Friday, January 31, 2014

The Temptation of Chocolate


Chocolate cake, anyone? This one has homemade fudge frosting so rich I only make it at Christmas, and I can’t resist it.



Now, only a month has passed since Christmas, and I’m already munching on the Valentine chocolates. I’m addicted to chocolate. Is there a 12-step program for people like me? What is it about this stuff?

The earliest documented use of chocolate is around 1100BC. The Mayans and Aztecs made a beverage from the seeds of the cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated at least 3000 years in Mexico, Central and South American. The seeds have a bitter taste and must be fermented to develop the flavor. It’s my guess, if this was the only way to consume chocolate today, it wouldn’t be so tempting. The Europeans decided to add sugar to it. Bless them. It wasn’t until the 19th century that Briton John Cadbury made the solid form, creating the chocolate bar.

Scientists tell us the taste is probably addictive because it affects serotonin levels in the brain. That’s the problem. Temptation is a war of the flesh. Anything that tastes good or feels good is hard to control.

There’s nothing wrong with chocolate. It’s actually good for your health—but sugar isn’t, especially too much. Another temptation to struggle with, and if you’re like me, it’s a lifelong struggle.

Wanting to limit sugar intake isn’t enough, neither is the desire to do right. It takes will. The will involves more than thinking or saying, “I’m going to do it.” The will does it. Denying yourself, even of chocolate, is like a sacrifice offered to God. I think of the will to do righteousness as that sweet smelling savor rising up to the heavens.
 
It’s still a struggle, but I will buy those apples and snack on apple slices instead of over-indulging in chocolate, though I’ll probably dip some of them in chocolate.
 


What foods do you find hard to resist?  

15 comments:

  1. I love this post. I love chocolate. I love tortilla chips and salsa. This post speaks to me. I seem to have no will power but I did buy a bag of apples yesterday. Apparently, great minds think alike.

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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    1. Melanie, you're one of my favorite commenters. I like tortilla chips too, but with guacamole dip. The avocado makes it healthy, right? We won't even think of all those calories. Sometimes I rationalize too much.

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  2. Very fun article, Elaine. Thanks for sharing. Personally, apples and peanut butter are one of my favorite snacks, but I'm also a chocolate addict. :)

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    1. Hi Amber, I keep the pantry stocked with peanut butter for emergencies--you know, like hurricanes or two-inch snow storms like we just had. It keeps well, has lots of protein, and tastes good on anything.

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  3. Ooh, chocolate is at the top of my list of foods I find hard to resist. Well, most any sweets are on that list! Like you said, it does takes willpower to keep from overindulging in these sweet treats.

    texaggs2000 at gmail dot com

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Britney. You're right, the key is to keep from overindulging. Moderation in everything. But that's easier said than done.

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  4. I'm totally with you on the chocolate <3
    and I'd be dipping the slices in chocolate right beside you =)

    EnJoy - make it dark chocolate & it's even healthy for us ;))

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    1. That's so true, and I like dark chocolate, even semi-sweet. But if we'd just kept consuming our chocolate in a bitter brew like the Aztecs, it would be very healthy. Then the Europeans mixed it with sugar and made it taste good. Let's just blame them.

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  5. Great post. Funny, I just read an article on fb this morning that ties into this. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2546975/One-twin-gave-sugar-gave-fat-Their-experiment-change-YOUR-life.html Maybe you'll benefit from reading it as well. I use to have ice cream every day. It's dairy, what could be so wrong about it, right? After I discovered my cholesterol was up, and started having issues with my hear tracing. I had to rethink what I was eating. Cut out the small piece of dark chocolate every day (it was only a bite, how harmful could it be?) Stop drinking the powered forms of hot chocolate and French vanilla cappuccino. I needed to keep warm, right? UGH! All of these things I craved, and loved, but were doing me so much hard. Loaded with sugar. I never thought it possible, but I no longer have ice cream every night, stopped the daily chocolate -for the most part, and reduced greatly, the hot drinks loaded with sugar. At least the latter is only during the colder months. I heard once that a habit can be made or broke in 30 days. Just 30 days. So if you can stick it out for 30 days, life will be easier and better.

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    1. Waving to Kym, one of my writing buds. Thanks for health article. Breaking a habit can be done. I, too, cut out ice-cream and don't even miss it, except for the French silk with the big chocolate chunks.

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  6. I can stay away from chocolate, pasta...everything but bread. I love rolls, fresh bread, sourdough bread.,bread.bread. :-)

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    1. Hi Patricia

      In my effort to cut out processed foods this year, I'm going to start making my own bread, but I'm afraid that's going to turn into a whole new temptation.

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  7. I can't think of anything better to blog about than CHOCOLATE!!!!! A batch of my mothers home made fudge is my absolute favorite treat. It's probably a good thing she only makes every once in awhile. Your right, Elaine the Brits are to blame for making such a sweet treat. Lol!!!

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    1. Thanks for your comment, Dana. Homemade fudge is my favorite form of chocolate. Store bought just doesn't have that flavor, and you don't get to scrape the pan.

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  8. Hi Elaine! I am coming over from Twitter via Laura Hodges Poole.

    Oh my. I do love my chocolate that's for sure. Oh, and ice cream too! I think I'm probably addicted. If you find that 12 Step Program, please share it!!
    Happy to meet you today :)
    Ceil

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