Chocolate

[Sage]

Martel and I had a discussion a month ago today about chocolate and its effects on people in general, especially women's tendiency to go batshit over anything chocolate related. Chocolate has a psychoactive substance in it, several actually, that affect mood, attitude, etc (www.chocolate.org). So we had this big long disucssion over dinner about chocolate's effects on people in general, how there were lots of people out there who might even be "addicted to chocolate" in the same way one can be "addicted to caffeine." So, we did an expirement- I was to not eat chocolate for a month.

My first response when he suggested this was "OMG no way!" at which point he said "well, If someone said 'OK, you can't eat corn for a month' you probably wouldn't care, so why care about eating chocolate?" Point taken. So, I have not eaten chocolate for a month, and you know what? I don't miss it at all. I mean, sure, chocolate tastes good, but a month ago I was all "OMG CHOCOLATE GIMME GIMME GIMME" and now I really would rather expand my tastebuds by eating something else.

So why, if I now am so impartial to chocolate, was I so wound up about it? Was it because of the substances in chocolate? Or perhaps because all chocolate anything is marketed to women, wrapped up in a little package of "chocolate makes you feel good, chocolate is what you should eat because you're PMSing, etc etc"? I, for one, think that marketing had a LOT to do with my attitude towards eating chocolate, especially with my insistance on having chocolate every day around my period. Do any of y'all have a major chocolate bone? Have you ever thought about *why* you have it? Perhaps tried to do without chocolate for a while? Why, as women, are we so fixated on chocolate?

[little_tippler]

When I was in my pre-teens, I had chocolate every day. I loved it. Then I developed into loving other things also and didn't eat it as much. I have phases now. Sometimes I just have to have chocolate, every day. It tastes so yummy, I don't see why not. It's not like I eat tons of it each time. But if there's chocolate in the house I'll be going through it slowly but surely till it's gone. Then when it runs out, often I won't go and buy more straight away. So then I'll have a phase without chocolate. I don't think it's an addiction...because I can go without for extended periods of time. I don't go for the marketing of it - I know which chocolates I like and taste best and I choose those.

Some of my favourites:

Leone Gianduiotti - this is a heavenly hazelnut chocolate from an excellent old fashioned chocolatier - and when I mean heavenly, I'm not kidding!

Droste milk chocolate pastilles - melt in your mouth

Ferrero Rocher - they're fun to eat in layers (i.e. coating, biscuit then centre)

Raffaello - from Ferrero also and yummy if you like coconut and almonds mixed - very light and delicate but also heavenly

Lindt milk chocolate bar - also great chocolate brand

Maltesers - these are fun and tasty

Twix - love to eat the chocolate and caramel part then nibble on the biscuit!

So, can you tell I like my chocolate?

[percy]

I never eat chocolate bars and usually only eat chocolate (chunks of chocolate) at Christmas and Easter. But ice cream? Everyday and every flavor.

[Grasshopper Green]

I go through chocolate phases. I might eat some several times a week, and then go several weeks without eating any. I *do* tend to crave it more during my PMS/cycle though. I like sweets, but I've always like fruity sweets (starburst jellybeans are one of my favorites) more than chocolate.

[noodle]

Chocolate really doesn't do much for me. I really dislike the overly smooth expensive stuff and the cheapie, grainy crap. Give me a plain or almond Hershey's or an Almond Joy and that's about it. Maybe some Kisses or M&Ms if they're already around. I don't reach for it when I'm stressed or anything and, truth be told--yes, I only eat it during or around my cycle. So there might be something there, but I only end up grabbing it in the supermarket checkout line, I don't seek it out. And that's only four times a year, anyway. But I do have friends that literally have withdrawal symptoms from chocolate if they don't get it daily.

[ngdawg]

Kitkats
Hershey milk Chocolate bars-king size of course
Hershey kisses
M&M's at work
Chocolate creme Oreos
Entenmann's chocolate frosted donuts
Edy's Cherry Chocolate Chip ice cream-with Hershey's syrup
Turkey Hill fudge ripple ice cream-with Hershey's syrup
Any chocolate covered caramels
Any chocolate covered cherries
Godiva truffles
Fudge brownies

CVS had their easter candy at 90% off and had a lot of it left, including Russell Stover solid milk chocolate bunnies....you can guess how many I bought at 9c, 13c and 25c sizes.
Chocolate is a major food group and I will beat anyone who says otherwise!

[snowy]

I think I'd probably die without chocolate.

I eat it in so many different ways. My favorite way is probably in truffle form. A good ganache makes me weak in the knees.

You better believe I always keep good chocolate on hand for my purposes, be it eating it plain or making it into candy, cookies, or cakes. I'll settle for something like a Hersheys bar when I'm desperate for a fix, but I generally prefer these gourmet chocolate bars sold with varying cacao percentages that I can find at my local grocery store.

This is going to be my Christmas present to myself next year: http://www.scharffenberger.com/products.asp?dept=5

[onodrim]

I think it's all about the marketing personally. In junior high and early high school I definently had that attitude of "I need chocolate now, I'm having my period, etc," because that's what I was suppsoed to think right? Once I hit college and had to pay for my own food, most extra things like chocolate were out of the budget. Honestly, I really don't miss it at all. Yes, chocolate is delicious and when I can have it it's great. But there are plenty of other things to eat, and I don't feel like I can't get through the month without a required chocolate dose.

[Meditrina]

The title of this thread alone is making we want some. I am a chocoholic, and there is no denying it. I have chocolate in some form every day, whether it is my Weight Watchers 1 point cake or a real piece of candy. Some days are worse than others, at least the cravings are worse.

[ngdawg]

Cupcakes
Crunch-covered Good Humor bars
Pudding
Girl Scouts thin mints
Mousse
Layer cakes
Liquer

[la petite moi]

I must say, dark chocolate with a cup of tea is delicious. I also love the chocolate mousse recipe I've come up with while working at Starbucks.

[raeanna74]

I must clarify exactly what KIND of chocolate that I eat probably every other day.

I DON'T eat Milk chocolate often. In fact I usually eat it as a last resort when I'm in dire need of a chocolate fix and there is no other chocolate available. I eat dark or unsweetened chocolate regularly. I would rather eat unsweetened baking chocolate than eat Milk chocolate. I actually LIKE baking chocolate.
My daughter is the same way. When she was two she snuck into my cupboard with all the candy sprinkles and junk in there and what did she get to eat? The baking chocolate not the sprinkles, or hard candies.

[Sage]

This is a good start, but I was really interested in WHY people say they're "in love with chocolate." I mean, there's no other food that I can think of that people go crazy over the way some people do with chocolate. "I have to eat it every day" "It'd heavenly" and using words like sinful, decadent, etc to describe chocolate... well, it's wierd. Why do people react that way to chocolate? Is it because they really, truly NEED chocolate in some form, or is it because of marketing?

[maleficent]

Don't like chocolate... way too sweet for me...


Cheese however, I would have every day in pretty much any form... the creaminess and the richness of it... oOOOOOH it's good... Cheese (and Imean good cheese, not grocery store waxy cheddar, or mozarella that bounces like a rubber ball) is decadent, and sinful and incredibly good... Gimme that over chocolate any day...

[Meditrina]

Why do I eat chocolate? Because it calms my nerves, soothes my soul and just tastes good. There are studies out there on the internet that show that chocolate contains chemicals that can improve your mood. Here is one link that I found, I am sure there are much more.

Chocolate Cravings

Substances found in chocolate, such as phenylethylamine, theobromine, anandamide and tryptophan trigger mood enhancing chemicals and neurotransmitters to be released in the brain. Phenylethylamine is a chemical found in the body that is similar to amphetamine. It helps mediate feelings of giddiness, attraction, euphoria and excitement. Researchers believe phenylethylamine causes the brain to release mesolimbic dopamine in the pleasure centers of the brain, which peaks during an orgasm. This may be why women report to prefer chocolate to sex. However, tests have shown that most of the phenylethylamine in chocolate is broken down before it reaches the brain. So, the amount of phenylethylamine that actually reaches the brain is unknown

chocolate also contains tryptophan, an essential amino acid, which plays a role in the production of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin is a calming neurotransmitter that makes people feel relaxed and satisfied and is essential for a well-balanced mood. Many people eat chocolate to relieve anxiety, but is unlikely that tryptophan is solely responsible for chocolate cravings or a chocolate addiction because it can be obtained from other food sources, such as carbohydrates, as well

[Sultana]

I like dark chocolate best, followed by milk. Do Not like white chocolate at all.

I love to indulge in a deep red wine with a dark choc. bite/chaser. Don't do that real often though. Like snowy, I adore the truffle.

Used to work at See's Candies. It's a good, mid-level chocolate, and it's there that I learned it's better to have 1-2 bites of quality choc. rather than an entire bar of not quality.

Oh yeah--choc *does* make me feel better nearly instantly during "that time." I know it's not logical (I feel better way before I can possibly have digested it), but I'll take whatever help I can get, don't argue with it!

[raeanna74]

Dark chocolate has actually helped me a little when I'm in the middle of a migrane.

[lilfle]

oh i would definately die without chocolate, i did give it up for lent though, that was tough

my absolute favorite are the "mint chocolate meltaways" by worldsfinestchocolate.com

mm absolutely to die for

[lazygirl]

I consider chocolate to be a food, its not a treat its just part of a good, healthy diet.

[percy]

Heh,..so much for Christmas and Easter. A girlfriend of mine just got back from England and gave me a little box of Leonidas Belgian chocolates. Never heard of them before but they were good,...all of 'em.

[little_tippler]

Originally Posted by Sage

This is a good start, but I was really interested in WHY people say they're "in love with chocolate." I mean, there's no other food that I can think of that people go crazy over the way some people do with chocolate. "I have to eat it every day" "It'd heavenly" and using words like sinful, decadent, etc to describe chocolate... well, it's wierd. Why do people react that way to chocolate? Is it because they really, truly NEED chocolate in some form, or is it because of marketing?

I think in my first post I answered your question, but let me expand on that.

Like I said, marketing of the product is not what sways me, I know what I like and I go for that regardless of the packaging or advertising to go with it.

Why do we use such powerful adjectives to describe what is essencially food? Well I can describe other foods as heavenly and sinful etc. I think partly the decadent and sinful bit relate to it's high calorie content, or richness. It's full of flavour and possibly fat (depending on the chocolate). This can apply to other foods also.

If you love food like me, you'd regularly be using strong adjective to describe food that tastes particularly good. I think in the case of these particularly yummy foods, the element of heavenly and sinful also can mean that they bring us pleasure. Ok it's not sex but it's obviously triggering similar things in our bodies or brains - and chocolate is probably hitting the spot better than most foods (pun intended )

I think there is probably a relation between eating and sex and other pleasing things like this because they are the basic "needs" or "wants" for most people. You know, if we talk cave man times, lots of sex meant lots of offspring, lots of rich high calorie food meant better survival and better ability to survive long periods of time with no food, yadda yadda.

Hope this better answers your question. All of the above is why I feel that it is appropriate to say I love chocolate.

I do agree though that many people are swayed by marketing, but it's not my case - at least as far as I can tell.

[ShaniFaye]

I can take it or leave it, during my period I do "crave" reeses peanutbutter cups though lol, its got dave going to the convenience store about 11 at nite sometimes cause I REALLY crave them, but other than that one day once a month, if its around great, if its not thats ok too

[raeanna74]

To attempt answer the why I love chocolate question...
Good dark chocolate has this smooth, slightly bitter, warm taste. It slides on your tounge and simply melts. It has caffeine and so gives me a small pick-up and helps me deal with migranes. Dark chocolate is lower in sugar so I don't end up crashing a few hours later after the sugar drains my energy.

It goes good with some wine, It's great with milk, I love hot chocolate, it goes on cake, you can make it into a pie, it goes good with almost any fruit or nut. For me, just one bite of chocolate can satisfy a sweet tooth craving that would take a whole bag of spice drops to satisfy.

As for the chemistry that causes people to love it so much - I think it's more a mental taste for it than a physical need. I could drink coffee, or tea and get the antioxidents and caffeine that I can get in chocolate. There are other chemical ingredients that affect hormones in your body but just one bite of chocolate shouldn't in theory have that large of an effect. For me it's just a food that I love the taste of and that I mentally see as an indulgence for me that isn't bad for me. How much better can you make it?

[lurkette]

There are times when I could do without chocolate, but in general I have just a little every day. I used to be a milk chocolate fan, but now I've gone over to the dark side. It's better for you, it tastes heavenly, and I find that just a little does the trick. There was a time when I was addicted - the cravings were so serious that I would cry if I couldn't find chocolate. Turns out there was an actual hormonal reason, and once I changed my bc and my diet, chocolate became more of a recreational drug and not a fix I loooooove some good dark chocolate with almonds, or the Green and Black currant one.

[ClostGoth]

I go through stages when I crave something chocolate. Usually Godiva, a Symphony bar, or those little Italian chocolate mint sticks... It doesn't happen monthly and doesn't seem to be related to hormones at all for me. It's more like every three months or so. I'm not sure why I want it when I do, but I've found that I actually consume LESS calories and make healthier choices if I give in (in small amounts) to my cravings when I have them. Which means a bag of hot fries every 4-6 months, and chocolate a little more frequently.

[snowy]

Oh, another favorite chocolate fix: chocolate-dipped biscotti.

Mmm, biscotti.

[taboo]

i need my chocolate fix every afternoon!
i'm trying to break the habit and replace my cravings with fruits, but it's hard...!