issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and is already online. “Since atherosclerosis is a low-grade inflammatory disease of the arteries, regular cocoa intake seems to prevent or reduce” it, said Dr. Ramón Estruch of the University of Barcelona, the paper’s senior author, adding that more studies were needed." - RAPatton

Participants probably also had a warm, contended feeling and the urge to have a few cookies as well. :) Can I get mine warm, with maybe a little bit of malt? - Nine

"It found that eating about an ounce and a half of dark chocolate a day for two weeks reduced levels of stress hormones in the bodies of people feeling highly stressed. Everyone's favorite treat also partially corrected other stress-related biochemical imbalances. Sunil Kochhar and colleagues note growing scientific evidence that antioxidants and other beneficial substances in dark chocolate may reduce risk factors for heart disease and other physical conditions. Studies also suggest that chocolate may ease emotional stress. Until now, however, there was little evidence from research in humans on exactly how chocolate might have those stress-busting effects. In the study, scientists identified reductions in stress hormones and other stress-related biochemical changes in volunteers who rated themselves as highly stressed and ate dark chocolate for two weeks. "The study provides strong evidence that a daily consumption of 40 grams [1.4 ounces] during a period of 2 weeks is sufficient to... more... - RAPatton from Bookmarklet

→ I thank you greatly for exposing me to new connections on #FriendFeed to build a positive support network, for those interested in social media, or those who like a random opinionated journalist (can't help it can;t change my spots!) Thank you for your help so appreciated I enjoy making new friends and establishing interpersonal communication exchanges. :) -- Also helps w/ the pain and depression. - H0llywoodWh0re

very tasty - nasibe(نصیبه)

yummy :d - آریـوبرزن

"If you like chocolate and fashion, you'll love these delectable creations." - RAPatton

YuMMM!!! - SCS Watching the Sun

"Nibbling on chocolate or even sipping a glass of water can relieve aches and pains, a study has shown. A team of researchers says the distraction of eating or drinking for pleasure acts as a natural painkiller. Although the findings come from studies on animals, the scientists believe the same effect takes place in people. Dr Peggy Mason, of Chicago University, found that rats were less bothered by pain if they were eating a chocolate chip or drinking water. 'It's a strong, strong effect, but it's not about hunger or appetite,' she said." - RAPatton from Bookmarklet

"drinking water for pleasure" - Joe Silence is not dead

ohgod - T. Brent, technopeasant

My favourite kind of cake. And really easy to make too. - Ken Morley

*mouthgasm* - Joe Silence is not dead

"As the summer season officially checks out and the weather is starting to cool off, chefs say that diners are warming up to rich, decadent chocolate. “It’s a fact that chocolate sells more in the cold months than in the warm months,” says celebrity chocolatier Jacques Torres of Jacques Torres Chocolate, based in New York. “Also, chocolate sells better in New York than in Florida or Los Angeles. People eat more chocolate when it is a bit cooler, and chocolate products like hot chocolate also sell better when it’s colder.” For David Carmichael, executive chef of Gilt, the two-Michelin star restaurant in the Palace Hotel in New York, the cooling but not yet cold weather means it is time to start experimenting with the time-honored pairing of chocolate and ice cream with his trio of chocolate ice cream cones, which debuts this fall. For that dessert, his house-made mint chocolate chip, strawberry and s’mores swirl ice creams are served in three handmade dark chocolate ice cream cones. Read more: http://www.nrn.com/article..." - RAPatton from Bookmarklet

"Gilt has a well-developed chocolate program and does a lot of retail chocolate business, Carmichael says. While strange-flavored chocolates come in and out of vogue, Carmichael says he tries to focus on executing his chocolates as well as possible, and doesn’t eschew the popular flavors like caramel, cinnamon and orange. That isn’t to say that he hasn’t done some experimenting though.... more... - RAPatton

"“I think that chocolates have become better than they used to be,” he says. “That has been the movement in the food industry from coffee to wine to cheese and chocolate. Maybe it is because the Web makes it easier to get information, or maybe it’s because Americans travel a lot more. Either way, they get more educated on food and the quality of food.” Once a customer starts to learn... more... - RAPatton

yum! I'm gonna ask MMF to make it :) - See-ming Lee 李思明 SML

wow :d yummy :p - آریـوبرزن

My favorite! :) - Tony, Paradox of FF

Yummy - Amir

I ♥ dbc - AJ Batac

can i have a a piece of that....with out all 5000 calories? - Marissa

NOM! - John (a.k.a. dendroica)

You're killing me. - Amy℠

ıslak kek - ramazan çekiç

Chocolate. Yum! - Kol Tregaskes

"When Gayle Green has a craving for chocolate, she piles her two children into her car and drives 45 minutes to the British Pantry store in Aldie, Va., where she stocks up on Cadbury chocolates imported from the U.K. "I know -- it's sick, right?" says the 40-year-old social media director for a wedding Web site. Ms. Greene could buy American-made Cadbury bars at a grocery store just a few minutes from her house in Woodbridge, Va. But since getting her first taste of British chocolate on a high-school trip to the U.K., she wants nothing to do with the stuff made in the U.S. "Oh, it's so yuck," she says. "You might as well eat a Hershey bar." As Kraft Foods Inc. pursues a $16.8 billion bid to snare Cadbury PLC of London, some U.S. fans of Cadbury are determined to snub the Americanized version of the chocolate, which is made under license by Hershey Co. of Pennsylvania." - RAPatton from Bookmarklet

"Like Coca-Cola lovers who swear the Mexican-made version of the soda tastes better, hardcore Cadbury fans spend plenty of time in hot chocolate pursuit. They scour the Internet, pester family and friends visiting Europe, and seek out specialty British and Irish stores to get their fix of imported caramel-filled Curly Wurlys, thick Double Decker bars and thin, crumbly Flakes. Most... more... - RAPatton

"Greg Ziegler, a food-science professor at Penn State University, says certain ingredient types -- say, condensed milk versus powdered -- can radically alter taste and texture. Also, U.S. government regulations ban the use of vegetable fat in chocolate, while European Union rules allow it. As a result, the American product uses more cocoa butter, which makes the chocolate "harder, melt... more... - RAPatton

@Myrna What do you read to find yummies all the time on a daily basis? :) - See-ming Lee 李思明 SML

oh DROOL! - Joe Silence is not dead

I told you once! I wont eat these :D Ill keep'em - آریـوبرزن

LOL and I'll just look. - Myrna

:D - آریـوبرزن

Now I know what I *need* to add to my breakfast to make it complete!-) - George Frink

I'm sharing this with Yatot - go get your plastic cup. And to @elmot who must be famished running after Mr. G. Rest your tired feet, bro. This is heaven. :) - jan geronimo

I just saw this cake mold in a store today! - Andrew C from Android

Wow. - ha3rvey (chee-la-key-les)

Oh myyyyy! - Carmen from iPhone

......it actually made my mouth water..mmmm - Simply Teeeya

So its chocolate-pb ice cream or is pb on the outside? - Myrna