These health benefits eating chocolate will have you reaching for the next block.
I think we can all agree in saying that chocolate is a consistent pleasure in life! But do you ever feel guilty after eating chocolate? Well have no fear, I’m happy to inform you all that there are many reasons why you shouldn’t feel guilty about eating chocolate, and here is a list of the top six:
Chocolate can prevent memory loss
Scientists at Harvard Medical School, say that drinking two cups of hot chocolate each day could keep the brain healthy and reduce memory loss with older people. Hot chocolate helps to improve the blood flow to part of your brain that controls the long and short-term memory. Which means that hot chocolate could slow down the process and the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
Chocolate lowers your cholesterol
According to the Journal of Nutrition, eating a small amount of dark chocolate daily might help with reducing your cholesterol levels and improving your blood pressure.
Chocolate helps with lowering the risks of heart diseases
A study, published in The BMJ, have shown that eating 100 grams dark chocolate each day could help lower the risk of developing heart disease by one-third. They also discovered that out of the 44.489 people 22% were less likely to get a stroke.
Chocolate helps with weight Loss
Adding small proportions of Dark Chocolate to your diet can do wonders. Studies have shown that dark chocolate is more filling than lighter coloured chocolate. Adding dark chocolate to your diet will make you crave less for sweet, salty and even fatty foods.
Chocolate reduces Stress
Emotional eating might not be such a bad thing when it comes to chocolate. It turns out that an ounce and a half of chocolate everyday could reduce your stress hormone levels.
You deserve it!
Have you ever bought yourself a box of chocolate as gift to yourself? If not you should consider it, because you deserve it!
Buying yourself a gift of chocolate is the perfect way to celebrate yourself. Eat chocolate because you did that great thing today.
Chocolate tasting on tour
Departing daily, our Gourmet Food & Wine tour stops by the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie! On arrival, you can’t help but notice the delicious chocolate being made right in front of you. If you want to find out more, we had the pleasure of interviewing Simon, to find out more about the creation process and talk all things chocolate.
Touring the Yarra Valley with Go West
Our Yarra Valley Gourmet Food lets you try the best wines and local produce that this region has to offer. It’s an excellent day trip from Melbourne and perfect for any food or wine lovers. Here’s what we have in store for you on the Gourmet Tour:
Taste fresh fruit and juices at Yarra Farm Fresh
Yarra Farm Fresh is a working fruit farm and produce store. The store is stocks with produce from local growers and producers as well as high quality products from other Australian regions. Its here that you can sample jams, relishes, fruit juices, nougat, fresh fruit and more.
Taste wines at Balgownie Estate
Balgownie Estate Yarra Valley is the home of elegant cool climate wines. They have a range of deeply complex and distinguished cellaring styles from the old vines growing in the original Balgownie Bendigo vineyards. At Balgownie you’ll learn how to swirl, sniff, and slurp like true connoisseurs while tasting some of the very finest cool climate wines.
Yarra Valley Dairy
Yarra Valley Dairy is located in the century-old milking shed in the centre of the Yarra Valley. The dairy specialises in soft cheeses and fetas. On tour you can taste a range of their delicious cheese – it will have your tastebuds working overtime!
Rochford Wines
Rochford Wines is as iconic for hosting concerts and events as it is for wines. We visit this winery for a gourmet lunch with views out to the vineyards. For lunch you can choose from four different main meals – each using fresh, in-season local produce – served with a glass of wine and tea or coffee.
Yering Station
Yering Station is where Victoria’s first grape vines were planted back in 1838. This winery is a member of the Australian Tourism Hall of Fame and a tasting of their exceptional wine range is not to be missed. We visit the old winery building for an intimate wine tasting experience.
Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery
The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie is where a range of premium chocolate products are created. You can even watch the expert chocolatiers hard at work handcrafting these chocolate creations. On tour we are given an exclusive chocolate tasting.
So what are you waiting for? Join us on a Gourmet Tour to indulge in delicious chocolate and more!
Written by: Leah Furey – Digital Content Coordinator @gowest.com.au
