Today is National Chocolate Day

Posted on 28 October 2009 by MajaSaja

National Chocolate Day is October 28 and a perfect day to celebrate the many health benefits of chocolate. While chocolate is primarily eaten for pleasure, there are potential health benefits of eating chocolate.

Cocoa or dark chocolate benefits the circulatory system. Other beneficial effects suggested include anticancer, brain stimulator, cough preventor and antidiarrhoeal effects. An aphrodisiac effect is yet unproven. Of course, there are negative effects to a person’s health if they eat chocolate, mainly obesity caused by overindulgence. It can also be toxic to animals due to many animals.

However, for the sake of National Chocolate Day, here is some basic information about some of the health benefits of chocolate.

Circulatory benefits
Studies have suggested that cocoa or dark chocolate may possess certain beneficial effects on human health. This is mainly caused by a particular substance present in cocoa called epicatechin. Cocoa possesses a significant antioxidant action, protecting against LDL oxidation, perhaps more than other polyphenol antioxidant-rich foods and beverages.

Muscle recovery
A study from James Madison University showed that post-exercise consumption of lowfat chocolate milk provides equal or possibly superior muscle recovery compared to a high-carbohydrate recovery beverage with the same amount of calories.

Circulatory benefits
Recent studies have suggested that cocoa or dark chocolate may possess certain beneficial effects on human health. This is mainly caused by a particular substance present in cocoa called epicatechin. Cocoa possesses a significant antioxidant action, protecting against LDL oxidation, perhaps more than other polyphenol antioxidant-rich foods and beverages

A study performed at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm and appearing the Journal of Internal Medicine in September 2009, found that survivors of heart attacks who ate chocolate at least two or three times a week reduced their risk of death by a factor of up to three times compared to survivors who did not eat chocolate.

Aphrodisiac
There are many tales that identify chocolate as an aphrodisiac. The reputed aphrodisiac qualities of chocolate are most often associated with the simple sensual pleasure of its consumption.

Candy company Mars, Inc. spends money each year on cocoa flavonol research. The company is talking with pharmaceutical companies to license drugs based on synthesized cocoa flavonol molecules. According to Mars-funded researchers at Harvard, the University of California, and European universities, cocoa-based prescription drugs could potentially help treat diabetes, dementia and other diseases.

Celebrate National Chocolate day and enjoy the health benefits…or just the fact that it is delicious!

Launching of the "Chocolate Drizzle"

Today is the launching of my E-Newsletter called "The Chocolate Drizzle". I am so so so excited for this. It has so much information in the newsletter, such at MORE FREE recipes that you can not find here on this blog, and it helps to keep you informed on all the Host and Guest specials in the event that I run out of time posting here, or if I simply forget to make the post.

So this is what I would like to do. For those of you who received the E-newsletter I would like to have a drawing. You should have received the newsletter if I have your email address, if not, let me know and I can add you to the newsletter list. This is what you need to do in order to have your name entered into the drawing.......

Your name will be entered into the drawing for each of the following:

1) Leave a comment on this post letting me know what you liked most about The Chocolate Drizzle E-Newsletter

2) Leave a separate comment on this post letting me know what article or feature you like most about this Blog (ChocolatierToTheRescue)

2) Become a Follower / Fan of this Blog (ChocoaltierToTheRescue)

3) Place an order with me and get (5) entries

4) Book a Chocolate Tasting Party with me and get (10) entries

5) Become a Chocolatier like myself and get (20) entries

Sounds easy......Right?

I'll pull the winner using random.org on Wednesday, September 30th. The winner will then have 48 hours to contact me/claim their prize before a new winner is drawn. Please leave a way for me to contact you in case you win!! U.S. Residents ONLY please!!

Want to know what you will win? Let's see, let's see......hmmmmm........ok, got it.......The winner will win a Mousse Packet with (2) Chef Series Dark or Milk Chocolate bars. YUM-O!

Good luck!

A word from Betty Palm President of Dove Chocolate Discoveries

Use your passion

A successful home-business mom shares her secrets.

By Kathie Scrimgeour

The 53-year-old with a home-based business lives in Denver with husband Mark, 52, daughter Kyra, 16, and son Cody, 11.

I like to talk about my working life online because I've done it all: I've worked in a mousetrap factory, designed jewelry and been a jet mechanic in the Air Force.

Now I have my own work-from-home business, leading a sales team for Dove Chocolate Discoveries. I'm selling something I have a longtime passion for -- chocolate!

The Web is a great tool, especially when it comes to expanding my customer base. You also can get candid advice online on career-focused forums.

In turn, I try to help fellow moms on these forums take advantage of the positive aspects of a bad economy by finding great bargains or getting their home loans refinanced at a lower interest rate. Good times or bad, nothing lasts forever, so you take advantage of "down" cycles so you'll be in a position to enjoy the better days ahead.

_____________________________________________

Here is the direct LINK to this story.

Touching on the question Ruth asked at a party...(Part 1)

On August 14th I did a Chocolate Tasting Party and I had a guest ask me the follow questions:

"Are your chocolates fair trade certified?"

and

"Can you guarantee that the cocoa plantation workers are paid a living wage?"

I told her that I would find out the details and post them as I come across the answers. Here is an article I found that touches on the topic asked. I think this is a very interesting article. I know it is long, but worth learning a little bit about the Mars Corporation and how they work with the cocoa bean growers. I will continue to find and post more information when I come across the information.

Corporate News

News Releases

____________________________________________

Mars Commits $4.5 Million to Development Partnerships in Africa; Three year program builds on legacy of past commitments
4.16.2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT: Parag Chokski
April 16, 2007
Washington, D.C.
202/320-7075


Mars Commits $4.5 Million to Development Partnerships in Africa; Three year program builds on legacy of past commitments

McLEAN, Virginia – Mars, Incorporated today announced partnerships with leading international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and development agencies for a multi-year program to provide economic, educational and environmental assistance to communities and individuals in West Africa.

Mars, which will commit $4.5 million to the programs over the next three years, will double its existing annual contribution to the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) and will partner with Africare, the International Foundation for Education & Self-Help (IFESH), the German Technical Cooperation Agency (GTZ) and the Rainforest Alliance on projects to increase economic assistance for local cocoa farmers, improve local infrastructure and education, and enhance agricultural sustainability.

Mars will meet with these project partners during the next three months to identify the areas of greatest need, develop specific projects to address those needs, and implement ways of working that ensure synergies between the partners and local governments are maximized.

“We are excited by this opportunity to work with partners that share our deep commitment to sustainable development in Africa,” said Brice Russell, Chief Procurement Officer of Mars. “Mars is committed to long-term solutions to enhance the lives of the people and communities where cocoa is farmed , and we expect these partnerships to positively benefit thousands of African farmers and their families.”

Mars will work with Africare, a leading NGO that specializes in aid to Africa. With broad experience throughout Africa, Africare is the oldest and largest African-American organization in the field. In the short term Africare will investigate how its resources can best be used in the cocoa communities of West Africa.

“This partnership is symbolic of the commitment that both Africare and Mars have made to the continent of Africa,” noted Africare President Julius E. Coles. “It’s an important step toward establishing strong, self-sustainable economies that will support and provide services like education and employment opportunities, especially for underserved populations,” noted Coles.

Mars will work with IFESH to improve educational opportunities for farmers and children in the region. Under the vision and leadership of the late Reverend Leon H. Sullivan, IFESH was established to reduce hunger and poverty, empower the local community by raising the standard of literacy, and to foster cultural, social, and economic relations between Americans and Africans, particularly those Americans who are of African descent.

Through the establishment of multipurpose training centers focusing on literacy development, health and agricultural training, the partners will seek to improve the quality of life of cocoa growing families in West Africa. IFESH will also work synergistically with other Mars partners, to bring technical assistance and training to the centers, particularly in agricultural training and sustainable farming techniques.

Mars, GTZ – a German government enterprise – and the Rainforest Alliance, an international conservation NGO, will focus on development of best farming processes including crop diversification and preservation of biodiversity, providing support for improved farming skills in West Africa.

“GTZ looks forward to the development of a public private partnership with Mars to promote sustainable cocoa production in West Africa”, said Carsten Schmitz-Hoffman from GTZ.

“The Rainforest Alliance believes that a partnership with Mars, GTZ and the cocoa farmers of West Africa will yield real gains in addressing the persistent social and environmental challenges in the cocoa farms,” said Tensie Whelan, executive director of the Rainforest Alliance.

The ICI is a foundation comprising cocoa industry and civil society partners. ICI’s comprehensive strategy includes innovative community-based solutions bringing positive sustainable change to families and ensuring children are in school.

“With proven models in place and motivated partners on the ground, additional funds from Mars will enable ICI to increase its program and ensure many more children will be in school and not at risk of hazardous work on cocoa farms” said Peter McAllister Executive Director of ICI. Mars is pleased that this additional funding will allow ICI to expand these proven successful programs in West Africa.

These initiatives from Mars Incorporated build upon a long history of commitment to
sustainable cocoa farming across the world. The Mars Center for Cocoa Science was launched in 1982 in Bahia, Brazil and continues its work today to reduce the impact of pests and diseases on the cocoa tree and to disseminate information on best practices for sustainable cocoa production worldwide.

In 1998, Mars and the Smithsonian co-sponsored a historic international conference in Panama to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders to discuss cocoa sustainability. The conference led to the creation of numerous partnership programs that address the long-term sustainability of the global cocoa crop.

Mars will continue to support the range of public private partnerships in which it is engaged including the Sustainable Tree Crops Program (STCP), which educates farmers through Farmer Field Schools and helps introduce best practices for cocoa production in Africa and its program with Winrock International, which enhances educational opportunities for West African children. To date, more than 1,350 children have received help through the program.

###

Mars, Incorporated, is a privately-held family owned company that produces some of the world’s leading confectionery, food, petcare, beverage, and health & nutrition products, and operates in more than 65 countries. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, Mars, Incorporated employs more than 9,000 associates in the United States and 40,000 associates worldwide with 52 sites nationally and more than 100 manufacturing globally. The company’s global sales exceed $21 billion annually.

Here is the Link to be directed to the Mars Newsroom article itself.

Touching on the question Ruth asked at a party...(Part 2)

Here is some additional information I found on Mars.com:

10.What does Mars do to counter abusive child labor in cocoa farming?

At Mars, we take very seriously our responsibility to the cocoa farming families and we have a genuine commitment to the communities that are touched by our business.

Driven by this commitment, Mars has taken a leadership role in our industry's efforts to ensure a sustainable future for the family farms, for the children who live on those farms, for the communities that rely on those farms and for the ecosystems in which those farms play an important role. Our efforts seek to raise overall farmer incomes and encourage all aspects of sustainable cocoa cultivation.

To attain these goals and in particular to fight child labor, we signed an unprecedented industry protocol determining our commitment and combining our efforts with those of several organizations such as the International Labor Organization (ILO). The Protocol outlines a series of steps to ensure that cocoa is grown responsibly, free from abusive child labor.

Mars has also taken the initiative of funding a program to enhance educational opportunities for West African children.

These and further steps to address cocoa growing conditions in West Africa are just the beginning of a long-term commitment Mars began in 1998 to improve the well-being of millions of small farmers who grow cocoa.

Click on the links to learn more about our Five Principles, Policies and our approach to responsible cocoa farming.

Here is the direct LINK if you want to read the rest of the article.

Happy Labor Day....

This weekend is going to be lots of fun filled with music, food, relaxation and more. Today we are heading up to the local mountains with some friends to go watch a FREE concert. The band is called the Atomic Punks and they are a Tribute Band for Van Halen. I am so excited. Tomorrow my family, and a some friends are going to go see Def Leopard, Cheap Trick, and Poison in concert. We have been waiting for some time now for this one. We had lots of fun seeing Poison last year. Funny to think that 20 years or so ago I saw Def Leopard. It was my second concert I had ever been to. Good times with my mom and brother back in the day.

Then we have Monday, Labor Day. This is the day that I get to go out with a couple of girl friends and go soak my body in the sun. We are going to Glen Ivy Hot Springs to not only enjoy the rays, but to go relax in their many pools, and soak up the aloe lotion in the Grotto. Awwww the thought.

From IT Exec to Chocolatier - MORE Magazine

by Shelly Mortensen • More.com Member

"I smile all the time now, with my DOVE CHOCOLATE DISCOVERIES business!"

Proshots Event Photography

In November 2007, I found myself out of work and out of love with corporate America. My IT project management job was eliminated and looking back, a good portion of my self-confidence went with it – or so I thought. I had been active in the workforce for over 20 years and had already been through my share of layoffs. Finding a new job is always a daunting task and I was not looking forward to starting off on the bottom rung of the ladder again considering I was now 38 years old.

Given the job market in my area, I knew the search would be even tougher and more competitive. I would likely take a pay cut from my previous salary and experience a decrease in benefits. Taking all that into account, I suddenly knew I no longer wanted to work for anyone but myself. But what could I do from my home that wouldn’t bankrupt my family? My requirements were flexibility, helping others, and a fun environment. Previously, I had done some direct selling and decided to give it another go since it fit my basic requirements. Having narrowed my scope to direct selling, I added a few additional requirements – the company had to be relatively new, therefore having less competition, and have a product I would love.

With this list of requirements, in May 2008 I went on an Internet search for direct selling companies. I came upon several that I had heard of and seen for years – very successful, established companies -- which were exactly the one’s I had decided to steer away from. I happened along others that sold products I did not care about. Then one day, I found it. An Independent Chocolatier the page read – what? Chocolate? Oh, yes – THAT – I can be passionate about! I had found DOVE CHOCOLATE DISCOVERIES ™ and knew I was home. While I told my husband that I would simply find out a little more about it, I knew the second I saw it the search for my new career was over.

I did some research and found that I would be doing Chocolate Tasting Parties in my hosts’ homes. For each party, my host would provide a guest list and we would decide on a menu where she provides the regular ingredients and I provide the chocolate components. For example, she might choose the Double Chocolate Chip Cookie Pizza and Chocolate Martinis. I would lead the guests on a discovery of various ways chocolate can be used (sampling along the way) and they would place their orders. My host would earn rewards based upon the party sales and I would earn a commission. Most importantly, I would book parties around my schedule and recruit/build a team of others with a goal of assisting them in starting their own successful businesses.

On June 23, 2008 I became an Independent Chocolatier and an extremely nervous entrepreneur. I now had to prove that I could make it on my own without a corporate America gig. I prayed that this move would be what I had been seeking in the job search - which, now that I reflect back on it, I realize I had actually been seeking for several years. I had come to realize that my life during the years I had worked for others had been stressful and filled with long hours for little, if indeed any, reward. I was yearning for the chance to prove myself and be recognized for my efforts. Now that I had hired myself, there was no one in my way besides for me.

When I first started doing my parties, I doubted every single thing I did. I actually had a horrible meltdown right before my first party. Thanks to the encouragement and assistance I received from my family, I managed to find the courage to move forward and not give up before I gained any momentum. At my first party I fumbled around a lot, used my note cards to remind me of what to say, and wasn’t able to answer a lot of the questions the guests asked me. But still, at the end of the night everyone was happy, I made $75, and I had two more parties booked – yes!

As the weeks and months went by, I partied quite a bit and found myself with a growing team. I was being recognized for my sales and recruiting. I traveled to Chicago to give a talk on booking parties. I earned an all-expense paid trip to Chocolate School – yes, Virginia, there is a Chocolate School run by Mars Snackfood US. I earned additional bonuses and incentives along the way and, at the national conference in August 2009, I marched across the awards stage so many times it was as if I were dreaming. I was awarded #1 in number of parties, #4 in sales, #5 in recruiting, and the topper for me – I was selected to become a member of the Advisory Panel. All of the goals I set for the year had been achieved and I remain amazed at what I was able to accomplish in such a short time. I realized that, while the effort on my part had been tremendous, the recognition and rewards I received as a result of my efforts were even more rewarding and liberating.

Personally, I am busier than ever and so much happier than I was when I worked in corporate America. I have the flexibility to plan around my family’s schedule, which gives me significantly more quality time with those I love. My circle of friends has grown and I have more support and encouragement than any corporate job could ever provide. I find myself being open to many more new experiences and opportunities because of the success I have found with my business. The personal and professional areas of my life complement each other and I wholeheartedly enjoy both on a daily basis. And finally, I realize that my newfound ability to help others grow and achieve their goals through my business gives me the utmost joy.

When I lost my IT job, it truly felt like my self-confidence had received the pink slip. However, over the past 14 months, I rediscovered my confidence and found that it was always within me – I just had to give it a way to shine. I once thought that managing complex IT projects was what made me valuable but now I know that I provide value in so many ways to so many people. Today I do this through my love of chocolate, tomorrow – who knows? Life truly is a box of chocolates, but it’s what you choose to do and how you react that determines what you’ll get.

http://www.more.com/2009/7850-from-it-exec-to-chocolatier/3

You can now find me on Twitter.....

Hello fellow Tweeters.....I now have an account on Twitter. You can find me at:

Choco2theResQ

(http://twitter.com/Choco2theResQ)

Happy Following......

Mars Candy Coupon here you come......

I finally got the email letting me know that I will be receiving my FREE candy coupon in the mail. This is what is says:

"Congratulations! You are one of the lucky people to receive a Mars FREE* Real Chocolate coupon (subject to verification of eligibility). Your coupon will be mailed and should arrive in approximately six weeks. Your coupon will be sent to the address indicated on your registration form. Thank you for visiting and learning about Mars Real Chocolate Relief. Enjoy your FREE* Real Chocolate coupon!

* Limit: 250,000 Coupons per Friday (9:00:00AM ET to 11:59:59PM ET). See terms and conditions for details.†"

Don't fear! If you missed out on getting your FREE chocolate last Friday, you will have another chance this Friday (July 24th). Don't forget to get something for FREE! That is my favorite 4-letter word.................FREE!

I got it!

Well today was the BIG day I have been waiting for! I got my kit! It's like Christmas! I am so excited to get started! Although we all have our struggles in life weather it be emotionally, financially, relationship problems, that time of month (women you know what I mean), etc. Chocolate always has a way to make someone feel better, wheather you are a man or a woman, and that is what I am all about. If there is a way that I can help someone smile I know that my partner in crime being "Chocolate" can do it. When I say, "I am a Chocolatier, and I sell Chocolate" you should see the instant smiles and the eyes open as wide as they possibly can. It is such a joy to see how much joy comes to someone just by one simple word......"Chocolate"!

There is something very important that I learned since I signed up as a "Chocolatier". It should have come with a WARNING! I have learned / discovered that I live in a house with MAJOR CHOCOHOLICS! Thanks to my upline (Thank you Dilila & Renee) they have provided me with some of the products that we sell so I can taste it and give it a test drive before my kit arrived and before my parties started to come around. Well my family has put on their hound noses because every night they ask me, "What's for dessert?". My daughter has even gone as far as sneaking chocolate truffles out of a baggie that was given to me to try as well (Thank you Ylia). I asked her what she had in her mouth and she told me, "Nothing" with a HUGE smile with teeth that were covered in Chocolate!

Here is another example of how bad it has gotten.....

I was on my way to the training / meeting on Monday up to Victorville when I recieved a text message from my husband that read...............


Who knew I would be entering into a business that would make my family out of control?!?! I am beginning to feel like Willy Wonka over here! LOL In a good way of course!

Summer Sparklers