We know that research is being done on how chocolate can help in the recovery from a heart attack, how chocolate milk can help sore muscles heal, how it could prevent malaria, protect against dementia, keep your bones healthy, and help with headaches, and now we can add one more to this ever-growing list: wrinkles!

Research published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology is showing that the same antioxidants that are good for your heart are also good for your skin, and that a daily dose of dark chocolate could very well keep you looking younger. Sounds like my kind of …read more

Having grown up in a household where several family members suffered from migraines, I learned early on that some foods can be a headache trigger. One sibling gets hit when he eats turkey, another when she eats certain cheeses. Added to the list of things they should generally avoid (provided by the family doctor) were chocolate, dairy, certain breads, and a few other meats.

Being a teenager at the time I couldn’t imagine giving up such staples as chocolate and bread, but I also hadn’t suffered from a migraine yet! Thankfully, the occasional ones I do get now aren’t food triggered, …read more

Twenty eight high schools in nine states across the midwest United States have received upwards of $3000 in grants from Midwest Dairy Council this month.
Why? Because they’re helping to promote “better nutrition in high school athletes by encouraging the consumption of 16 ounces of chocolate milk within one-half hour after practice, workouts and competitions.”
Senior high schools in Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota and eastern Oklahoma received the Recover with Chocolate Milk grants. The winners included both male and female athletes representing football, basketball, baseball, softball, cross country and golf teams.
Low-fat chocolate milk was …read more

More fun news for chocolate lovers! Another new study is showing that pictures of chocolate can actually help with weight loss by strengthening resolve and will power. I wonder if it works if the picture is on the package of chocolate? Hmmm…

54 female students participated in the study published by Appetite, a behavioral nutrition journal, though they weren’t actually aware that they were part of a weight loss study.
Researchers told the women they were participating in a memory test, and showed them pictures of a slice of chocolate cake and a flower, and then chocolate cake and an oatmeal …read more

In a groundbreaking (there’s that facetiousness again) study, it’s been determined that chocolate could maybe, possibly, potentially keep you awake at night if eaten too close to bedtime.
As most people know, chocolate contains very small amounts of caffeine. As the article points out, 1.5 ounces of milk chocolate contains about three times the amount of a cup of decaf coffee, and dark chocolate weighing the same amount is equal to about a cup of instant tea.
So basically if you’re sensitive to caffeine don’t have any before you go to bed.
Does the caffeine in chocolate affect you? I have …read more

Dark chocolate has gotten a pretty good rap over the last couple of years. It’s touted as a good treat (in moderation) to go to for fighting coronary disease, high blood pressure and even insulin resistance.
And now a recent article on MSN says it’s good for your bones! Because it contains large amounts of magnesium, chocolate can actually help boost bone density and they suggest nibbling one ounce of dark chocolate every day. I think I can do that!

With the discovery of radium by Marie Curie in 1898, many people began to tout it as a revolutionary health find. It was used by health spas in baths, treatments and procedures, and people were using it in everything from water jugs to toothpastes to suppositories! (I think that right there deserves an “OMG!,” how about you?)
As the video above illustrates, people of the early 20th century were quite taken with the supposed benefits of this pretty much unkown element and until people became severely ill (and of course, died) it was used indiscriminately.
It’s not surprising then that it …read more

My husband recently discovered that one of his co-workers is a distributor for Xocai Healthy Gourmet Chocolate. I hadn’t heard of the company before but when his co-worker offered to let me try some of course I was more than happy to!
Overall I really liked the chocolate and would love to get my daily fill of vitamins and fiber from it! Though I did get some reading material included with the samples I still don’t know much about the company itself – I didn’t want marketing to interfere with my reviews, so I only referred to the pamphlet that …read more

Science Mom has a wondermus list of why chocolate is the perfect food. Of course, we already know that without having to have it scientifically spelled out for us – our bodies already know that naturally. Its in our genes, I am *quite* sure. But just for the egghead in you, here are a few of her 10 reasons:

Chocolate contains tryptophan – party on Wayne!

Chocolate might help fight heart disease (see more about heart health)

Chocolate might help you live longer

Chocolate is a viable alternative energy source

Get on over to Science Mom’s column and see what the number one reason is, …read more

Welcome to ChocolateBytes!  I am a writer who can think of nothing tastier to write about than chocolate.  From chocolate facts and trivia to recipes to health and news stories, you can be sure I’ll cover it all, and I’ll likely do some tasting at the same time.  So bring your favorite chocolate treat and settle in for the ride.