A special new thread dedicated to all your chocolate needs ... be it medical or otherwise!
(PS can we get sponsorship from G&Bs?)
Kate
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CHOCOLATE: A special new thread... - Asthma Community ...
CHOCOLATE
Written by
KateMoss
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I have just been on a mad chocolate munch. I'm a bit down at the moment, amazing how chocolate seems to make everything look brighter. I think I shall have to start munching it more. I got through the left over bits of the block in the fridge and half a bag of crunchie nuggets and now im finishing off the rest of the milky babies out of the fridge 
mmmmmm
Tks xxx
Hi this is a very good thread.
Did you know that Chocolate contains small amounts of Theophylline, which is a treatment for asthma, So chocolate is very very good for everyone here.
I am totally addicted, I like G&B dark with Cherries, and dark with Caramel Almonds.
My total favourite chocolate at the moment is Rococo Chocolate, their cardoman is just heavenly.
I know we are not meant to post web sites, but in case you are interested this is where you can find it
It is expensives, but gosh it makes you feel better.
I think that the dark stuff goes further, you get your chocolate hit sooner, therefore eat less (sometimes) and don't get so fat.
I could go on and on and on and on.....
RI
I was so scared when I saw this on the homepage - I thought it was going to be a post in the medical forum saying asthmatics shouldn't eat chocolate!
The G&B's sponsorship sounds great - had their dark selection box recently, not only was it most drool worthy, but my boyfriend hated them, fantastic! I've also recently discovered (& developed a bit of a thing for!) Montezuma's. Their dark chocolate with chilli is superb.
If you'd not gathered, I'm a total chocoholic! I can be quite fussy, although standards go out the window once a craving hits!
Sharon xx
PS Chocolate as asthma medicine? I like it!
Dark chocolate is supposed to be the best type for general health matters (and I can't remember specifically what, I'm afraid, possibly something to do with free radicals...).
I'm now having hallucinations of the bar of G&B bitter cherries (well, half bar) that is sitting at home. And I am stuck here at work for another hour and a half....*sob*
meant to say, the particularly delicious rococo bars are called 'organic artisan bars' If you haven't discovered them yet, I advise you not to, because you will become addicted. Like me. I have to secrete my stash around the house so my husband can't find it. He is allowed the G&B, sometimes. But I am not all that good at sharing choc.
LoL.
RI
…..heaven, I’m in heaven and………a thread devoted to chocolate!
Thank you Kate Moss!
Where can I start?
Hmmm I have to buy seven bars a week of G and B’s, plus an emergency one to satisfy my choccy cravings.
Always carry a bar of G and B’s Mayo Gold in my handbag for emergencies as well as a standard bar of G and B’s milk for on the hour nibbling. I have been known to share this choccy, but can’t remember the last time when.
At Christmas I had to make a choice between either wrapping up a bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape or box of G and B truffle chocs as a present for an unexpected but very welcome friend. Needless to say hubby wasn’t too happy with my choice.
Rihobbs - would disagree about the dark stuff going further, but I think that’s because I’m just greedy, or addicted,- probably both!
However I think my credit card might be brought out of its post Xmas moth eaten state later on this evening re the rococo website. Thanks!
‘Could go on and on’…but feel a little bit hungry now.
Mia
Oh dear, goodbye good intentions, I'm drooling now and will have to go and get some choc before bed. I think there is still a little of the Divine bar I got for Christmas, otherwise it is the cheap Sainsbugs stuff left over from the sunday school party. I really must stop buying any. Sod the diet tonight though.
Oooooh, I seem to have created a chocolate avalanche!
Just eaten a small square of Maya gold - digestive system still a littl fragile.
Night all
Kate
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I hope you don't mind Kate, but I have copied this from one of my previous posts on another thread back in December. I thought it would be useful to have the information posted here also.Chocolate high in cocoa (70% plus) is said to be good for you. Chocolate containing high levels of cocoa is only found in dark chocolate. Milk chocolate contains high levels of artificial flavouring, colouring and low levels of cocoa and is said to be bad for you.When someone says he/she is allergic to chocolate this is probably not strictly true. Allergic reactions to cocoa is in fact very rare. What people react to is normally the ingredients/additives where the symptoms takes the form of chemical sensitivity/intolerance rather than straight forward IgE allergic reactions.There is a close association between the following health conditions which often overlap. A person described as a multiple symptom allergic could suffer from some/all conditions;AsthmaEczemaAllergy (including food sensitivity & intolerance)Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)MEIf a positive health benefit (e.g., eating chocolate high in cocoa) is reported relative to one condition it is possible that a similar improvement could be found in one/all of the associated conditions outlined above. However, since everything we do should be done in moderation, I would recommend that specialist advice be sought before exceeding the RDA of any substance.In support of the positive health benefits of eating chocolate rich in cocoa, I would offer the following abstract from a recently published paper on this subject:High cocoa polyphenol rich chocolate improves the symptoms of chronic fatigue (T Sathyapalan, P Campion, S Beckett, AS Rigby & SL Atkin)Endocrine Abstracts (2006) 12 P68BackgroundChronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating condition with high morbidity and associated reduced quality of life. There are data suggesting neuro-endocrine axis involvement in CFS including disturbance in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, growth hormone axis, opioidergic system and interactions with 5-Hydroxy Tryptamine (5-HT) system. Studies with selective 5-HT-releasing agents, using prolactin or cortisol responses to stimulation, found evidence of enhanced serotonergic responses in patients with CFS. Cocoa is known to increase neurotransmitters like phenyl ethylamine, serotonin, and anandamide in the brain.ObjectiveTo study the effect of high cocoa polyphenol rich chocolate in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.DesignDouble blinded, randomised, placebo controlled fashion using high cocoa polyphenol rich chocolate in comparison to simulated iso-calorific chocolate dyed brown as placebo.ResultsTen patients were enrolled in the study of which 5 patients completed both arms. The Chandler Fatigue Scale score improved significantly after 8 weeks of the high cocoa polyphenol rich chocolate phase (32.6 vs. 22.0 p value 0.012) and, interestingly, fell significantly when patients were given simulated iso-calorific chocolate (25.3 vs. 28.6 p value 0.026). The residual function, as assessed by the London Handicap scale, also improved significantly after the active phase (0.485 vs. 0.628 p value 0.018). The mean weight before and after the placebo arm were also unchanged (73.43 kg vs. 73.85 kg, respectively p value 0.345). Anecdotally, two patients were able to return back to work after having had their symptoms for a 2 year period and continued on high cocoa polyphenol rich chocolate.ConclusionHigh cocoa polyphenols rich chocolate 15g three times daily improved fatigue and function in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome over a period of 8 weeks compared to simulated iso-calorific chocolate. Whether hormonal modulation by this high cocoa polyphenols rich chocolate also occurred needs clarification.endocrine-abstracts.org/ea/...
oh yummy, a thread I could eat!
Did you know that dark chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa is supposed to reduce cholesterol? Another good excuse to gorge ourselves!
I've just gone and bought some more G&B hot chocolate coz shock of shocks, I ran out the other night and have had to make do with Divine hot chocolate instead, which, imo, isn't as nice. I have a whole new jar now ............. <goes off in a trance towards the G&B hot chocolate in the kitchen>
Can't sleep so have resorted to the kinnerton nut free chocolate and it's not great but will do .... i miss proper chocolate!
I know its not the healthiest, and apologies to anybody who's allergies really don't do milk chocolate, but GALAXY does it for me.... any type, any size, bigger the better....
Does anyone remember when you coudl get galaxy counters as well as buttons for kids..........?
They were in a blue or white packet with a picture of a pelican on the front..... but that was a fair few years ago when I was much smaller......
going now.... hungry!!!!!!!!!!
Kat
I need Dairy milk to feed my addiction! Any variety will do but prefer fruit 'n' nut or just the ordinary chocolate.
When my daughter was younger she read a book called Chocolate Fever, it was absolutely hilarious at the child came out in chocolate spots. Can't remember who the author was though.
I miss milk chocolate, but in October last year I decided I'd try experimenting and make my own. I started by melting down some G&B 70% dark and slowly adding in cream and stirring well. I then spooned it into shaped ice-cube trays (Ikea do fun shapes) and let it set in the fridge. Double cream worked really well; single cream was alright too, but softer. I tried it with milk too and whilst I just about got away with whole milk; semi-skimmed and skimmed just flooped all the over the place, having never set at all. The ones that worked though were very lovely, though *very* rich.
Becky.
Ooh, we're being beaten by fish fingers, can't be having that!
Becky, those sound yum! Must have been such a hardship eating up the failures!
Its not a race-fish fingers and chocolate can exist together peacefully like in that song by Paul Mcartney and Stevie Wonder
-In the sprit of food-based harmony,
Bluejam.
could dip fishfingers into a chocolate fondue................?
Or coat fishfingers in chocolate and deep fry.................
Eww - chocolate coated fish fingers :o/ But then I'm veggie so don't eat fishies <0))))<< Anyway, why adulterate the chocolate?
I'm with you Becky. Chocolate is chocolate and does not need any sort of enhancing Z list would be celebrities or pretenders to the crown!
Er, shall we keep this a chocolate purist zone from now on....
no more fishies .... unless they are the chocolate sardines that you can get
(chocolate in the shape of a sardine, covered in foil and neatly presented in a tin!)
Mmmmm, I hear a piece of maya gold calling.....................
omg my choc addiction has just made me steal from my child lol ..... Sean has a rather large stockpile of choc in fridge from xmas so............ well im sure he wouldnt miss that flake that was calling me...... and mmmmmmmmmm dunked in a cup of tea it was lovely 
I've been clock watching since about 10, counting down until I'm allowed out to buy chocolate! Bad, bad, cravings today! 22 minutes left to decide which chocolate will best fulfill the need...
Chocolate is the answer ... and I don't care what the question is!
Has anyone been to Hotel Chocolat? Their cuddly chocolate labrador with milk chocolate bones are divine. I also had some of their chocolate buttons. Yum! Their shop is 15 minutes walk from my work.
Beth
Ive ordered several items from Hotel Chocolate in the past-Easter Eggs last year for the Bambinos-Xmas chocograms for several friends,my brothers wife says the liquer ones are like double-shots wrapped in chocolate-I cant really vouch for them personally-Im too busy eating Fish fingers!!
Bluejam.
We had a great time in the CAdbury shop at the Clarks' Village just before Christmas. Managed to make all the odd-shapes packets that we bought last quite a while. Mind you, once a packet was opened it was soon empty. Yummmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!
I went to Cadbury's world last easter. Felt sick of chocolate that weekend as we had two massive easter eggs, cadbury's chocolate and loads of other stuff!
Money can't buy you love, but it can buy you chocolate ... and lots of it!
Ooh, I'd love to actually go to Hotel Chocolat! I joined up to their chocolate tasting club for a while, highly recommended!
The Comic Relief red noses come with a white Fairtrade Nut free chocolate in the box! Not eaten mine yet...... but have just gobbled some M&S Fairtrade dark chocolate - yummmm!
still got a box of Maya Gold squares in the fridge on the go since Xmas!
I think I have been to one of the Chocolat Hotel places - very yummy looking
We also have a Cadburys outlet at Freeport - too much cheap chocolate & most has egg traces! ( sorry, not a cadburys fan even though they do now Own G&Bs! - Outrageous!)
Now we do have a Thorntons outlet there too! Pitty they don't do fairtrade...
Kate
have found a new friend..... tescos organic fair trade instant hot choc drink..... v nice and doesn't need milk to make it, so I can be lazy at work and not fetch the milk in.........
I followed a web link yesterday promising free chocolate but it wasn't exactly truthful... was a link to Hotel Chocolat monthly tasting club..... not a bad idea, but I just can't justify £17.95 per month in one hit even tho I probably spend that much on choc anyway...........
my local super market is having a 'chocolate day' on saturday, with an instore chocolate fountain, and choclate tasting and choclate cooking demos.
Sadly I return to england the day before so won't be able to go.
better for the dress size though.
Thinking about the the G&B hiding in the cupboard for a rainy day.
Oh yes I think I see those storm clouds coming through the brilliant sunshine.
RI
Does anyone remember Aztec chocolate bars? The original ones that is?
I had some strawberries in the fridge yesterday (I know, strawberries in February is crazy ... but yummy). It being about to snow, I was rather cold so was trying to think how I could heat the strawberries up a little to take the chill off, without having to wait for them to get to room temperature in several hours time. This was especially so as it was about 9pm. I hit upon the idea of melting some G&B in the microwave and dipping the strawberries in it. It took the chill off the strawberries, the chocolate set quickly, and they were utterly gorgeous! I recommend them to you all. Oh, and because strawberries are fruit you can tell yourself that it's all healthy :o)
Becky.
chocolate comes from cocoa beans. beans are vegetables, therefore chocolate is good for you.
it also contains milk and milk is healthy for most people.
chocolate contains calcium and iron - healthy again.
it also contains sugar and sugar is a vegetable crop, vegetables are healthy.
some chocolates contain fruit eg strawberry and orange, fruit is good for you. Therefore chocolate is healthy
Stressed reversed = dessert!!
Sent it by an email ages ago. Thought I had saved it on my computer but can't find it so the above is what I can remember. Enjoy the stress buster.
Came across this post on netmums....
Post subject: Make your own Ferrero Rocher...Mmmmmmm gluten free too
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Just letting you know how I make these, as my mil has a glutem allergy she cannot eat the bought ones so I make her these instead.
You will need:
Hazelnuts
Nutella (or any other choc and hazelnut spread)
Rice Crispies
Chocolate
Crushed hazelnuts
This is quite messy. Take the rice crispies and crush them into small bits, then take a spoon full of Nutella and push a whole hazel nut into it, then roll in the crushed rice crispies, and place in a sweet case refrigerate for 1 hour, when they are nice and cold, melt the chocolate then using two forks dip the crispie coated chocs into the nmelted chocolate and roll in the chopped hazel nuts, put back into the fridge to set.....yum yum...
sounds good to me, and I guess you could always substitute nut free choccy spread and swap the hazel nut/chopped nuts too?
Might have to have a go with my 6 yr old who enjoys baking and well on the way to being a choccy addict in her own right...
Kat
When shopping in Sainsburys, I noticed a new addition to the freefrom range: Dark Chocolate Selection. They come in a really nice gold box with a ribbon, look like proper choccies!! Taste quite nice and say they are gluten, wheat and dairy free. Not sure if they are egg free though?
Really recommend them and hope this is not classed as advertising, if so please remove!
Rachaelx
Kat, could I suggest using a strawberry or even a grape instead of the nut and non-nutty spread for those who can't eat nuts
Bex
Hi Bex
hope you're doing ok today - it seems quiet on here - I guess so many people aren't doing too well at the moment...
the fruit idea sounds good to me - though I think I'd just add a chunk of dark choc instead....
have no will power whatsoever, and am back on another ""short"" course of pred so am munching my way through Christmas Toblerones at home and the sarnie van at work always arrives at about 11.30 with hot sausage & egg sarnies plus choccies, crisps and all things yummy......
Kat
Rachel, I was looking at exaclty the same chocolate selection box 2 hours ago in Sainsburies!
Home made ferrero roche - yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!
Why is it you always want what you cant have!!!! i never used to like chocolate untill i became diabetic and now i shouldnt have it i want it all the more!!! i started off only being able to eat a fun size bar and had to be one with something in like toffee crisp but now can even eat dairy milk!!! at mo am so into crunchies, bought a big bag of little ones as diabetic cons said dont have diabetic choc have normal but small bar!! ok except one bar not enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
oh well, do like drak choc more and as better for you have conviced myself its ok!! just wish the scales and blood sugars felt the same!! lol
andrea xxx
Lent
Who's given up chocolate ( or trying to LOL) for lent?
I am trying ... very hard!
PS does Hot chocolate count or is it just chocolate in the solid format??
I know it would do me good but I can't do it! OH was complaining that the Christmas supplies have finally run out now, so I did suggest last night that he could give up for the rest of Lent but he wasn't impressed.
I just had to raid my daughter's mini eggs when working at home yesterday afternoon (given very early by well meaning Grandma). Back at my desk today, and I started the day with mug of hot choc, so failed already, and having discovered the delights of G&B's Milk now too - I have to ask - how do you manage to only have 1 or 2 squares at a time? I have absolutely no will power whatsoever - can't stop until at least half the bar is gone and usually the whole lot.
Kat
No we cant give up chocolate remember its medicinal to use it contains theophyline!!!!
Andrea xxx
oooh this is tempting me - just as well there is none in the house!
I have given up chocolate, sweets, crisps, chips and all bad-for-you food for lent (except for 3rd march which is the ball and I WILL eat the 'trio of chocolate desserts"" having worked this hard for it). But I can't sleep and could really go some yummy divine chocolate orange. Oh, I've remembered the half bar of divine in my jacket pocket. Hmm, do I go with the fair trade chocolate doesn't count theory we had in Shetland? This could be a difficult decision. No, I should be good.
How are you managing Kate?
A little bit of what you fancy does you could!!! thats my theory and im sticking to it!! god bless the inventors or crunchie nuggets and turkish delights!
andrea xxx
Tried carob?
Been reading this thread with interest. Love the recipe for home made Roche!
If anyone has a health food place near them I wonder if you've tried carob cake? A good one is like a good chocolate cake with less of the guilt though the carob bars can be a bit icky.
Jacqui
no substitutes im afraid nothing but the best!! he he, even as a diabetic!! its better to have a small amount of normal choc than any amount of the diabetic rubish!! more harm than good.
I visited my supplier of Montezuma's chilli chocolate earlier & they didn't have any! <sob> I bought a bar of the orange & geranium to try as a substitute, I'm not convinced at all, it's a bit like eating perfume!
Sarah, we also go by the rule that fair trade chocolate has no calories in it, which means that this theory isn't just isolated to Shetland. I therefore suggest that this is based on research and has been proved to be fact. Eat away and enjoy!!!
Becky.
Owl, well I am doing very well - not had any chocolate since last week ( well not any physically solid chocolate ........... only hot stuff in a mug - have I failed my lenten challenge???)
Kate
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Worked my way through a giant dark toblerone last week that hubby picked up in duty free on his way back into the country. Yum! Yum! Well I did share it with him.
Anyone tried the chocolate chip snack-a-jacks? They are scrummy.
I'm not giving up chocolate for Lent. A Bridge Too Far. But I am giving up alcohol. Think it doesn't help with symptoms etc.
Back to topic.
I was given a box of Thorntons Single Origin for my birthday.
I am the most loyal of persons in every way imaginable when it comes to you know who 'Fair Trade' bought out by Cadbury well over a year ago now....
...but these choccies were almost as good as.....
Try them.
