Posts Tagged ‘chocolate’

Another Excuse to Eat Chocolate!

Thursday, January 19th, 2012

Like I needed one? I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…I love chocolate! Chocolate is better than…well let’s just say I really love Chocolate!;) I recently read that there has been research that suggests that dark chocolate is actually healthy to boot, here’s why…

Chocolate is made from plants, which means it contains many of the health benefits of dark vegetables. These benefits are from flavonoids, which act as antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the body from aging caused by free radicals, which can cause damage that leads to heart disease. Dark chocolate contains a large number of antioxidants. Flavonoids also help relax blood pressure through the production of nitric oxide, and balance certain hormones in the body.

Dark chocolate is good for your heart. A small bar of it everyday can help keep your heart and cardiovascular system running well. Two heart health benefits of dark chocolate are:

*Lower Blood Pressure: Studies have shown that consuming a small bar of dark chocolate everyday can reduce blood pressure in individuals with high blood pressure.

*Lower Cholesterol: Dark chocolate has also been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) by up to 10 percent.

Chocolate also holds benefits apart from protecting your heart:

*it tastes good

*it stimulates endorphin production, which gives a feeling of pleasure

*it contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant

*it contains theobromine, caffeine and other substances which are stimulants

*Did I mention it tastes good? LOL

In celebration of Chocolate and all of it’s health benefits, Scandle is featuring a new gift set for Valentine’s Day, Scandle’s Chocolate Spa Therapy, featuring this heavenly treat. The gift set includes

*1 Scandle Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Shimmering Lotion Candle in reusable ceramic container

*1 Scandle Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Dead Sea Salt Soak and Scrub

*1oz Chocolate Prescription chocolate bars so you can get your daily dose of healthy yumminess!

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Posted in Anti-Aging Treatments & Products, Antioxidants, Brain Health, Chocolate Body Treatments, Healthy Lifestyle, Natural Health, Scandle Candle, Soy Candles, Stress-Reducing Treatments, Valentine's Day, emotional well-being | 5 Comments »

A World Without Chocolate….NOOOOOOO!

Monday, October 24th, 2011
Ok, I’ll be the first to admit it I’m a choco-holic! I think it’s better than…well, let’s just say I LOVE it!;) Not just to eat, but for all the great beauty treatments that incorporate chocolate as well!
Recently, however, I read study that found that climate change could decimate the $9 Billion cocoa industry and could cause a spike in costs for chocolate. The report claims that climate change is causing higher temperatures in the West African nations of Ghana and Cote d’Lvoire where half of the worlds cocoa supply comes from.

Map showing how climate change could affect the production of cocoa in West Africa

Apparently between 2030 and 2050 the “land area suitable for cocoa production will fall dramatically.”

Here is the press release from the report:

“Many of these farmers use their cocoa trees like ATM machines,” said CIAT’s Dr. Peter Laderach, the report’s lead author. “They pick some pods and sell them to quickly raise cash for school fees or medical expenses. The trees play an absolutely critical role in rural life..

“Already we’re seeing the effects of rising temperatures on cocoa crops currently produced in marginal areas, and with climate change these areas are certain to spread. At a time when global demand for chocolate is rising fast, particularly in China, there is already upward pressure on prices. It’s not inconceivable that this, combined with the impact of climate change, could cause chocolate prices to increase sharply.”

The report predicts that the ideal cocoa growing areas will shift to higher altitudes, to compensate for the higher temperatures. “The problem is that much of West Africa is relatively flat and there is no ‘uphill’. This is a major cause of the potentially drastic decreases in cocoa suitability in the region,” continued Laderach.

Will a steep spike in cocoa cost curb your consumption of chocolate or will you always eat your favorite chocolate sweets no matter what the cost?

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Posted in Environment, News, Scandle Candle | No Comments »

A Chocoholic’s Dream

Monday, January 17th, 2011

There’s a lot of them out there. The ones that use chocolate as an excuse for absolutely everything. Cravings, sweet tooth, stress…there’s always a reason for chocolate. Well, spas have caught on. This sweet decadent is not only for your tasting pleasure anymore, but commonly used in treatments to nourish your skin and take a little edge off of your high stress day.

This is not a joke. You may have grown up thinking chocolate causes blemishes, but scientists have actually discovered that chocolate contains plenty of anti-oxidants! For the full experience, make sure you choose recipes (for you at-home spa people) or treatments that use chocolate, cocoa, or cocoa butter as the main ingredient. Dark chocolate is better for your skin (and your health) than milk chocolate. The reason chocolate is good for spa treatments is because it contains cocoa butter, which can act as a natural moisturizer for your skin, making it softer. Chocolate has also been known to contain caffeine, which also very good for circulation. There are many recipes floating around online. Don’t forget to have a bar of chocolate close by in case your at home treatment gives you a strong hankering for this cocoa treat.

If you want to go out and find a chocolate treatment, there’s plenty out there. Spas offer everything from facials and scrubs to baths and soaks that eature chocolate or cocoa butter as a main ingredient. So the next time you are stressing and feel that chocolate is the answer, try out a massage before giving into your sweet tooth.

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Posted in Acne Causes & Treatments, Anti-Aging Treatments & Products, Antioxidants, Beauty Care & Treatments, Beauty/Health Myths, Budget Friendly Beauty Treatments, Healthy Living, Home Treatments, Sensitive skin | No Comments »

Mother’s Day gifting - Chocolate

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

Okay so I don’t know about y’all but I am such a huge fan of chocolate dipped strawberries and other fruits, especially when they are arranged in unique ways.

But those arrangements can easily set you back up to $100. Mother’s Day isn’t suppose to be about how much money you can splurge, its about spending time with your mom. But you still better come prepared with a token of your appreciation

Cut up fresh fruit and add some dark chocolate dipped strawberries to create your own design of edible arrangements.

Here is an easy recipe that utilizes dark chocolate. Remember, in moderation, dark chocolate has great health benefits.

Ingredients

  • 6 ounces Dark chocolate
  • 3 tablespoons Half and half cream
  • 1/2 tablespoon Unsalted butter
  • 20 Large strawberries or 30 medium strawberries.

Directions:

  • In a one-quart glass bowl combine chocolate and cream. Heat in microwave oven on high 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until smooth. Add butter and stir until melted.
  • Dip each strawberry into the chocolate mixture allowing the excess chocolate to drip back into the bowl. If necessary, add additional cream to the chocolate to achieve desired coating consistency. Transfer the coated strawberry to a baking sheet lined with foil or waxed paper and repeat process.
  • Allow the chocolate to cool and then chill the strawberries until chocolate is set, about 20 to 30 minutes.

To create the display, you will need a small basket, green craft foam for the base and some wooden skewers (aka kabob skewers). Don’t forget your favorite (or mom’s favorite) fresh fruit.

Arrange the fruits and strawberries. Be careful with the strawberries, keep the green stems on the top to aid in stability. The pointy side of the skewers go into the foam but you will want to use that side to add the fruit then place it in the foam.

What are your ideas on Mother’s Day gifting?

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Posted in Healthy Living, Mother's Day, Scandle Candle | No Comments »