Confessions of a Chocolatier

Alert! Alert! A new study was released yesterday from the Archives of Internal Medicine, linking frequent chocolate consumption to a low body mass index! My social chocolate universe is plastered with links to numerous headlines all outlining these findings. People want to know what others think about this so called research so here I am to speak my mind, that’s what this blog is for right?

This research was led by associate professor of medicine Dr. Beatrice A. Golomb, at the University of California San Diego. The project was funded by the National Institute of Health; the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; and the UC San Diego General Clinical Research Center. A questionnaire was given to around 1000 participants from the ages of 20 to 85. They were asked how many times a week they consumed chocolate, along with a series of other food and exercise related questions. They also had measurements taken to calculate their body mass index(BMI). The data was then calculated and concluded that those who ate chocolate more frequently, actually consumed more totally calories but also had lower BMI. Researchers have yet to prove why this is, but prior studies and speculation lead to beliefs that antioxidants and other compounds found in chocolate may positively influence metabolism. Dr Golomb states that “Our findings appear to add to a body of information suggesting that the composition of calories, not just the number of them, matters for determining their ultimate impact on weight.” I think this quote is the most important information coming from this study.

Additionally, I found this excerpt from the NPR article to be quite interesting: “When people talk about the health benefits of chocolate, says food scientist Joshua Lambert of Penn State University, they typically talk about compounds called polyphenols. When he investigated some specific polyphenols found in cocoa, he found that they potently inhibit an enzyme, called pancreatic lipase, that’s responsible for digesting dietary fat. This means that the fat in chocolate may exit our bodies before it has a chance to be absorbed. Or, in other words, these compounds in cocoa may help us fend off fat.”

NPR:  Does A Chocolate Habit Help Keep You Lean?

The New York Times:  The Chocolate Diet?

The Wall Street Journal:  A Chocolate a Day to Get Slimmer?

Funny, because people always ask me how I stay thin working with chocolate. Do I even eat it anymore? To which I respond, “Of course!” I’ve learned a lot over the years that it’s not the chocolate that’s bad for you, it’s all the other stuff that goes along with it. Plus, besides eating a ton of chocolate, I do otherwise eat pretty healthy and try to exercise regularly, when I’m not bogged down in the kitchen. Personally, the less other junk I eat, the more I reward myself with chocolate, guilt free!

Just because a study provides some insight on how eating chocolate can effect your bmi, doesn’t mean we need to go off and eat a candy bar everyday. Another reason why I like to stress the importance of the type of chocolate we are eating and what’s in it. A chocolate bar vs a candy bar. Chocolate get’s a bad rap from all of the stuff we love to add to it; like sugar, cream, butter and even eggs. That stuff really packs on the extra calories and fat, in addition to the initial cocoa butter fat.

Haven’t we at least learned by now that all good things are best in moderation? Find a good quality chocolate bar, with a high percentage of 70 cacao or more, which means it has less sugar and try spreading it out over 3 to 5 days. Portion control is easier with a high percentage bar because the intense flavor is all the more satisfying, therefore you need to consume less. Spread out your consumption throughout the day, instead of eating it all at once and you can trick your self into thinking you’ve had more than you actually have. Moderation is key. Gluttony, a deadly sin.