Is Chocolate Milk Good For You? Here’s What a Nutritionist Says
It’s probably thought of as a childhood drink, but chocolate milk might actually be able to help you recover after a workout.
Category: News
How to Work Dark Chocolate Into Your Diet
How to Work Dark Chocolate Into Your Diet
If you’re going to eat chocolate, a bar with a higher cacao percentage is a better treat than a milk- or white-chocolate one. Milk chocolate not only has less cacao and fewer flavanols but also contains about twice as much sugar as dark chocolate. White chocolate has cocoa butter but no cacao solids, and as a result, it has no flavonols. Its sugar content is comparable to that of milk chocolate. Click HERE to learn more.
Happy National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day! January 3, 2022
Happy National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day! January 3, 2022
The sweet truth
The sweet truth
Comfort food has been integral to consumers since the Covid-19 outbreak. Chocolate, an innovative and fast-evolving segment that fits right into the comfort food bracket, is also growing at a healthy clip. On that sweet note, here are some trends and future predictions that will dominate the chocolate industry in 2022 (click, HERE).
How to live longer: The life-prolonging snack that lowers blood pressure and slows ageing
How to live longer: The life-prolonging snack that lowers blood pressure and slows ageing
Some research states that a sweet treat could add up to two years to one’s life when consumed regularly. Dark chocolate contains levels of antioxidants high enough to significantly improve blood pressure and ward off disease. Findings revealed that those who ate three bars of chocolate per month had a 36 percent lower risk of premature death. The health benefits of dark chocolate have been attributed to its inimitable flavonoid content, which confers significant antioxidant benefits.
He went to 7-Eleven for chocolate milk and left with a million bucks
He went to 7-Eleven for chocolate milk and left with a million bucks
A Virginia dad’s chocolate milk run turned into a $1 million windfall. Dennis Willoughby of North Chesterfield went to a local 7-Eleven to buy chocolate milk for his kids when he decided to pick up a scratch-off lottery ticket, Virginia Lottery officials said Wednesday. The ticket, a $1,000,000 Platinum Jackpot, turned out to be a top prize winner. The lucky father was given the choice of taking the full $1 million prize in annual payments over 30 years or a one-time cash payment of $640,205 before taxes. He chose the latter. Although it’s not $1 million, it can still buy a lot of chocolate milk.
Love of black coffee, dark chocolate could be genetic
Love of black coffee, dark chocolate could be genetic
If you like your coffee black, it could be that your grandpa or your great-aunt did, too. A preference for black coffee and also for dark chocolate seems to lie in a person’s genes, scientists report. It’s not the taste that these individuals actually love, but it’s because their genes enable them to metabolize caffeine faster and they associate the bitter flavor with mental alertness. Dark chocolate also contains a small amount of caffeine but predominantly theobromine, a caffeine-related compound, which is also a psychostimulant. Benefits attributed to dark chocolate and two to three cups of black coffee per day include a lower risk of Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and several types of cancer. The findings were published this month in Scientific Reports.
How the Swiss perfected chocolate making
How the Swiss perfected chocolate making
Making chocolate may look simple. After all, you only need a few ingredients: cacao beans, sugar, and milk. Yet mixing them correctly to achieve a smooth, velvety texture took centuries to achieve. And it’s all thanks to Swiss chocolate makers. They were the first ones to add milk to chocolate. But, most importantly, they invented the conching machine, the most important machine in making chocolate.
Dog saved by surgery after eating six packets of chocolate coins
Dog saved by surgery after eating six packets of chocolate coins
A dog has undergone life-saving surgery after scoffing six packets of potentially deadly Christmas chocolate coins. Hugo, a six-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier, helped himself to the chocolate treats – poisonous to dogs – when owner Amie popped to the shops. She returned to her home in Plymouth, Devon, to find the coins gone and wrappers strewn across the floor, before rushing Hugo to a nearby PDSA pet hospital. “At first Hugo seemed fine, but I felt sick with worry when he began vomiting blood. He then had a seizure, which was terrifying, so I called PDSA immediately.”
Happy National Chocolate Day! December 28, 2021
Happy National Chocolate Day! December 28, 2021
What is the Difference Between Hot Cocoa and Hot Chocolate
What is the Difference Between Hot Cocoa and Hot Chocolate
Hot cocoa and hot chocolate are not one and the same. While they’re both delicious and tailor-made for this time of year, the recipes and resulting drinks differ quite a bit. Yes, they’re driven by the bittersweet goodness that comes from cacao. The real distinction here is a from-scratch version versus a quick-and-easy batch of the sweet beverage. Click, HERE, for more and check out the RECEIPE SECTION, on this website, for recipes for both (and many more scrumptious recipes!)
Supply chains: ‘condensed timelines’ were a big challenge this year, Bridgewater Chocolate CEO says
Supply chains: ‘condensed timelines’ were a big challenge this year, Bridgewater Chocolate CEO says
Bridgewater Chocolate CEO Jeff Stoeckel discussed the supply chain crisis’ effects on the chocolate industry and the high demand for quality chocolate this holiday season compared to last year. He discussed dealing with a big chocolate conundrum this season– supply chain issue, soaring costs of cocoa and sugar, transportation, packaging. How has that impacted his ability to deliver his product, get it out to consumers? Click, HERE, to find out.
Former Rutgers basketball player Kathleen Fitzpatrick, aka ‘Ms. Fitz,’ drains deep 3-pointer to earn her third grade class hot chocolate
Former Rutgers basketball player Kathleen Fitzpatrick, aka ‘Ms. Fitz,’ drains deep 3-pointer to earn her third grade class hot chocolate
There is not a more beloved person on the internet right now than Ms. Fitz. Who is Ms. Fitz? Why, it’s Kathleen Fitzpatrick, of course – a former Rutgers University hooper-turned-third-grade teacher. And she just hit the biggest, most important jump shot in the world for her class. She promised them if she hit a full-court shot on the playground she’d reward her class with some hot chocolate. Of course, Ms. Fitz had to give them what they wanted. She got the ball, lined her shot up, and drained it. No sweat at all. (Click, HERE, for video).
Barry Callebaut reveals 4 chocolate trends for 2022
Barry Callebaut reveals 4 chocolate trends for 2022
Barry Callebaut has identified four trends set to influence the North American chocolate market in 2022. The company recently released its third “Top Chocolate Trends” report. In addition to covering North America, reports are also available for Europe, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific region. (Click, HERE, for more.)
Why one chocolate company is ditching dairy entirely
Why one chocolate company is ditching dairy entirely
Got milk? If you’re asking chocolate maker TCHO, the answer is nope. After three years of R&D, the company plans to make its portfolio dairy-free by 2023, a move that means replacing about a third of its retail and bakery products, said Brad Kintzer, TCHO’s chief chocolate maker.
Happy National Chocolate-Covered Anything Day! December 16, 2021
Happy National Chocolate-Covered Anything Day! December 16, 2021
Happy National Cocoa Day! December 13, 2021
Happy National Cocoa Day! December 13, 2021
Eating dark chocolate makes you happier
Eating dark chocolate makes you happier
Chocoholics have another excuse to eat chocolate every single day! New research shows it makes you happier. Scientist at Seoul National University in Korea say adults who ate ten grams, or a few squares, of 85 percent dark chocolate three times a day saw improvements in their mood.
Tom Brady shared his low-carb game-day meal plan, starting with a breakfast smoothie and ending with dark chocolate
Tom Brady shared his low-carb game-day meal plan, starting with a breakfast smoothie and ending with dark chocolate
NFL star Tom Brady shared the meal plan he uses for his game-days. It’s low on carbs, high in protein. His meal plan involves an 80% emphasis on vegetables for pre-game and post-game dinners. He starts his day with a fruit smoothie and has some celebratory chocolate after a game.
How much does a chocolate cookie really cost?
How much does a chocolate cookie really cost?
Modern food production contains many hidden costs not accounted for in market pricing. The “True Value of Food” framework can reveal these hidden costs of our unsustainable food system. It will help companies and governments manage the tradeoffs necessary to make the food system work for people and the planet. Click HERE to discover the true cost of a chocolate cookie.
USAID Launches New Public-Private Partnership with Chocolate and Spices Industry
USAID Launches New Public-Private Partnership with Chocolate and Spices Industry
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), on behalf of the American people, has launched a new $5.8 million, five-year, public-private partnership to strengthen Madagascar’s chocolate and spices industry, improve farmer livelihoods, and conserve biodiversity. The partnership, called “TSIRO Alliance,” is committed to supporting more than 2,000 farmers in 30 communities and planting more than 1.5 million trees over the next five years to support agroforestry systems and biodiversity.
Switzerland Scientists are growing chocolates in a lab
Switzerland Scientists are growing chocolates in a lab
Scientists in Switzerland are growing chocolates in a lab to tackle the deforestation and child labour caused by the world’s rising demand for chocolate. The scientists at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, begin the process by growing cell cultures from cocoa beans. The cultures are mixed with a nutrient solution and begin to multiply. The scientists harvest, dry, and roast the biomass. They add cocoa butter, sugar and an emulsifier called lecithin to produce a dark 70% strength chocolate.
What’s the Best Way to Store Chocolate? (Hint, It’s Not in the Fridge)
What’s the Best Way to Store Chocolate? (Hint, It’s Not in the Fridge)
Whether you’re saving some special chocolate bars for just the right moment or just received a gift box of truffles and bonbons, proper storage is key to ensuring that when you do enjoy that chocolate, it tastes just as delicious as it should. Here, two chocolatiers explain the best way to store chocolate (click, HERE).
Medicinal and Ritual Uses of Chocolate in Mesoamerica
Medicinal and Ritual Uses of Chocolate in Mesoamerica
In Mesoamerica, the Mayans and Aztecs used chocolate for medicinal purposes and for their ceremonies. Although it may not be a crop native to the region, they thought it was discovered by the gods, who gave it to men. The Mayans held an annual festival with rituals in honor of the cocoa god Ek Chuah. Currently, there are various archaeological samples of these ceremonies.
Chocolate milk will NOT be leaving this Virginia school division
Chocolate milk will NOT be leaving this Virginia school division
Does chocolate milk have too much sugar to be offered at school? This was a question raised by a parent representative during a review of the Health and Wellness Policy for Highland County Public Schools. In response to the concern, Highland County Public Schools posted a milk update on Facebook that the school division would only serve white milk starting the week of November 16, on a trial basis. Thus, the chocolate milk debate began.
Happy National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day! November 7, 2021
Happy National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day! November 7, 2021
9 Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate
9 Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate
Who doesn’t like chocolate? The good news is that some of it is good for you. While most of society has heard that dark chocolate has health benefits, most don’t know what they are or how they work on your body. Truth is, dark chocolate is one of the best sources of antioxidants out there. Made from cacao tree seeds, this sweet treat lowers risk of heart disease and is chock full of nutrients, specifically flavanols.
Why a Dentist Says Chocolate is Better for your Teeth Than These Candies
Why a Dentist Says Chocolate is Better for your Teeth Than These Candies
While sugar is known to make kids hyper, it is also known to erode tooth enamel, causing cavities and other tooth issues. But while we can’t think of a way to make candy good for teeth, there are a few ways to lessen the negative impact all that sugar can have on our dental health. One of the most important things to note is that not all candies are created equal. Some sugary treats are harder on the teeth than others.
What Should Be Your College Major?
What Should Be Your College Major?
Based on CHOCOLATE CHOICES!!! Click on “BUZZFEED.COM”, above, to find out!
Is It Healthy to Eat Dessert Every Day?
Is It Healthy to Eat Dessert Every Day?
Ever notice that the word “desserts” turns into “stressed” when spelled backwards? There may be a subtle reason for this. The sugar in many desserts may calm us when we’re stressed and be an instant mood booster. But how often is too often to indulge in these sweet treats?
Happy Chocolate Day! October 28, 2021
Happy Chocolate Day! October 28, 2021
26% of People Say This Is the Worst Chocolate Candy
26% of People Say This Is the Worst Chocolate Candy
Halloween is fast approaching and before you know it, the big day will be here. A new poll from MASHED reveals that one candy, in particular, stands out among chocoholics as the single worst chocolate candy to give out on Halloween. Milk Duds have been part of the world’s candy consciousness since they first hit the market in 1928. However, a whopping 26% of MASHED’s survey respondents called these movie theater staples the worst of the worst. For more of the best and worst chocolates, click HERE.
Happy National Chocolate Pretzel Day! October 7, 2021
Happy National Chocolate Pretzel Day! October 7, 2021
Should You Drink Chocolate Milk After a Workout?
Should You Drink Chocolate Milk After a Workout?
Refueling your body properly after an intense workout is important. Doing so replenishes energy, repairs muscles, replaces electrolytes and hydrates. But with so many options to choose from—bars, shakes, sports drinks and more—it can be hard to know what the best way to refuel is. Chocolate milk has long been a favorite post-recovery drink for athletes, especially runners. But some may wonder if this drink has what it takes to refuel your body properly. Here’s a deep dive into why you may want to sip chocolate milk after your next intense sweat sesh (click HERE).
Remarkable true Jewish history of chocolate revealed in new book
Remarkable true Jewish history of chocolate revealed in new book
Before you take your next bite of some delicious chocolate, you may want to check out a new book by British autor Michael Leventhal, that explores the history of chocolate in Jewish food and culture. In his book, the author of “The Chocolate King,” which won a PJ Library Author Incentive Award, creates a unique recipe book, bringing together individual recipes from more than fifty noted Jewish bakers.
Happy National Chocolate Milk Day! September 27, 2021
Happy National Chocolate Milk Day! September 27, 2021
Chocolate Academy North America launches Academy Magazine
Chocolate Academy North America launches Academy Magazine
Barry Callebaut’s North American Chocolate Academy Centers have launched the biannual Academy Magazine. Academy Magazine’s first issue explores the latest industry trends, delves into tips and tricks, and introduces the latest from Barry Callebaut’s gourmet house of brands. For the summer 2021 edition, Chocolate Academy Chefs in Chicago and Montreal have come together to share a professional collection of recipes and step-by-step tutorials in pastry, confectionery and baking.
Oldest person in the world thriving thanks to Coca Cola and chocolate
Oldest person in the world thriving thanks to Coca Cola and chocolate
Japan now has 86,510 people who are over 100 years old, breaking records for 51 consecutive years. 88 percent of the centenarians are women, including Tanaka Kane. She’s now the world’s oldest person at age 118, and happily enjoys her chocolate and Coca Cola.
Good chocolate needs tempering — a team of Canadian scientists just found a shortcut
Good chocolate needs tempering — a team of Canadian scientists just found a shortcut
The gloss, snap and melt of high-quality chocolate depends on tempering; a team of University of Guelph food scientists has found a new way.
Dark Chocolate, Are You Healthy?
Dark Chocolate, Are You Healthy?
Calling all Chocoholics! Are you feeling guilty for every second bite of your favorite food? Did you know you could actually call dark chocolate a vegetable as the cocoa seeds grow on trees? Also, it does show up on all of those “healthy for your heart” food lists in different blogs and articles. What Do the Experts Say? In moderation, dark chocolate provides many benefits for your body, from its potential to reduce inflammation to lowering your risk of heart disease. Are you not convinced? Here’s the data to back it up (click, HERE)!
Hershey claims all teardrop-shaped chocolate is its intellectual property
Hershey claims all teardrop-shaped chocolate is its intellectual property
Hershey is embroiled in a legal battle after complaining about another company’s cookie packaging.
KitKat bar is most famous chocolate candy around the world
KitKat bar is most famous chocolate candy around the world
This candy bar has been around and popular since 1935. In 2014, Time Magazine interviewed candy experts and historians, to find the top candy bars that had the biggest impact on the chocolate bar industry and the world. Time points out the Kit Kat bar was the first candy to be marketed around the concept of sharing. It was also one of the first candy bars to become popular around the world. Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar took second place on the list. Toblerone, Nestlé’s Milk Chocolate Bar and Snickers rounded out the top five.
A cocoa bean’s ‘fingerprint’ could help trace chocolate bars back to their farm of origin
A cocoa bean’s ‘fingerprint’ could help trace chocolate bars back to their farm of origin
A new study from the University of Surrey has revealed that biotechnology could be the missing ingredient in helping cocoa farmers get a better deal for their beans.
Phospholipids create just the right crystals for silky smooth chocolate – no tempering needed
Phospholipids create just the right crystals for silky smooth chocolate – no tempering needed
Scientists have discovered how a single ingredient can create glossy, tasty, melt-in-the-mouth chocolate without having to go through the complex and lengthy tempering process.
Will Chocolate Survive Climate Change? Actually, Maybe
Will Chocolate Survive Climate Change? Actually, Maybe
The forecast has been bad for domesticated cacao. But some environments in Peru might hold the key to the future of the world’s sweet tooth.
Should you eat ‘dusty’ looking chocolate?
Should you eat ‘dusty’ looking chocolate?
You’re unwrapping your favorite chocolate bar when all of a sudden, surprise! It has turned…white? What do you do with it? Buzz60’s Maria Mercedes Galuppo has the answer (click, HERE).
Happy International Chocolate Day! September 13, 2021
Happy International Chocolate Day! September 13, 2021
Happy National Chocolate Milkshake Day! September 12, 2021
Happy National Chocolate Milkshake Day! September 12, 2021
People who eat some cheese, yogurt, or chocolate every day have a lower risk of heart disease, study finds
People who eat some cheese, yogurt, or chocolate every day have a lower risk of heart disease, study finds
Research suggests a mostly plant-based diet can improve your heart health. However, you don’t need to go totally vegan — evidence suggests foods like cheese, chocolate, and yogurt have benefits, too.
Israel intercepts 23 tons of chocolate it says was intended to finance Hamas
Israel intercepts 23 tons of chocolate it says was intended to finance Hamas
Israeli security officials captured and confiscated a shipment of 23 tons of chocolate bars headed to the Gaza Strip they say was part of a network financing Hamas military operations in the territory.
Barrel-aged Chocolate
Barrel-aged Chocolate
Barrel aging is a key process in wine and spirits production. Lately, chocolate roasters have discovered that using Bourbon, rum, Port, Sherry, Sauternes and Cognac barrels to age their cacao nibs or finished chocolate can impart a variety of flavors like caramel, vanilla and cherry to their products.
Eating chocolate an hour after waking or an hour before bed could help older women burn fat and sleep better, a small study suggests
Eating chocolate an hour after waking or an hour before bed could help older women burn fat and sleep better, a small study suggests
One small study recently published in the FASEB Journal of 19 postmenopausal women found that two small windows of time are especially effective for eating chocolate and reaping the benefits. According to the study, older women were more likely to benefit from consuming a small portion of chocolate (about 85 grams daily) one hour after waking or one hour before bed.
Can you REALLY eat chocolate every day and stay healthy? Dietitians answer the common query – and share a simple trick for feeling full from less
Can you REALLY eat chocolate every day and stay healthy? Dietitians answer the common query – and share a simple trick for feeling full from less
Dietitians Susie Burrell and Leanne Ward revealed if eating chocolate is healthy. They said you can eat it, provided it’s your only ‘soul food’ of each given day. Their trick is to remember the pleasure you get is highest in the first few squares. The dietitians treat themselves to the brand they love most and eat mindfully.
Happy National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day! August 4, 2021
Happy National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day! August 4, 2021
World’s first lab-grown chocolate made in Switzerland
World’s first lab-grown chocolate made in Switzerland
Researchers at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) have developed a way to make lab-grown chocolate — adding a sweet treat to the lengthening list of lab-grown foods.
Notes on chocolate: to roast or not to roast?
Notes on chocolate: to roast or not to roast?
Unroasted means raw and there’s a lot of debate about raw chocolate and is it actually raw if it’s been fermented, etc. Raw purists don’t think cocoa beans should be roasted (they say it interferes with the flavor) and those that roast think raw chocolate isn’t really chocolate because roasting brings out the flavor.
Historic flood engulfs renowned Belgian chocolate factory
Historic flood engulfs renowned Belgian chocolate factory
As the floodwaters receded in the river valleys of industrial eastern Belgium, the smell of cocoa was mixed with the stench of spilled fuel oil and churned up river mud. Among the many businesses knocked temporarily out of action by the unprecedented inundation was the Galler factory, home to one of the country’s iconic luxury chocolate brands.
Choosing the right chocolate
Choosing the right chocolate
Americans love their chocolate. It’s the go-to sweet indulgence for many. And it comes in several forms. Chips, chunks and blocks. Dark, milk and white chocolate. Alkalized and natural cocoa powders. There’s a chocolate for every dessert. But figuring out the best ways to use chocolate in formulations takes a deep understanding about the ins and outs of each format.
Chocolate helps control hunger and appetite in postmenopausal women
Chocolate helps control hunger and appetite in postmenopausal women
The researchers stated, “our results also show that chocolate in the morning decreases fasting glucose. Chocolate may improve glucose homeostasis by slowing carbohydrate digestion and absorption.” There were also favorable changes in the participants microbiota’s short chain fatty acid content that may have accounted for better hunger control. Before you make a beeline to the nearest chocolate bar, this study involved a small number of targeted female participants—postmenopausal females. One size does not fit all. To read this study, you can access it by going to maxwellnutrition.com.
This Giant Chocolate Bar Is the Sign for a Japanese Chocolate Factory
This Giant Chocolate Bar Is the Sign for a Japanese Chocolate Factory
This gigantic chocolate bar is the façade of the Meiji Confectionery factory in Osaka, Japan. It measures roughly 544 feet wide and 91 feet tall, and holds the Guinness World Record for the largest advertising board made of plastic. (I guess if they made it from chocolate it would quickly melt in the sun!). Click, here, to see.