Chocolates (Photo credit: J. Paxon Reyes)
Everyone loves chocolate! Not only does it save any PMSing woman from an emotional breakdown- it can also be good for you. Chocolate is the most craved food in the entire world. A survey even suggested over half of the female population would rather eat chocolate than make love. Chocolate releases the same feel-good endorphins that suppress pain, and also gives you the same feeling of ecstasy after going for a run or having sex. But not all chocolate is created equal. It’s the raw chocolate which contains all the nutrients. So step away from the vending machine and get your butt into a specialty health store or Chocolatier in 4 bedroom condo Canmore.
Benefits of Chocolate:
Raw chocolate (also known as cacao) is rich in antioxidants, minerals, and gives you a guilt-free happy boost. Cocoa contains phenylalanine (PEA); which promotes happy feelings and soothes stress. Cocoa also has the highest source of magnesium. Magnesium promotes muscle relaxation and calms the central nervous system. Chocolate also alters dopamine levels in the brain, which further creates relaxation. But it doesn’t stop there- cocoa is also rich in B-vitamins which help the body better cope with anxiety. If you are craving relaxation and to de-stress; a piece of raw chocolate may do the trick.
Stress can negatively effect your body by elevating blood pressure and hormone levels. Cocoa can help balance the negative side effects. Actually, the flavonols found in raw cocoa can reduce blood pressure to a similar degree as 30 minutes of exercise. Cocoa also has a high ORAC value, which means it is high in antioxidants, and has more than blueberries!
Our favourite Chocolatier Shop in Canmore is Le Chocolatier. It specializes in handcrafted Belgian chocolates. The husband and wife owners began by making simple (but incredible) chocolate bars in their basement, and expanded from there. The starting product line consisted of 10 chocolate bars and six types of truffles. And they continued to expand from there, eventually opening up Le Chocolatier in 2004.
