Celebrate National Chocolate Covered Anything Day this Week!

Do you know someone who doesn’t like chocolate? Most of us do – most of us, and not all of us. To a small percentage of people, chocolate tastes bitter and nasty and they avoid it. The rest of us make up for them, though - the average adult eats their weight in chocolate each decade of their life.

I might be a little ahead of the curve on that one – how about you?

As with most indulgences, there are reasons to enjoy chocolate, and reasons it might need to be avoided. Chocolate can help your brain focus, can have benefits where aging and heart health are concerned, and when we eat it, the part of our brain associated with falling in love is stimulated. No wonder chocolate can be so addictive!

Want some scientific reasons to indulge in chocolate? Cocoa is high in polyphenols and flavanols, antioxidants that help lower inflammation in the body. There are studies that show that blood flow is improved, blood pressure is lowered, heart disease is less common and the chance of having a stroke is about a third less in those who consume chocolate. Another study hints that cognitive decline isn’t as prevalent in 65+ year-olds who eat chocolate regularly. What’s not to like about chocolate?

The down side of chocolate consumption is that too much fat and sugar increases risks of obesity and diabetes, not to mention that the caffeine content in chocolate can cause heart arrhythmias in people who are sensitive to caffeine.

This Friday is National Chocolate Covered Anything Day. If caffeine isn’t an issue for you, this holiday is an excuse for you to play with your food. Chocolate covered fruit? Yes, please. Chocolate covered corn chips? Sounds fun. Chocolate covered chocolate? Sure – why not? For best health, focus on dark chocolate – 70% cacao or higher – and have fun! And while you’re dipping to your heart’s delight, triple-dip into some Tiny Bites of a different kind: 

Need to tap into your focus? There’s a Tiny Bite for that!

Need to double-dip on your friendships? There’s a Tiny Bite for that!

Need to sugar-coat some memories? There’s a Tiny Bite for that!

The Wellbeing Wisdom Tiny Bites podcast is the world's second-shortest podcast, 90 seconds or less, and it comes out every day at the Center for Workplace Happiness website and wherever you listen to podcasts. If you like it, please subscribe and share it with your friends.

Speaking of sharing with your friends, National Chocolate Covered Anything Day sounds like a perfect excuse to round them up, rent a chocolate fountain and have a party. It’s this Friday – share pictures of what you dip in chocolate, ok?

Wags, Sandy Weaver, Program Director, Center for Workplace Happiness

PS...looking for something different to give your clients, teammates or family members this year? Check out the personal development courses and books available through the Center for Workplace Happiness. Need a bunch? Enjoy generous bulk discounts!