The Best Most Delicious Chocolates

Chocolate in moderation is actually good for you. According to an article called, "In One Study, a Heart Benefit for Chocolate" by Nicholas Bakalar in the New York Times on September 14, 2009, "researchers in Sweden have found evidence that people who eat chocolate have increased survival rates after a heart attack."

Wow, this is great news for chocolate lovers everywhere! The key is that chocolate contains flavonoid-rich antioxidants that have "beneficial cardiovascular effects."

The NYT article stated that according to the Swedish Study which will be published in the September issue of The Journal of Internal Medicine, "those who had chocolate less than once a month had a 27 percent reduction in their risk for cardiac death, those who ate it up to once a week had a 44 percent reduction and those who indulged twice or more a week had a 66 percent reduced risk of dying from a subsequent heart event."

Dr. Kenneth J. Mukamal, co-author of the paper and an associate professor of medicine at Harvard University said that, "there was considerable data from other studies suggesting that chocolate lowered blood pressure and that this might be a cause of the lower cardiac mortality found in the study."

Polyphenols are a type of phytochemical (plant chemical) that is also an antioxidant. Antioxidants are good for us because they are molecules capable of slowing or preventing certain types of oxidation of other molecules in our body. Oxidation reactions in the body can produce free radicals that then cause other reactions that may damage cells. According to the Wikipedia, "Antioxidants terminate these chain reactions by removing free radical intermediates, and inhibit other oxidation reactions by being oxidized themselves." Polyphenols found in chocolate are this kind of oxidation "reducing agent."

Other chemicals in chocolate are alkaloids such as theobromine and phenethylamine which affect brain chemistry. Theobromine is a muscle relaxant, it also dilates blood vessels. There are higher quantities of it in dark chocolate.

Chocolate also contains serotonin, a monoamine neuron transmitter that affects mood.

The photo above right is of a "Chocolate Molecule made in chocolate" by Birdies100 of Flickr in the creative commons.

1. Vosges Haute Chocolate Organic Wink of the Rabbit featured on the ecofabulous website. This yummy chocolate is organic and tastes absolutely out of this world and is "single origin dark and milk chocolate infused with mushrooms, plantains, peanut butter, sweet caramel and Georgian pecans."

2. Organica Deluxe 100% organic truffles that Oprah calls "absolutely perfect." These artisan chocolates come in flavors of dark, milk, white, caramel and cognac rolled in powder sugar. These chocolates are organic, promote fair trade and sustainability.

3. Life is Sweet Chocolates are organic and fair trade certified handmade dark chocolate ganache by chocolatier, Lesley Byrne, paired with unusual flavors. Ms. Byrne specializes in hand-painted molded bonbons that are beautiful to see and delicious to eat.

4. Vegan Organic Nuts and Chews Chocolate Assortments from Sjaak's Organic Chocolates are all certified fair trade outstanding chocolates that include: Coconut Caramel, Almond Caramel, Pistachio Caramel, Mocha Caramel, Cashew Cluster and Chocolate Caramel. All chocolates are vegan and created using Earth friendly ingredients and methods. Mother earth will praise you for eating these treats.

5. Theo Chocolate is a Chocolate University where you can taste the treats of the up and coming new chocolatiers. The chocolates are all fair trade and organic. Come taste the environmentally conscience Theo Jane Goodall Bars that come in organic Dark Chocolate or organic Milk Chocolate.

6. Lake Champlain Organic Chocolates made in Vermont offer Holiday Organic Chocolate Truffles in a festive box. Their regular Organic Chocolate Truffles contain flavors like Aztec spicy dark chocolate.

7. Oliver Kita Chocolates offer a NEW Sustainable Holiday Collection of organic goodness. Even the packaging comes from recycled products to protect Mother Earth. Inspiring Autumn Bon Bons perfect for Thanksgiving gifts contain 16 pieces of chocolate like cognac with juicy pears, floral galangal blended with juicy sweet heat of ginger and star anise, and cinnamon in Pumpkin Latte. Their Chanukah Collection is handmade kosher chocolate including flavors of pistche and marzipan. Their Christmas Collection include champagne truffles, framboise, creme brulee, cognac and more.