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| Monday, July 16, 2007 |
| Chocolate |
 Chocolate is a psychoactive food. It is made from the seeds of the tropical cacao tree, Theobroma cacao. The cacao tree was named by the 17th century Swedish naturalist, Linnaeus. The Greek term theobroma means literally "food of the gods". Chocolate has also been called the food of the devil; but the theological basis of this claim is obscure. Cacao beans were used by the Aztecs to prepare a hot, frothy beverage with stimulant and restorative properties. Chocolate itself was reserved for warriors, nobility and priests. The Aztecs esteemed its reputed ability to confer wisdom and vitality. Taken fermented as a drink, chocolate was also used in religious ceremonies. The sacred concoction was associated with Xochiquetzal, the goddess of fertility. Emperor Montezuma allegedly drank 50 goblets a day. Aztec taxation was levied in cacao beans. 100 cacao beans could buy a slave. 12 cacao beans bought the services of courtesan. The celebrated Italian libertine Giacomo Casanova (1725-1798) took chocolate before bedding his conquests on account of chocolate's reputation as a subtle aphrodisiac. More recently, a study of 8000 male Harvard graduates showed that chocoholics lived longer than abstainers. Their longevity may be explained by the high polyphenol levels in chocolate. Polyphenols reduce the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins and thereby protect against heart disease. Such theories are still speculative. Placebo-controlled trials suggest chocolate consumption may subtly enhance cognitive performance. As reported by Dr Bryan Raudenbush (2006), scores for verbal and visual memory are raised by eating chocolate. Impulse-control and reaction-time are also improved. This study needs replicating. A "symposium" at the 2007 American Association for the Advancement of Science - hyped as a potentially "mind-altering experience" - presented evidence that chocolate consumption can be good for the brain. Experiments with chocolate-fed mice suggest that flavanol-rich cocoa stimulates neurovascular activity, enhancing memory and alertness. This research was partly funded by Mars, Inc. Coincidentally or otherwise, many of the worlds oldest supercentenarians, e.g. Jeanne Calment (1875-1997) and Sarah Knauss (1880-1999), were passionately fond of chocolate. Jeanne Calment habitually ate two pounds of chocolate per week until her physician induced her to give up sweets at the age of 119 - three years before her death aged 122. Life-extensionists are best advised to eat dark chocolate rather than the kinds of calorie-rich confectionery popular in America. In the UK, chocolate bars laced with cannabis are popular with many victims of multiple sclerosis. This brand of psychoactive confectionery remains unlicensed. Chocolate as we know it today dates to the inspired addition of triglyceride cocoa butter by Swiss confectioner Rodolphe Lindt in 1879. The advantage of cocoa butter is that its addition to chocolate sets a bar so that it will readily snap and then melt on the tongue. Cocoa butter begins to soften at around 75 F; it melts at around 97 F. Today, chocolates of every description are legal, unscheduled and readily available over the counter. Some 50% of women reportedly claim to prefer chocolate to sex, though this response may depend on the attributes of the interviewer. In 2007, a UK study suggested that eating dark chocolate was more rewarding than passionate kissing. More research is needed to replicate this result. More than 300 different constituent compounds in chocolate have been identified. Chocolate clearly delivers far more than a brief sugar high. Yet its cocktail of psychochemical effects in the central nervous system are poorly understood. So how does it work?
CHOCOLATE : the Psychoactive Cocktail Chocolate contains small quantities of anandamide, an endogenous cannabinoid found in the brain. Sceptics claim one would need to consume several pounds of chocolate to gain any very noticeable psychoactive effects; and eat a lot more to get fully stoned. Yet it's worth noting that N-oleolethanolamine and N-linoleoylethanolamine, two structural cousins of anandamide present in chocolate, both inhibit the metabolism of anandamide. It has been speculated that they promote and prolong the feeling of well-being induced by anandamide. Chocolate contains caffeine. But the caffeine is present only in modest quantities. It is easily obtained from other sources. Indeed a whole ounce of milk chocolate contains no more caffeine than a typical cup of "decaffeinated" coffee. Chocolate's theobromine content may contribute to - but seems unlikely to determine - its subtle but distinctive psychoactive profile. Surprisingly, perhaps, recent research suggests that pure theobromine may be superior to opiates as a cough medicine due to its action on the vagus nerve. Chocolate also contains tryptophan. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid. It is the rate-limiting step in the production of the mood-modulating neurotransmitter serotonin. Enhanced serotonin function typically diminishes anxiety. Yet tryptophan can normally be obtained from other sources as well; and only an unusually low-protein, high-carbohydrate meal will significantly increase its rate of intake into the brain. Like other palatable sweet foods, consumption of chocolate triggers the release of endorphins, the body's endogenous opiates. Enhanced endorphin-release reduces the chocolate-eater's sensitivity to pain. Endorphins probably contribute to the warm inner glow induced in susceptible chocoholics. Acute monthly cravings for chocolate amongst pre-menstrual women may be partly explained by its rich magnesium content. Magnesium deficiency exacerbates PMT. Before menstruation, too, levels of the hormone progesterone are high. Progesterone promotes fat storage, preventing its use as fuel; elevated pre-menstrual levels of progesterone may cause a periodic craving for fatty foods. One study reported that 91% of chocolate-cravings associated with the menstrual cycle occurred between ovulation and the start of menstruation. Chocolate cravings are admitted by 15% of men and around 40% of women. Cravings are usually most intense in the late afternoon and early evening. Cacao and chocolate bars contain a group of neuroactive alkaloids known as tetrahydro-beta-carbolines. Tetrahydro-beta-carbolines are also found in beer, wine and liquor; they have been linked to alcoholism. But the possible role of these chemicals in chocolate addiction remains unclear. One UK study of the human electroencephalographic (EEG) response to chocolate suggests that the odour of chocolate significantly reduces theta activity in the brain. Reduced theta activity is associated with enhanced relaxation. This study needs replication. Perhaps chocolate's key ingredient is its phenylethylamine (PEA) "love-chemical". Yet the role of the "chocolate amphetamine" is disputed. Most if not all chocolate-derived phenylethylamine is metabolised before it reaches the CNS. Some people may be sensitive to its effects in very small quantities. Phenylethylamine is itself a naturally occurring trace amine in the brain. Phenylethylamine releases dopamine in the mesolimbic pleasure-centres; it peaks during orgasm. Taken in unnaturally high doses, phenylethylamine can produce stereotyped behaviour more prominently even than amphetamine. Phenylethylamine has distinct binding sites but no specific neurons. It helps mediate feelings of attraction, excitement, giddiness, apprehension and euphoria; but confusingly, phenylethylamine has also been described as an endogenous anxiogen. One of its metabolites is unusually high in subjects with paranoid schizophrenia. There is even a phenylethylamine theory of depression. Monoamine oxidase type-b has been described as phenylethylaminase; and taking a selective MAO-b inhibitor, such as selegiline (l-deprenyl, Eldepryl) or rasagiline (Azilect) can accentuate chocolate's effects. Some subjects report that bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban) reduces their chocolate-cravings; but other chocoholics dispute this.
chocolate refs
and further chocolate.org reading MoodFoods
Future Opioids
Selegiline .com
Sensualism .com
Phenylethylamine
The Chocolate FAQ
Chocolate Videoclips
The Good Drug Guide
Search Chocolate.org
Some Chocolate Hotlinks
Chocolate and Mood (PDF)
MDMA: Utopian Pharmacology |
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| LG Ke800 Chocolate: Handset With Multiple Features |
The LG KE800 Chocolate Platinum has been well designed by the LG and is also known as the LG Chocolate Platinum or the LG Chocolate. You can find a good-looking slide opening camera which comes in a black coloured casing and has a silver section that can divide the display from the touch sensitive keys. The KE800 comes with a 2 inch colour screen which can provide you with a clear and bright colour display having a screen resolution of 240 x 320 pixels.
It comes with a 60 MB of internal memory that can be expanded using the microSD cards. The battery attached to it can give you six hours of talk time with two hundred and seventy hours of standby time. The KE800 weighs meagrely ninety five grams with a fitted battery which can give you a sturdy and solid feel.
As far as camera is concerned, it has a 2 megapixel camera with an automatic flash feature. It also has a video recording feature that can be used for recording, playing and streaming videos. You have the flexibility to change photo and the video setting that would suit the effect and finish at the time of capturing the image and the videos.
The KE800 can work over the tri-band network which will allow you to cover GSM 900, 1800 and 1900 that can automatically switch between the networks. You can either use the Bluetooth wireless technology or the USB connection to connect it to the other compatible devices that would allow you for a high speed download and a fast web browsing.
The handset comes with a messaging service that could allow you to stay in touch with friends and relatives. You can easily send receive text messages, multimedia messages and emails on this handset. There is a flight mode function attached to it that can allow you to use the handset in the restricted areas like hospital and the aircrafts.
It certainly has an edge over other handsets as far as the features are concerned. |
| 11:33 AM |
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| Female Chocolate Lab Names |
A new puppy is always fun, especially when it's a lovable chocolate Lab. One of the first things puppy gets, in most cases, is a new name. Giving your chocolate Lab a name can be a lot of fun. A name may just come to you with little effort, or you may labor to find precisely the right name.
Female chocolate Lab names can be comical, sweet (as in chocolate), or dignified. There are many choices, and many ways to make those choices. Below are some names and their meanings. You may find the exact name you want, or you may see a name that gives you an idea for your chocolate Lab name.
Whatever you call your female chocolate Lab, chances are good that she will grow into it, and it will soon be as normal as though no other name existed.
Female Chocolate Lab Names Chosen for Meaning
One way to name your female chocolate Lab is to think of names that have an appropriate meaning. The name may focus on your chocolate Lab's color. It may call attention to the Lab temperament. And, if your chocolate Lab is a gun dog, the name's meaning may hint at hunting. Here are 37 examples drawn from countries around the world.
1. Female Chocolate Lab Names Linked to the "Chocolate" Color:
When focusing a name on the chocolate Lab's color, you can go with the brown hue or the sweetness of chocolate.
* Anoush - sweet, sweetness
* Blanda - sweet and friendly
* Brownie - brown
* Brune - brown
* Candy - sweet
* Carob - chocolaty-tasting carob tree pod
* Ceinlys - beautiful, sweet
* Chocolata - chocolate
* Cocoa - cocoa
* Dulciana - sweet
* Kamea - sweet darling
* Mandisa - sweet
* Sisel - sweet
* Truffles - as in chocolate truffles
2. Female Chocolate Lab Names Linked to the Lab Temperament
The chocolate Lab, although soft and delicious in appearance, has a boisterous, fun-loving temperament. When you consider female chocolate Lab names, you may want to focus on your chocolate Lab's energetic, amusing personality.
* Babianne - fun-loving
* Buffy - clown
* Chaka - energy
* Cuckoo - silly
* Energizer - keeps going
* Escapade - adventure
* Eshe - energy
* Funny Girl - from the play
* Mahira - energy
* Quirky - fun-loving
* Reah - water-lover
* Ria - water-lover
* Umi - energy
* Venita - loving
* Venus - loving
* Wacky - crazy
* Zula - one that loves the country
3. Female Chocolate Lab Names Linked to Hunting
* Gunnerette - female gunner
* Huntress - female that hunts
* Kainda - hunter's daughter
* Quicksilver - winged retriever
* Synergy - working together
* Winda -hunter
Miscellaneous Female Chocolate Lab Names
Female chocolate Lab names that are not linked to the dog's color, temperament, or gun-dog abilities may still be the best for your puppy. At Next Day Pets, you can learn what dog names are currently in the top twenty. You can also do an alphabetical search there, looking at dog names that begin with a particular letter of the alphabet.
An Australian website, Bowwow is another good place to look for female chocolate Lab names. Bowwow lets you search in various ways, and gives you information about the name if you do a meaning search. For example, a search on "Fido" produced results showing that this name means faithful and loyal. Bowwow also showed that one US President owned a dog named Fido, and that this is a perfect name for a faithful companion.
Tips in Choosing Chocolate Lab Names
You will use the name you choose for your chocolate Lab many times every day. You will use it in a praising voice and in a scolding voice. Be sure you like the way it sounds. Be sure you like the shortened version, too, because nicknames will inevitably happen.
Your chocolate Lab will respond better to a name with only one or two syllables. Such a name will be easier for you to call, too. Steer clear of names that may sound like the commands you will be using with your chocolate Lab. "Fay" is too close to "Stay" for regular use. Your puppy may have trouble distinguishing between its name and the command.
Whatever name you give your chocolate Lab puppy, help her learn it by using it often and in a friendly tone of voice. |
| 11:30 AM |
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| Applying Chocolate Moderation Within your Diet, Awww... Do I Really Have To? |
We don't think about chocolate moderation when we're feeling low, sad, angry, or just plain upset. I know that I certainly don't!
Despite the fact that chocolate is very appealing, a feel-good antidote, can help relieve stress for certain individuals, and is a comfort food, it still contains a lot of calories.
Of course, the amount of sugar that chocolate contains depends on the cocoa percentage of the chocolate. But whether it contains 75% of cocoa powder or none at all, chocolate is still a high-calorie food. (One of the main reasons why it should be eaten in moderation.)
And we all know that once we get started on a piece of chocolate, the next thing we know, half of the chocolate bar or box is gone and we're most likely asking ourselves how come we were able to eat so many. Don't worry, you wouldn't be the first to do this!
But, how do you apply moderation to eating chocolate especially when you have the blues or are just way too upset to care?
Before sitting in that couch with your box of chocolate, I suggest, go take a walk outside and look at what is around you. Take it all in and just watch the outside world. If it's raining or you don't have the option of going outside, call a friend that you know you can trust and talk to her/him about what is upsetting you.
If you can't do the above, try emotional writing. I personally recommend this one. Write, write, write, and write some more until you feel a relief or feel better.
"I just eat chocolate all the time, whether or not I have the blues!" How do I apply moderation to that?
Um... I see the problem and I can only tell you that self-discipline is the only way that you will get around this. What would be a good idea is for you to not buy chocolate anymore, or to buy less. Reduce the quantity of chocolate that you buy on a gradient. You don't want to go from having a lot of chocolate every day to having none because it just won’t work. You will only drive yourself crazy that way. (And we certainly don’t want that to happen to you!)
Try to cut back a little every day. As the weeks pass, you will find that you're eating less and less until you've reached a "correct" amount of chocolate to eat.
When you feel the urge to eat some chocolate, try eating an apple or a small healthy snack. Another good alternative would be for you to drink a long glass of water.
Being able to only eat a small amount of chocolate is a constant effort on your part. You always have to watch it before you go overboard. And don't think that you are the only one, we all have to watch how much chocolate we eat.
If it is still too hard to cut back, eat quality chocolate! With quality chocolate, you will eat less chocolate because quality chocolate is made with rich ingredients and you will feel satisfied sooner (therefore, eating less chocolate).
The "correct" amount of chocolate.
And what is the "correct" amount of chocolate for a person? Well, that really depends on your diet and how much you exercise. If you have a poor diet (lots of carbohydrates, sugar, and junk food) and little exercise, chocolate isn't going to do you a favor.
On the other hand, I find that with a regular amount of exercise, a good diet (lots of veggies, proteins, little fat and sugar) chocolate does not affect my weight. And that is, as long as I eat it in moderation! A square of dark chocolate ever two to three days does the trick for me.
It's really up to you to find out what is the correct amount of chocolate for you. |
| 11:18 AM |
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| Chocolate-- The Newest Health Food? |
There are now even more reasons for chocolate lovers to rejoice! As more amazing research news comes in about chocolate, the substance is moving from a bad-for-you candy to an important health food. Those of us who had always continued to indulge in occasional chocolate treats can stop feeling guilty and now easily justify our cravings.
You may have already heard that chocolate contains beneficial flavonoids and antioxidents. Flavonoids are naturally-occurring compounds found in plant foods that are full of recognized health benefits. There are more than 4,000 flavonoid compounds, which are a subgroup of a large class called polyphenols. Phenols are believed to help reduce the risk of heart disease by helping prevent atherosclerosis. The flavanols in chocolate appear to help the body use nitric oxide, which is crucial for healthy blood flow and blood pressure, which means that chocolate might help reduce hypertension as well.
Red wine is know for its high phenol content, but an average bar of dark chocolate contains more phenols than 8 ounces of red wine. Scientists at Cornell University and Seoul National University examined the cancer-fighting antioxidant content of hot cocoa, red wine, and tea, and found that cocoa had nearly double the antioxidants of red wine and four to five times more than tea.
Holland's National Institute of Public Health and Environment found that dark chocolate contains 53.5 mg of catechins per 100 grams. (Catechins are the powerful antioxidants that fight against cancer and help prevent heart disease). By contrast, a cup of black tea contains only about 14 mg of catechins and green tea has about 30 mg of catechins.
A study at University of California Davis found that participants who ate chocolate showed a reduction in platelet activity. This means that chocolate has an anti-clotting, blood-thinning effect that can be compared to aspirin.
A Harvard University study of 8,000, with an average age of 65, revealed that those who consumed chocolate lived almost a year longer than those who did not. Those who ate one to three candy bars per month had a 36 percent lower risk of death (compared to the people who ate no candy), while those who ate three or more candy bars per week had a 16 percent lower risk.
A study of older men in The Netherlands, known for its chocolate, showed that those who ate the most chocolate, an equivalent of one-third of a chocolate bar every day, had lower blood pressure and a 50 percent lower risk of death. The researchers also noted the men eating the most cocoa products were not heavier or bigger eaters than the men who ate less cocoa.
And it's not just dark chocolate that is the only healthy type of chocolate. Most studies talk about the benefits of dark chocolate, but some of the most recent news about chocolate includes good news for milk chocolate lovers, who have been left out in the past.
The Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia did a study that shows that milk chocolate seems to boost brainpower. The groups in the test consumed, on different occasions, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, carob and nothing. Then they were tested for cognitive performance including memory, attention span, reaction time, and problem solving.
According to Dr. Bryan Raudenbush, "Composite scores for verbal and visual memory were significantly higher for milk chocolate than the other conditions." The study also found that consumption of milk and dark chocolate was associated with improved impulse control and reaction time. It seems that by consuming chocolate you get stimulating effects from substances found in chocolate, such as theobromine and phenylethylamine, which then lead to increased mental performance.
Chocolate really does make you feel good, too. It is known to stimulate the secretion of endorphins, producing a pleasurable sensation similar to the "runner's high" a jogger feels after running several miles. Chocolate also contains a neurotransmitter, serotonin that acts as an anti-depressant. Studies in England show that even the aroma of chocolate gives a bout of euphoria and will help lift the spirits.
And now people are looking at chocolate for skin care. According to Marlies Spinale, director of Tru Spa, "Like many other antioxidants, cocoa polyphenols are thought to offer the skin protection from free-radical damage caused by sun, pollution, stress, alcohol consumption and other factors. I believe that we will hear more about the benefits of chocolate in skin care."
Some people have been avoiding chocolate because one of the main ingredients of chocolate is cocoa butter. It was thought that it was an unhealthy fat, but actually cocoa butter is not unhealthy. It is made up of the beneficial fatty acids-- oleic acid (a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat also found in olive oil), stearic and palmitic acids. Stearic and palmitic acids are healthy forms of saturated fat. Plus chocolate contains vitamins A, B1, C, D, and E, as well as potassium, sodium, and iron.
So go ahead and indulge in a little chocolate, in moderation of course. I would recommend that you try to find organic chocolate, and stick with darker chocolate because it has more chocolate flavonoids and less sugar. (Sugar weakens the immune system; so don't consume sugar if you are ill.) And a little bit of milk chocolate is alright when you need an occasional milk chocolate brainpower boost, such as before a test. All you students take note!
Chocolate as a health food-- can life get any better?
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| 11:17 AM |
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| Chocolate Labs - Images For Proud Owners |
Chocolate Labrador Retrievers, like large energetic candy bars, are growing in popularity in the U.S. Once viewed as second rate to other Labs, chocolate Labs are now becoming desirable. Chocolate Labs are the least common of the three true Labrador Retriever colors: black, chocolate, and yellow. In that sense, they are a "rare" dog.
Because they are still fairly uncommon, it can be difficult for proud owners to find images of their chosen breed, especially puppies. Such images are available, however, and the suggestions below may be of help.
Black and White Images of Chocolate Labs
Black and white images of chocolate Labs cannot portray their "chocolateness" in its uniqueness from other Labrador Retrievers. The shape of a Labrador's body will always be the same, and without color, chocolate Lab dog art work becomes simply Lab dog art work.
Black and white images of chocolate Labs can, however, please proud owners of these affectionate, eager dogs. Chocolate Lab dog art work, photos, and other images can be found on websites such as Webshots and Clipart. Owners who are comfortable with a graphics program such as PhotoShop can quickly change any of these to black and white images. Whether the Labradors are black or chocolate in the original makes little difference in black and white images.
Your puppy's own photograph can be scanned into a computer and changed to a black and white image.
Chocolate Lab Dog Art Work
Chocolate Lab dog art work can be found on the websites of several artists. Most of the paintings we found were hunting scenes, which will please the owner of a gun dog - or a Labrador puppy that dreams of becoming a gundog. When searching for chocolate Lab dog art work, try making art and work one word: artwork. Do a search with the word "print" or "painting" instead of art work. These various combinations should get the results you need.
Chocolate Lab dog art work is not limited, of course, to wall hangings. You can find chocolate Lab dog art work on many things.
Chocolate Lab Mailboxes
Proud owners can proclaim their love of the breed to the world with Chocolate Lab mailboxes. Look for such mailboxes at Labrador Retriever gift stores. A quick search of the Internet will bring results such as these:
1. White mailbox with chocolate Lab head beside your name and address
2. White Box with grass and flower pattern, chocolate Lab lying atop it
3. Chocolate mailbox with chocolate legs, head, and tail attached
Chocolate Labrador Retriever Figures
Chocolate Lab dog art work can be expressed in figures - bookends, figurines, and small statuettes for indoors or front porch. Again, Labrador Retriever gift stores would be a good place to hunt. If the figurine or statuette is bronze, it can be a black or chocolate Lab. Try a company such as Sandicast for lifelike chocolate Labrador Retriever figures.
Clothing Images and More
Black and white images of chocolate Labs, as well as more colorful Chocolate Lab dog art work, can often be found on shirts, caps, and bags. If you want a do-it-yourself project, you can create your own chocolate Lab images on clothing, mugs, and more at Café Press. You supply the design, and they produce professional results for you. Or you can purchase one of the many chocolate Lab designs created by other amateurs like yourself.
Black and white images of chocolate Labs are less common, but we found a beautiful one on T-shirts at All Dogs. The same black and white image is available on a number of things there - including postage stamps.
Helpful Tip
Your Chocolate Lab dog art work search will go better if you try a variety of words in your search. Unless you specifically want a wall hanging, a framed picture, try adding words such as "card" or "figures" to your search entry. You may be surprised at the variety of chocolate Lab items available. |
| 11:15 AM |
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| Sunday, July 15, 2007 |
| Chocolate and Dogs and Cats |
Before we begin to give you additional information on this topic, take a moment to think about how much you already know.
Dogs and cats must NOT eat chocolate. while the reply to chocolate varies from dog to dog based on the measure eaten in relative to its mass, chocolate is venomous to dogs and it can be incurable. Chocolate contains a element called theobromine which is lethal to dogs. Chocolate should be reserved away from dogs at all time beinstigate they regularly like and make off with foods that are melodic.
The quantity of theobromine varies with the style of chocolate. From most to slightest here are some joint theobromine burdened chocolate styles; Cocoa Beans - Cocoa Powder - basic/Baking Chocolate - darkness Chocolate - Milk Chocolate - Chocolate cocktail Mixes - pasty Chocolate.
The quantity of chocolate that it takes to poison your pet depends on the style of chocolate eaten and the dog's load. pasty chocolate has the slightest quantity of theobromine at 1 mg per degree. Baking chocolate or cocoa beans have the uppermost. Baking chocolate has 450 mg of theobromine per oz; partly-melodic chocolate 260 mg/oz; milk chocolate, 60 mg/oz; and hot chocolate, 12 mg/oz. Here is a catalog of the most joint sources of chocolate and the quantity that leads to venomous parallels:
If you feel that you havent learned anything new thus far, there is a whole new realm of information in the rest of this article.
pasty chocolate: 200 degrees per batter of body load. It takes 250 batters of ashen chocolate to instigate cipher of panicky-practice poisoning in a 20-batter dog, 125 batters for a 10-batter dog.
Milk chocolate: 1 degree per batter of body load. Approximately one batter of milk chocolate is venomous to the panicky practice of a 20-batter dog; one-half batter for a 10-batter dog. partly-melodic chocolate has a parallel lethal parallel. Keep in brain that the median chocolate bar contains 2 to 3 oz of milk chocolate. It would take 2-3 sweetie bars to engender lethality in a 10 lb dog.
adorable cocoa: 0.3 degrees per batter of body load. One-third of a batter of melodic cocoa is lethal to a 20-batter dog; 1/6 batter for a 10-batter dog.
Baking chocolate: 0.1 degree per batter body load. Two one-degree squares of bakers' chocolate is lethal to a 20-batter dog; one degree for a 10-batter dog.
cipher of chocolate poisoning in dogs contain vomiting, diarrhea, leftover urination, vomiting, seizures, crooked heartbeat and blackout. Symptoms commonly shrink inside a few hours of eating but can take up to 36 hours. If you construe your dog has eaten chocolate, hustle it to an animal sickbay or veterinarian immediately. The best diagnoses come from pets who were brought to the vet early.
while chocolates are likewise bad for cats, cats are choosy and many cats won't eat it. If your cat does eat chocolate still, discuss the position as life threatening. Cats are small and it takes minus chocolate to murder them
subject, it is best to use a popular search engine, such as Google or Yahoo. |
| 5:29 PM |
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| Let the Magic Work With Chocolate Gifts |
Do you think that you need a reason to enjoy your favourite chocolates? Well, the majority doesn’t think so. For these little sweets are irresistible and are catalytic in gushing positive vibrations into your thought process. Chocolates define happiness. And this inexpensive happiness can be afforded by all of us. So gift this happiness to someone you love.
Chocolates can be an ideal gift for all the occasions. Whether it is Christmas, Easter or Valentines day, this is in fact the most favourite gift of all times. There are those unhappy times when you end up arguing with your beloved over a romantic dinner. The best way to 'ceasefire' is to present a boxful of chocolate to your beloved. And you can let the magic work for you in bringing back the smile on your her face.
There are several Valentine chocolate gifts that are available in the market. Chocolate kisses, chocolate heart box, Valentine chocolate card, chocolate fountain, chocolate boxes, chocolate tours and so on. They may come in various flavours and shapes like truffle, milk chocolates, caramels and the list continues. All you have to do is to make someone feel special by these chocolates.
Chocolates as a gift convey different meanings according to occasions. They may be an expression of endearment when you gift it to your mother on mothers day. It conveys greetings for the occasions as Christmas or Easter. Chocolates can also make you fall in love on Valentines day.
Spread happiness in the form of chocolates gifts. They can surely work wonders for you! |
| 3:06 PM |
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| Chocolate Gift Basket |
Chocolate gift basket is bound to work as everyone love chocolates. It has that soothing taste which is loved by people of all age groups. There are people who love a particular flavor of chocolate and there are other who just crave for chocolate be it any flavor, any brand. For example, some people like chocolates to be very sweet, some like the bitterness that comes with dark chocolate, some people just love white chocolate, some like chocolates filled with nuts and some like caramel filling in a chocolate. Various kinds of chocolates and chocolate lovers can have them all day. Chocolate gift basket becomes the best and only option if the receiver is a chocolate lover. Also, chocolate gift baskets are a hit among kids. If it's your girlfriend then you can always buy heart or rose shaped chocolates and let them know how special she is for you. If you are planning for a romantic evening with them on that special day then you can add up a nice wine bottle in your chocolate gift basket. Chocolate and wine are ideal combination specially when going on a long drive with your dearest one. You can choose from variety of chocolates when packing a chocolate gift basket. It is a good idea to send a chocolate gift basket to someone who you don't know that well. Here, you don't have to worry about that person not liking your choice. You also get special low calorie chocolates, which you can send to a friend who is a health conscious. He is really going to relish this thought of having chocolates without affecting his health. Today, some people even claim that chocolate have some medicinal benefits. Is it a fact or just a saying, it is debatable. But one thing is for sure whether chocolate has medicinal benefits or not, people who love chocolates will continue eating them. |
| 3:04 PM |
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| Texas Loves Its Chocolate: An Ancient Treat From The Mayans Just Gets Better |
Very few of us don't have at least one good memory of chocolate. Remember warm chocolate chip cookies after school, or brownies pulled straight from the oven on a cool, fall day? Hot chocolate is still the beverage of choice for many children, and few of any age can resist a scoop of chocolate ice cream. With a hot Texas summer approaching, and cities like Dallas, Houston, and Austin already getting a hint of the heat to come, a hot fudge sundae just might be the cooling cure for a lot of maladies. Not even health insurance can provide a sweet cookie and fresh glass of milk when it's really needed, after all.
The first records of chocolate consumption date back to the Mayan Classical Period, or between the years 250 and 900 on our modern calendar. Cacao beans were cooked, ground, and made into a paste. When mixed with water, a bitter beverage important to Mayan, and later Aztec, ceremonies was created. That means chocolate has not only survived thousands of years of conquests, changing political maps, shifting cultures, and natural disasters, but also managed to grow more popular. That's fairly impressive.
When Spanish conquistadors came to the Mesoamerican areas now called Belize, southern Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and parts of El Salvador, they, too, discovered chocolate from the indigenous peoples. The Spaniards soon brought the seeds of the cacao back home with them, where the traditional recipes were modified and sweetened. The modern uses of chocolate in Texas and the rest of the Western world are now so varied as to be impossible to name in brief -- from a shake or two added to cooking pinto beans, to rich layers worked into decadent flourless cakes.
One of the reasons quality chocolate is so prized is that the preparation process is long and sensitive. The pods must be harvested from the trees at the right moment, dried and fermented for the right amount of time, and then ground, mixed, aerated, tempered, molded and otherwise processed to perfection. The level of quality depends on the beans, as well as the composition of the final mixture, the roasting, and the types and amounts of additives. The most sought-after chocolate is organic, single-bean origin chocolate, which simply means that all of the cacao beans were grown organically and gathered from the same source. Most commercial chocolates, for instance, will mix inorganically grown cacao beans from different regions in different countries, and of varying qualities.
There's been a boom of higher grade chocolate sold in American markets recently, including in Texas. It's common now to see a supermarket or health food market devote an entire section to various types of gourmet chocolate -- and one need not go to cities like Austin, Dallas, or Houston to find them. They're all tempting, oh so tempting, but it's easier not to give into that temptation when it's unclear how to use them properly.
"What's the difference between dark chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate?" "Should I pay attention to all the percentages? This one says it's 65% pure chocolate, and that one says it's 45%. Which one do I want?"
The best choice depends on for what the chocolate will be used. To make giving into temptation that much easier, here's a basic run-down of the main categories of chocolate:
White chocolate usually has very little chocolate in it. In other words, the cocoa content in white chocolate is very low, and most of its composition will be of other ingredients: butter, sugar, milk, emulsifier, vanilla, and flavors. Because there are no non-fat ingredients from the bean, its appearance is very pale. Some "white chocolate" marketed in the U.S. may not even have any cocoa content at all.
Genuine white chocolate is usually used for specialty deserts.
Milk chocolate is roughly 10 - 20% cocoa solids, although some gourmet varieties will have more. The rule is that milk chocolate should have no less than 12% milk solids. It's not usually used for baking -- except in cases of cookies, of course.
Dark chocolate is a sweetened chocolate with high cocoa solid content. The more cocoa content, the more bitter the taste. Dark chocolate contains a maximum of 12% milk solids, although many gourmet brands have no milk at all. Varieties of dark chocolate include sweet, semi-sweet, bittersweet, and unsweetened.
Dark chocolate is used in many recipes, including a lot of baking recipes. These directions are usually very specific, however, and, when it calls for semi-sweet dark chocolate, for instance, use it. Each type of dark chocolate has specific baking properties.
Semi-sweet dark chocolate is often used for baking cakes, cookies, brownies, and other sweet treats. Its composition is 40 - 62% cocoa solids.
Bittersweet dark chocolate is a sweetened, dark chocolate that contains at least 35% cocoa solids. Good quality bittersweet bars will have a much higher percentage, though, usually between 60 and 85%. The more cocoa, the less room for sugar. That means the higher the cocoa content, the more bitter the taste.
Unsweetened chocolate is very bitter and is only used for baking. It is almost 100% cocoa solids, half of which may be fat (or cocoa butter).
So now that you've had a brief history lesson and run-down of the different types of chocolate, a whole world of cooking has opened up. Try a traditional chocolate beverage recipe, dare to bake that luscious chocolate flourless cake, and try a bar of bittersweet dark chocolate, with at least 65% cocoa content, to really appreciate the true taste of its main ingredient -- cacao. Watch out: over time, you, too, will become a chocolate connoisseur, passing up low-grade chocolate for that organic, single-origin, Venezuelan bar.
Moderate chocolate consumption, according to many studies, is not harmful, and may even be good for you. What you put in your body will certainly affect your health as you age, and eventually your wallet. |
| 3:00 PM |
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| Chocolate Full of Health Benefits |
Chocolate the proverbial food of the gods can slightly lower blood pressure in people with mild hypertension, doctors report today in an analysis that spotlights the medical benefits of a tasty treat.
German researchers writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association say dark chocolate is so rich in the class of biochemicals called flavonols that it actually produces favorable effects on the cardiovascular system. Just 30 calories worth -- about the size of a Hershey's Kiss -- not only helped lower blood pressure but raised levels of nitric oxide, which relaxed blood vessels.
Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, of Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, thinks it's time for dark chocolate to move from the candy store to the clinic.
"The best part of this study is that it allows us to give whole-hearted recommendations to those patients with high blood pressure who might have a sweet tooth," she said.
Going into the study, Dr. Dirk Taubert of University Hospital in Cologne, Germany, hypothesized that "small, habitual" doses of dark chocolate might prove beneficial. He gathered 44 adults between the ages of 56 and 73 with untreated pre-hypertension and mild, stage 1 hypertension, dividing them into two groups. One consumed a daily dose of dark chocolate; the other the same amount of white chocolate. The test ran 18 weeks.
For those eating dark chocolate, the average systolic blood pressure declined by 2.9 millimeters of mercury. The systolic pressure is the upper number in the blood pressure fraction. The average diastolic blood pressure dropped by 1.9 millimeters of mercury. No change occurred for those who nibbled on white chocolate.
Still, some doctors aren't clamoring to recast dark chocolate into a medication.
"There are probably a lot of naturally occurring compounds that have beneficial effects on blood pressure, but it just so happens that this one comes packaged in dark chocolate," said Dr. David Brown, chief of cardiovascular medicine at Stony Brook University Medical Center. His conclusion: "It's not ready for prime time."
Dr. Stephen Green, associate director of the cardiac catheterization laboratories at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, said patients with hypertension should stick with their medications.
"I've noticed that people, especially here on Long Island, don't like the idea of having hypertension, but they're always bringing me lists of supplements and vitamins and stuff out of the health food store that they want to take," |
| 2:59 PM |
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| Chocolate Chip Cookies |
Ok, so admittedly, I am sitting here taking a little breather and eating my 4th, or is it 10th (?) chocolate chip cookie of the day. It's not quite as enjoyable as the first, but I know I will eat it anyway. Oh, you ask, "Why is it not as good as the first?" Well, it is because this one can't be rationalized away - this one is just plain over-the-top, filled with guilt, packed with pain and too much of a good thing.
Well, now that we are all clear on my addiction of choice. Let's look at what the cookies are dying for me to know, and what your indulgences want you to know as well.
We all have our little indulgences in the work place, which take us away from our work for a moment and allow us to mentally take a break. Whether it is the extra 10 minutes we spend chatting with a co-worker about her love life, the couple of extra personal calls we make each day, the extra ½ hour we take for lunch, or maybe it's just gossiping about how "Mary" is taking an extra ½ hour for her lunch. Any one of these little breathers alone, like that first chocolate chip cookie, can be rationalized away and can even be a little bit of a good thing. They are indulgences that make us feel better in the moment.
We all know that it is ok to indulge once in a while, or what the heck, once a day everyone needs a little breather to pick ourselves up. It is when we have hit our 10th indulgence of the day that we have to take a more serious look at why it is we are driven to indulge.
If we are over indulging in one thing, then we can be sure we are disengaging from something else. Indulgence is the symptom, not the problem. The real problem is that we are disengaging from our work and there is a reason we have made the choice to disengage. It is a choice that many more people are making and when professionals disengage from their work we all pay the price. Disengaged workers miss 3.5 more days of work per year than average employees. In addition, a study by Robert Hall International shows that two months of the average worker's year is wasted time, costing business a total of $1.5 billion in lost time.
There are many reasons why we disengage; my reason du jour is "creative avoidance". If I'm eating a cookie, I don't have to write an article. However, more and more frequently we are seeing that workers disengage because they have lost their passion for their work, or worse yet they never felt the passion to begin with.
Passion is lost when we are not working in our gifts and strengths. If you were created to be a teacher and share your love of learning with the world, no matter how hard you try you will never feel passion when you are selling office equipment. Conversely, the born sales person will never feel their passion teaching history to the next generation.
The problem is that even after we have heard what the chocolate chip cookies are trying to tell us, many of us remain stuck in the cycle of indulgence. Yes, you heard your 10th cookie telling you that you don't want to sell any more copiers, but you ignore that little voice because you don't know how to put away the cookies and find your true passion.
Well, that is one of the purposes of career coaching. Career coaches act as guides on a journey of greater self-awareness and clarity. Coaches help you to find your true passion, and then help you to create an action plan to get from where you are to where you want to be in your career and in your life. Once you are working in your strengths you will find you are fully engaged in your work, loving what you do each day, and you haven't eaten "your 10th chocolate chip cookie" in weeks.
To find out how a coach can help you to identify your passion and strengths and then guide you in creating an action plan to get to where you were always meant to be, contact SmartWork Career Coaching 805/376-1906 or e-mail sfreiberg@verizon.net. One of our Career or Executive Coaches will be happy to discuss your coaching options. |
| 2:57 PM |
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| Does Chocolate Have Health Benefits? |
Chocolate – real chocolate that is – is now recognised as having many qualities that can be beneficial for your health. By 'real chocolate' I mean chocolate containing Cocoa, Sugar, Milk Solids, Vanilla, Lethicin and nothing else.
THE UPSIDE OF CHOCOLATE!
Chocolate contains high levels of beneficial chemicals and antidioxants such as Seratonin, Phenylethylaminea, Pentamer and flavonoids. It is also high in essential trace elements, minerals and vitamins such as iron, calcium, potassium, vitamins A. B1, C, D, and E as well as many nutrients. Cocoa powder is also the highest known natural source of Magnesium.
Because it contains Seratonin and Phenylethylamine, chocolate can be good for mental health. These substances are 'mood lifting' agents which are released naturally into our system by the human brain when we are feeling happy or in love. Eating chocolate also releases Seratonin and Phenylethylamine into the system, thus (as all chocoholics know), when we are feeling down or depressed chocolate can provide a 'lift', instantly improving our mental state.
Studies indicate that a chemical found in chocolate called Pentamer help can protect against cancer.
Chocolate is very high in anidioxants in the form of flavanoids Also found in lesser amounts in tea, fruit and red wine, studies indicate they protect the heart and arteries from damage by free radicals.
Magnesium deficiency is linked with hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, joint problems and pre-menstrual problems, otherwise known as PMT or PMS. This condition is caused by a pre-menstrual drop in progesterone levels and it's this which precipitates the violent mood swings familiar to so many women (and their families). Adding magnesium to the diet has been proved to increase pre-menstrual progesterone levels, helping to reduce or even eliminate the problem.
There are benefits for men too, as well as the high Magnesium and flavanoids content which are beneficial for the heart, arteries and hypertension, studies indicate that the cocoa butter in high quality chocolate, although technically a 'saturated fat', does not fur up the arteries or contribute to high cholesterol levels.
Chocolate is an unsurpassed nutritional source, providing high levels of vitamins, minerals and nutrients, a single chocolate chip can provide enough energy for the average man to walk about 170' or 50m. Napoleon carried chocolate with him on his campaigns and today most armies provide chocolate in daily ration packs for soldiers in the field. For over 100 years the British, army have issued soldiers with emergency or 'Iron Rations' of chocolate, containing very high levels of cocoa (80%+), for use in emergencies. Each 'iron ration' of 8oz's – 227g of chocolate can not only provide enough nutrition to keep a soldier going for 7 days or more, it also helps keep up moral in difficult circumstances.
STOP PRESS Nov, 06: Results of a study by Johns Hopkins University indicate that chocolate acts in a similar way to Aspirin in effectively preventing blood clots in the arteries, reducing the likelihood of heart attacks.
THE DOWN SIDE OF CHOCOLATE!
They say "there's no such thing as a free lunch" and chocolate, like all good things in life, has it's problems too. It contains sugar and fat in the form of chocolate butter and eating too much of either will cause health problems. As a result, chocolate has developed an undeserved reputation for being unhealthy.
But, although recognised as being addictive to many people, particularly to Women, chocolate itself is not really the cause of the major health problems it's been associated with.
These problems are caused by the simple fact that many chocoholics choose to satisfy their chocolate cravings in the unhealthiest way possible, by buying heavily advertised, mass produced, brand name, milk and white chocolates.
These products are generally very low in chocolate solids (ave less than 20%) and very, very high in sugar and saturated fats. The beneficial cocoa butter has usually been replaced with Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils (HVO's), and there's no question that HVO's are catastrophically ruinous for your health. To make matters worse, because of the very low chocolate content, chocoholics have to eat 3 or 4 times more of this type of product to satisfy a craving for chocolate.
Filled chocolates, both the commercial variety and, sadly, many handmade chocolates, are some of the worst culprits, with centre's consisting almost exclusively of flavoured Fondants and pralines – fondant is virtually 100% sugar and many pralines aren't much better.
The upshot is, if you want a guaranteed way to to get very unhealthy in a very short time, this is one of the most effective ways to way do it.
WHAT IS THE HEALTHIEST CHOCOLATE?
To find the healthiest chocolate the first thing you need to do is start reading the labels, real chocolate should only contain the following ingredients:
Dark chocolate should contain: Cocoa, Sugar, Vanilla and Lethicin in that order.
Milk chocolate should contain only Cocoa, Sugar, Milk solids/fats, Vanilla and Lethicin.
White chocolate should contain only Cocoa Butter, Sugar, Milk solids/fats, Vanilla and Lethicin.
Flavoured chocolates may also contain a natural flavouring such as Orange oil, spices etc, it should not contain Vanillin (artificial Vanilla), vegetable fats or anything else.
For our purposes here, the healthiest chocolate is going to be that which contains the maximum cocoa solids and the minimum sugar. This would make 100% pure chocolate the healthiest option, unfortunately this is virtually inedible because of it's bitterness.
In practice all chocolate has to have some sugar added simply to make it palatable. Dark chocolate containing 70% (or more) cocoa content is generally recognised as being the healthiest option, simply because it contains more chocolate and less sugar.
If you must eat milk or white Chocolate, you should moderate your consumption and make sure your milk chocolate contains a minimumn 35% cocoa and your white chocolate contains a minimum 30% cocoa butter, with the balance of both made up of milk solids and sugar in about equal proportions.
If you like filled chocolates, either handmade chocolate or otherwise, choose those chocolates with fillings containing high cocoa content, covered with high quality chocolate coverture. Not mass produced, high sugar content Pralines or Fondants covered with low quality coatings that barely even qualify as chocolate.
Chocolate should contain ABSOLUTELY NO Vegetable oils or artificial additives of any kind.
BUT ALL'S NOT DOOM AND GLOOM!
If you love chocolate and/or filled chocolates, there's good stuff out there if you look, and as chocolate lovers become more and more discerning, demand for the real thing grows, so it's getting more plentiful by the day. For the healthiest way to satisfy a craving for chocolates, you just have to be more choosy over what you buy to eat (or for gifts) remember, the higher the cocoa content, the healthier it is….. and the nicer it tastes. |
| 2:55 PM |
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| Baking That Perfect Chocolate Cookie |
In my humble opinion, there is not a better cookie in the world than a well-made chocolate cookie. I am about to tell you how to make the perfect chocolate cookie.
The Perfect Chocolate Cookie
Cocoa drop cookie, the best chocolate cookie. They are not only delicious, but very easy to make as well.
The ingredients required for this recipe are: ¼ cup butter, softened; ¼ cup shortening; 1 cup sugar; 1 egg; ¾ cup buttermilk; 1 tsp vanilla; 1 ¼ cup sifted all-purpose flour; ½ tsp baking soda; ½ tsp salt; ½ cup cocoa powder, unsweetened; and 1 cup of chopped pecans.
1. Cream the shortening and butter with sugar; beat in egg.
2. Stir in the buttermilk and vanilla
3. Sift the dry ingredients together and add to the first mixture.
4. Stir in the pecans, and chill the cookie dough for about an hour.
5. Use a teaspoon to drop the dough onto a greased baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between the cookies.
6. Bake in a preheated 400°F oven for about 8-10 minutes, or until set.
7. Then cool and frost with a simple chocolate or vanilla icing if desired.
Shortbread Cookie Recipe
Here is the recipe for another great cookie, the chocolate covered shortbread cookie recipe. For this you will need: 8 ounces butter at room temperature; ½ cup powdered sugar; 2 cups all-purpose flour; ½ teaspoon baking powder; 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted; and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract.
1. Combine all ingredients.
2. Knead with your hands to made sure they are well mixed
3. Press into lightly buttered pans.
4. Bake at 325°F for about 20 minutes.
5. Cut into wedges while they are still warm or break them apart.
There are many fabulous recipes out there but here are two of the best. Remember these recipes around the holidays and you can present your friends and family with delightful treats that will be remembered the rest of the year. |
| 2:53 PM |
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| Top 20 Reasons Why Chocolate is Better Than Sex |
Top 20 Reasons Why Chocolate is Better Than Sex.
1. You can GET chocolate.
2. “If you love me you’ll swallow that” has real meaning with chocolate.
3. Chocolate satisfies even when it has gone soft.
4. You can safely have chocolate while you are driving.
5. You can make chocolate last as long as you want it to.
6. You can have chocolate in front of your mother.
7. If you bite the nuts too hard the chocolate won’t mind.
8. Two people of the same sex can have chocolate without being called nasty names.
9. The word “commitment” doesn’t scare off chocolate.
10. You can have chocolate on top of your workbench/desk during working hours without upsetting your work mates.
11. You can ask a stranger for chocolate without getting your face slapped.
12. You don’t get hairs in your mouth with chocolate.
13. With chocolate there’s no need to fake it.
14. Chocolate doesn’t make you pregnant.
15. You can have chocolate at any time of the month.
16. Good chocolate is easy to find.
17. You can have as many kinds of chocolate as you can handle.
18. You are never to young or to old for chocolate.
19. When you have chocolate it does not keep your neighbors awake.
20. With chocolate size doesn’t matter; it’s always good. |
| 2:52 PM |
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