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How Sweet It is: Beating Wintertime Blues
This is the season for New Year’s resolutions, which all too often are consigned to oblivion long before the first robin of spring is on the wing. Still, lots of folks are resolving to eat more healthy foods – with fruits, vegetables and chocolate at the top of the list. That’s right, chocolate! From Belgian pralines and cool cherry cream savory truffles, to almond toffee and coffee caramel, rejoice as you make a guilt-free choice of which sweet treat to eat because now there is proof that moderately indulging in cocoa concoctions is good for you. Especially, one may logically deduce, if the chocolate is coating vitamin-rich, frozen tropical fruit from Thailand. With the international economic news still pretty depressing these days, it was uplifting to read the results reached by Swedish researchers who have concluded that chocolate lovers have better post-heart attack survival rates than those who don’t consume the flavonoid antioxidants contained in the world’s favorite candy. In fact, the more chocolate you eat the lower the risk for prematurely checking out of Planet Earth. If you think I’m making this up, read the results for yourself in the September issue of The Journal of Internal Medicine.
Harvard Associate Professor of Medicine Dr. Kenneth J. Mukamal, who co-authored a paper on the study, pointed out that plenty of data from other studies suggest that chocolate plays a role in lowering blood pressure, which could be the key factor in its contribution to lessening cardiac mortality. For those who take prescribed medications for hypertension, or to keep the stress of work and travails of modernity from reaching dangerously elevated levels, think about popping a Fruit Choc or two every day to keep the doctor away. I was dispensed a full plate of the chocolate-covered fruit bites during a particularly busy day at the last Anuga trade exhibition in Cologne, courtesy of Ashraf M. Fancy, managing director of Bangkok-headquartered In-Season Foods. “Enjoy the fruit of our labors,” he said. “We have banana, mango and pineapple enrobed in your choice of dark, milk or white chocolate.” I tried one of each, and felt all the more relaxed for doing so, knowing that the substance epicatechin in the cocoa was triggering antioxidant action and protecting against LDL oxidation. What’s more, it tasted delicious and was, thanks to the fruit, nutritious. Then he served up a round of fruit brochettes in tall tumblers – straight, with no chocolate chaser. One looked very much like the award-winning Del Monte Fruitini product which took an Anuga Taste ’09 prize at the fair. Whether In-Season supplies them the product, Mr. Fancy was not saying. Marketed by Monte Carlo, Monaco-based Denuo Foods, the hand-carved Del Monte Fruitini Pineapple Fruit Stick was launched only a few months before winning the award at the world’s biggest food show. Containing only 30 calories per unit, the frozen novelty is distributed in retail three-packs as well as single-serve units. “Consumer response has been fantastic,” said Chris Wenham, managing director of Denuo Foods Ltd. “It’s a simple idea, but very effective – 100% pineapple on a stick that you simply take out of the freezer whenever you like, let it thaw a bit and then eat. It’s great for barbecues or putting in picnics or lunch boxes, and a fun way to help people meet their five a day.” Wenham was referring, of course, to the five a day servings of fruits and vegetables that people are encouraged to consume to maintain healthy dietary levels of vitamins, minerals, fiber and phytochemicals. So, let’s all raise a glass of polyphenol-potent pomegranate juice or vitamin C loaded FCOJ to ring in the new year. Go green by eating plenty of frozen broccoli, asparagus, spinach and zucchini. Then top it all off with a Fruitini Fruit Stick or Fruit Choc. Eat, drink and be merry! Here’s wishing you a healthy and happy 2010! |
