Forget calorie, bite into the chocolate

AHMEDABAD: It symbolises fondness. Biting into it gives a high. It elevates the mood. So, who cares if it adds a little more to the waistline? It���s Valentine���s Day and what better way to celebrate it than with a gift of a bar of chocolate to your Valentine.
"Chocolates are among the favourite presents as they symbolise sweetness, boost one���s mood and are easy on the pocket too.There is a universal fondness for chocolate and it is a hit among all ages," says practising psychologist Iti Shukla.
"People love chocolates. Occasions like Valentine���s Day would bring out the chocolate lover in them," says Vikas Punjabi, owner of Chocolate Room, a restaurant that specialises in items with chocolate.
"We have special Belgian chocolates and other varieties, which have been prepared specially for the Valentine season. We have sold over 500 pieces of chocolates on the eve of Valentine���s Day alone, which is much higher than our routine sales," says Punjabi.
Research shows that even though one would end up consuming several calories at a time, chocolate has been found to contain chemical compounds that stimulate the same receptor sites in the brain as marijuana. Chocolate is also loaded with antioxidant polyphenols - compounds found in red wine, fruits and vegetables that are known for their heart-friendly and other disease-preventing qualities.
City-based dietician Ritu Bharadwaj says: "Chocolates are sugar-based and have a very high calorie count. This leads to increase in waistlines. Chocolate contains oily fats causing pimples and skin problems. It can also cause constipation. But Valentine���s Day comes just once in a year and one need not bother about these. One should keep in mind that it is a mood elevator because of the caffeine content in cocoa beans."