People's Pharmacy

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Is Chocolate Good For You?

Posting Date: 12/20/2004

Other exciting news about chocolate comes from Italy, where investigators noted recently that women who love chocolate are more likely to enjoy sex. These scientists questioned 163 women about their chocolate consumption and their love lives. The more chocolate a woman ate, the more likely she was to have a satisfying sex life. It?s not clear if this is a cause-and-effect relationship, but the researchers concluded that, ?Chocolate can have a positive physiological impact on a woman?s sexuality.?

The biggest problem with overindulgence in chocolate is weight gain. Most chocolate desserts are rich in sugar and saturated fat, which makes them high in calories. Extra pounds would undo all the good that chocolate could do. Ingredients like margarine, butter and cream are not heart healthy.

It is possible, however, to enjoy the benefits of chocolate without bad fats. To help people enjoy cocoa compounds without excessive calories or unhealthy fats, we offer our 100-page book, Chocolate Without Guilt. It has recipes for low-fat chocolate desserts and guidelines on selecting high-flavonoid chocolate. To order a copy, please send $17.95 to: Graedons' People's Pharmacy, No. CWG, P. O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.

Chocolate may not be health food, but modern science is rediscovering what the ancient Mayans figured out long ago. Chocolate is good for the body and soul.

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Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist. Teresa Graedon holds a doctorate in medical anthropology and is a nutrition expert. Their syndicated radio show can be heard on public radio. In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of this newspaper or e-mail them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.org.