For years, the therapeutic and medicinal properties of
chocolate have been talked about, almost jokingly. It’s as if the idea that
something which was enjoyable to eat could actually be healthy was
preposterous. After all, everyone knows that anything we like can’t be good for
us and anything we don’t like must be.
While the battles still rage between the nutritionists and those
with a little more common sense, I must put in a bid for the value of
chocolate, especially for women. There have been medical studies done on
chocolate, specifically dark chocolate, and how it helps with the production of
progesterone. Now, while the medical community talks about the loss of estrogen
being what cause emotional problems like PMS and menopause for women, those in
the know have realized that it’s the lack of balance between estrogen and progesterone
that causes the problem.
Menopause and PMS are actually more about loss of progesterone
production, rather than estrogen production. Yes, estrogen goes down, but
progesterone goes down even more. I guess that one thing you could call a proof
of the problems which lack of progesterone cases is that there are zero cases
of women who are on estrogen supplements, who report feeling better.
On the other hand, women who take progesterone supplements (which
are applied as a topical cream) do report better emotional equilibrium. So,
while that may be a bit anecdotal and not all that scientific, it appears that
progesterone is important to a woman’s emotional stability.
That brings us back on track with chocolate. As I already
said, chocolate is a precursor to the production of progesterone. That’s why
women crave chocolate when they are in PMS and menopause. Yes, there’s something
more than calories and flavor behind that craving. So, it would seem that the
thing which we should do as husbands is ensure a healthy supply of chocolate
for our wives.
One candy company has actually seen the wisdom of this and
produced a Chocolate Emergency Kit. Yes, Dove Chocolates actually produced a “Chocolate
Emergency Kit.” I have no idea if this item is still on the market, as I bought
this one for my wife a few years ago. She would keep it in her desk at work for
those emergencies when she needed a chocolate. Now that she’s working out of
the house, we keep it stocked for the two of us (I have chocolate emergencies
as well).
Even if they’ve stopped making these, that doesn’t mean that
you can’t provide your wife with a chocolate emergency kit of her own. Remember
when we were kids (for those who are old enough) and we used to cover cigar
boxes with paper, making “jewelry boxes” for our mothers? Well, guess what,
that idea still works, although it might be a bit difficult to come up with a
jewelry box these days. No problem, just swing by your local crafts store and
pick up a box to decorate.
That way, your wife can have her own “Chocolate Emergency
Kit.” While I would have to say that the science isn’t all in on the value of
chocolate, I can say with total security, that chocolate is one of the world’s
great comfort foods. If nothing else, you can be assured that eating chocolate
will help her feel better, even if it does nothing for her body chemistry.
Besides, everyone knows that quality chocolate is romantic.
Hmm, I wonder if anyone has ever done a study to determine the aphrodisiac value
of chocolate?
