Easter Holidays

With the long weekend of Easter just around the corner for many it’s a nice time for reflection while for others it’s a wonderful opportunity to sample some good food and to enjoy wine snd chocolates with family and friends. 
Many of our Easter traditions have been around for centuries while others have evolved over time. Some christians celebrate the resurrection of Christ at Easter. Though many traditions are not found in the bible. The decorations to eggs dates right back to the 13th century while the Easter parade is said to be even older. 

Fun Fact : 325AD the first major church council made the decision that Easter should fall on Sunday that follows the first full moon after spring equinox. This is the reason that Easter moves each year. 

The Easter Bunny 

Even though there is no mention of a long haired short tailed fluffy creature in the bible who delivers eggs to good children the bunny is a prominent symbol for Christianity’s most important holiday. It’s unclear why this is the case but rabbits are a symbol of new life and fertility. It didn’t take long before Easter included other types of chocolate and eggs. Soon decorated baskets replaced nests but children still leave out carrots for the bunny just in case he gets hungry from so much hopping. 
Easter Eggs 
We now know that the egg is a symbol of new life and in Christianity it is supposed to represent the emergence of Christ from the tomb and the resurrection. It was during the Middle Ages that people began to decorate eggs snd eat them as a treat after mass on Easter Sunday. This was after fasting through lent and in some places this still happens today. Chocolate eggs and egg hunts are a much loved and popular part of Easter celebrations around the world. 
Chocolate and it’s health benefits 
Chocolate was discovered many thousands of years ago and has become many things to many people. In the past the seeds from the cacao tree was mixed with spices to make a frothy beverage and then drunk at very special occasions. Today more than anything else it’s used to satisfy our sweet tooth. But you might also be aware that research has shown that there are health benefits to consuming chocolate as well. Easter is the perfect time to explore the world of chocolate a little more carefully. Let’s look at some of the health benefits.

1.  High in antioxidants- flavonoid is an antioxidant in the polyphenol category and it’s found in chocolate. Antioxidants can help in the prevention of cell damage. It has also been linked to prevention of some cancers and other degenerative diseases. 

2. Reduces inflammation – in an Italian study, volunteers showed a decrease In their levels of C-reactive protein which is a inflammatory marker after they ingested small amounts of dark chocolate. 

3. Helps cholesterol- an American study found that dark chocolate reduced LDL (bad cholesterol) oxidation. 

4. Helps with moods – depression can be helped with tryptophan which chocolate contains. Chocolate can also increase dopamine which is a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure. The “love chemical” PEA phenylethylamine is in chocolate. This means that eating chocolate will have a positive impact on your mood. It can make you feel happier. 

5. Blood pressure – a study showed that in some patients dark chocolate had an effect on lowering blood pressure. Not only that but the chemicals in dark chocolate boost blood flow to the heart and the brain so it improves cognitive function. 

6.  Blood flow improvement – cocoa has an anti-clotting, blood-thinning properties and this works in a similar way that aspirin does. (It is not suggested that we replace aspirin with chocolate but it’s interesting research.) 

7.  It’s absolutely delicious – enjoying our life is Bendigo our health – so let’s Eat chocolate! 

Which chocolate has health benefits

Choose dark varieties as the compounds that benefit our health are in the cocoa solids. The more the better and the darker the chocolate will look. Look at the label and the first ingredient should be cocoa, chocolate or cocoa liquor. Choose a chocolate that contains at least 70 per cent cocoa. 
Organic chocolate – cocoa is the key ingredient in good organic chocolate. As far back at the 16th century there have been over 100 medicinal uses for cacao. Raw chocolate means the cacao has not been processed or heated allowing it to preserve all the rich nutrients. Organic chocolate means there has been no fillers, chemicals or preservatives used which producing the chocolate. There are over 300 healthy properties in raw organic chocolate. Cocoa contains copper, zinc, manganese, sulphur and its rich in B vitamins. There is no sugar in raw organic chocolate which makes them great for children.