8 December

Gifting consciously

Now, after Santa Claus,

when there might still be chocolate Santas lined up on the shelf, it's worth thinking about what happens to our bodies when we eat chocolate. 

Read all the way through!  

Why do we love chocolate so much?

Chocolate is a genius invention: not only does it indulge our taste buds, but it also has many positive effects on our bodies.

It energises you, releases happy hormones and gives you pleasure. That's why we love it so much.

But if it gives us so much goodness, why is it not healthy to eat too much of it?

It's simple and easy to see why chocolate is an unhealthy addiction. 

The sugar and carbohydrates in chocolate raise your blood sugar almost immediately, giving a sudden burst of energy. This is why we feel more energetic after a piece of chocolate - but energy levels can plummet just as quickly.

Chocolate helps the production of serotonin and endorphins, the happiness hormones. For most of us, we want to be as happy as possible, and chocolate is a quick and easy way to do it.

Chocolate contains cocoa butter, which is made up of fatty acids. These are digested more slowly, so they provide longer-lasting energy but if consumed in excess, they can easily end up on our fat pads. 

Chocolate is not only delicious, but the cocoa flavonoids in it also stimulate dopamine production in the brain, which explains why we often turn to chocolate for comfort.

Our addiction to chocolate is unhealthy because we can't keep it in moderation, leaving us with a fluctuating mood and mood swings, not to mention overloading our digestion, making us more tired and irritable. 

How to eat chocolate when you "have to" ?

As in everything, moderation and awareness are key. Dark chocolate, for example, is lower in sugar and packed with antioxidants, so it's a good choice if you're going to have chocolate. The point of the holidays isn't to gobble up everything in sight, but to enjoy time together - and love isn't made of sugar. 😊

It's not a crime to eat chocolate, but watch the quantity and quality. Your health and well-being will thank you for it!