Coping Skills: Chocolate

[ysabetwordsmith]

Folks have mentioned an interest in questions and conversations that make them think. So I've decided to offer more of those. This is the current list of coping skills.

4. Eat a little chocolate.

https://www.francolania.com/2017/08/20-health-benefits-chocolate/

https://luxatic.com/best-chocolate-brands/

https://www.lakechamplainchocolates.com/chocolate/organic/

Comments

[acelightning73]

I actually just did that this past Boxing Day. Driving home from upstate New York, our navigation device failed to prompt us for an exit, and we wound up going 40 miles out of our way, and getting hopelessly lost in Wilkes-Barre, PA. That was the lostest I've ever been; with no geographic frame of reference. I was absolutely miserable. And then I thought of something. My daughter-in-law's niece always gives me a reasonably nice box of chocolates for Xmas. So I had my husband get it out of the back of the car, and I explained how I felt miserable, and I was going to eat chocolates until I felt better. Eventually I did feel better.

[(Anonymous)]

I did that once!

I got myself on the wrong train...in a foreign country. And just so happened to have my 'ticket' from the Museu de la xocolata [in Barcelona]. They give you a chocolate bar as your admissions ticket. :)
http://museuxocolata.cat/?lang=en

[acelightning73]

That sounds like a cool place. And I don't speak Catalan, but my Spanish is good enough to get by on. (There is an an animal rescue center in Valencia, and when I watch their videos, people are chatting in Catalan, and I have no trouble understanding them.)

[(Anonymous)]

Small museum, but worth the visit. I also remember a restaurant that serves excellent paella...

Just be mindful of the fact that bar hours are different than in the US, and this fact must be accounted for to avoid difficulties.

[seleneheart]

I thought that was one of the most genius thing ever about Harry Potter that the cure for contact with Dementors is chocolate.

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Agreed. Chocolate isn't just an antidepressant, it's also an entheogen. It really does work exactly as described, and has been a remedy in the metaphysical community all along.

[readera]

I got some bars of good chocolate and have been enjoying them slowly after bad work days or irritable days. It helps. :)

Yay!

[ysabetwordsmith]

That's good to hear.

I have Hershey kisses for lunch desserts, but we usually have ice cream bars coated in dark chocolate or ruby chocolate among our supper desserts. And there's a can of cacao nibs for punching up the flavor and nutrition of any chocolate recipe.

Re: Yay!

[readera]

Kisses are good at portion control. We like the brand halo Top for after dinner ice cream bars or pints. My partner loves the sea salt caramel.

Also I saw this video today which seems topical. How a bristish lab is helping protect the world's chocolate. https://youtu.be/LKSTmcvEdoU

Re: Yay!

[ysabetwordsmith]

We like Halo Top and Carb Smart.

[labelleizzy]

I remember that I used to think people were joking, to call chocolate their antidepressant. But it literally is, isn't it?

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Antidepressant aspects:

https://us.viveve.com/chocolate-the-good-mood-food/

https://neurosciencenews.com/dark-chocolate-depression-14641/

http://www.herbmuseum.ca/content/chocolate-antidepressant


Entheogen aspects:

http://thesecretlifeofchocolate.com/events/https/dandelionearth/events/5ebc2a8033ebac0009bd4284

https://www.sacredearthcacao.com/blog/entheogenic

https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2015/02/09/confection-of-the-gods


We have also done the Chocolate Ritual at least twice. Talk about worship services that will get some butts in the seats!

Meanwhile over in Terramagne ...
6 PM -- Pastafarian Service
8 PM -- The Chocolate Ritual
9 PM -- Praise to Caffeina

Re: Yes ...

[acelightning73]

My late High Priestess would have loved that chocolate ritual! We did one similar to that, once upon a time. And we did a ritual to Aphrodite where the ritual food was chocolate, "because it's self-consecrating!"

And the chocolates I ate to raise my spirits when I was lost in Pennsylvania were Godiva - it was a "vintage assortment" with lots of truffle fillings and raspberry ganache and liqueur centers, and it actually did elevate my mood back to "holiday" levels.

Re: Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

I'm glad it worked for you. It often does for me too.

Re: Yes ...

[acelightning73]

I can't always afford chocolate of that level of quality, although Godiva's not the only sourc. One time my family and I went to Quebec City, and we stayed in a hotel which was across the street from a candy shoppe, and their chocolates were amazing. They also made ice cream and sherbet, and one warm afternoon we had walked a long way from something we had gone to visit that day, and a cone filled with raspberry sorbet was extremely restorative.

Re: Yes ...

[acelightning73]

It's good to know that there's a real pharmaceutical effect there, not just placebo.

Re: Yes ...

[labelleizzy]

I remember a Caffeina ritual at Pantheacon many years ago, I have fond memories. Thank you for the many links!

Re: Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

You're welcome! I'm happy to hear about other rituals like that.

[(Anonymous)]

I've been joking that I've taken up eating chocolate as a coping mechanism, rather than imbibing alcohol or more exotic substances.

I remember modern sweet chocolate was invented by European monks after the importation of the cacao bean. I wonder if the traditional xocolatl mixture has or had medicinal benefits...

I wonder about herbs mixed with chocolate. I know it is possible to get, like, rose or lavender infused chocolate, though I'm not sure anyone's checked medicinal applications...

Similarly, maybe it's possible to jury-rig fancy infused chocolate. I find that a citrus flavored candy along with a mouthful of chocolate makes for a good mock chocolate orange. Maybe one could make herbal infused chocolate with cocoa mix and teabags. Though I must admit, I've never tried...

Ha! According to this...
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3708337/
...chocolate was used medicinally in the New World prior to First Contact. I'm not 100% on translating the recipes into modern culinary jargon though...

Also found this...
https://www.motherearthliving.com/health-and-wellness/The-medicinal-benefits-of-chocolate/

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Originally chocolate was mixed with warming spices like cinnamon and chile peppers, so yes, it was used medicinally as well as spiritually.

Re: Yes ...

[(Anonymous)]

...someone could market a chocolate first aid kit with different kinds of chocolate. (Vanilla, raspberry, orange, lavender, chili pepper...)

I've added warming spices to cocoa before. Cocoa with a dash of vanilla is also very good.

Re: Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> ...someone could market a chocolate first aid kit with different kinds of chocolate. (Vanilla, raspberry, orange, lavender, chili pepper...) <<

That's a good idea.

>> I've added warming spices to cocoa before. Cocoa with a dash of vanilla is also very good.<<

Vanilla is an important herb on its own, mellowing and soothing.

Re: Yes ...

[(Anonymous)]

Cocoa blends would be simple to mix up, though you might need a strainer to get dried herbs out of the drink.

Bars...I guess if you could get a pan and melt some fancy chocolate, you could sprinkle fruit bits or whatever on top.

Of course, I'd reccomend checking with someone better at cooking/herbalism than me!

Re: Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

For chocolate there are various ways of adding other things:

* Liquid, like vanilla extract.

* Powder, like cinnamon or ginger powder.

* Chunky bits like lemon zest, candied ginger, or nuts.

* Removable solids steeped with the chocolate, like a cinnamon stick or anise pod, usually when making hot chocolate.

It doesn't take large amounts of chili or ginger to activate the warming effect. Add matcha to white chocolate and you get a bright green, edible chunk of caffeine. Some other things, it would be harder to get a useful amount.

Re: Yes ...

[(Anonymous)]

I might try teabags and cocoa mix.

I have added powdered spices in the past.


There's also the placebo effect- even if there's just enough of whatever to add flavor, that might have a purely psychological benefit.

A book of flavored chocolate herbal recipes would be kind of awesome...

Re: Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>I might try teabags and cocoa mix.

I have added powdered spices in the past.<<

Mexican chocolate comes with spices. You can find gourmet chocolate with things like ginger, cinnamon, or peppermint included.

>>A book of flavored chocolate herbal recipes would be kind of awesome...<<

Chocolate bars sometimes have mix-ins such as ginger or lavender.

https://www.finegardening.com/article/combining-chocolate-with-herbs-and-spices

https://www.motherearthliving.com/health-and-wellness/mind-and-body/herbs-in-chocolate-yes/

Holy crap, these fix everything.
https://joybileefarm.com/herbal-love-truffles/

https://camillestyles.com/food/this-superfood-hot-chocolate-will-leave-you-feeling-zen/