Chocolate, what a delightful subject! With the numerous successive holidays in Nice, chocomania is spreading everywhere. In pancakes, bars, and soon in ice cream… it’s hard to resist! Although not a drug, this food makes many salivate. And despite appearances, it’s not so harmful to health… whether physical or mental, provided it’s not overdone.
From dark, white, square, round, praline, fruity… there’s something for every taste. Indeed, it’s all about chocolate! First Christmas, then the end of the year, and now Carnival. Any excuse is good to give into this temptation.
And for those who might feel guilty, there are no real worries. Consumed in moderation, of course—two or three squares a day maximum—this food is not unhealthy. On the contrary! It appears to be an excellent anti-stress agent. In Nice, dietitian Sandra Charrière is convinced of this. According to her, this product, rich in magnesium, tends to calm irritabilities.
In Nice’s chocolate shops, the reaction is the same! Whether it’s at “Maison Cauvin”, “Chocolats Puyricard” or “Confiserie Florian du Vieux-Nice”, unanimously, chocolatiers affirm the benefits of chocolate. “It does good for the spirit”, “It’s good for morale”,… Praise abounds. From the customers’ side, it’s similar: out of desire, to celebrate an event, or even out of habit, … excuses are plentiful. Some say that this dish affects the mood, others that it fills a void… Regardless, the moment of tasting is always eagerly awaited.
The epitome of chocolates remains the dark variety. Made up of 70 to 80% cocoa, cocoa butter, and little fat, it is often prescribed in diets. For Sandra Charrière, the reason is simple: the more cocoa, the less sugar. Diabetics can also enjoy the taste effect this dessert offers.
A specific category of chocolate has been created: it is the “sugar-free disks”.
That’s not all! Chocolate, whatever its form, possesses a thousand and one other virtues. Besides being easily digestible, it is full of vitamins and glucose necessary for the brain. And who knows? It may also be an aphrodisiac! At any rate, many assert so.
The action of this product doesn’t stop there: it improves endurance and helps combat slumps. And for those who are not too greedy, some beauty institutes offer cocoa baths. It seems to do good for the skin. An experience worth trying!
