The Chocolate Therapist: A User's Guide to the Extraordinary Health Benefits of Chocolate

by Julie Pech

News about dark chocolate is all over the internet and newspapers, but this is the first book to consolidate all the healthy facts into a one stop information center, a must-have resource for chocolate lovers all over the world. Both entertaining and educational, The Chocolate Therapist will help readers discover the extraordinary health benefits of chocolate. It's filled with information that every devout chocolate connoisseur should have committed to memory, yet there are plenty of important facts for the amateur chocolate lover as well. After a brief history of chocolate, you'll find guidelines on how eat chocolate properly and how to select the best chocolate for maximum health. The majority of the book is written in a "prescription style" format -- a recommended chocolate bar for your health concern, backed by current research and statistics as to why and how it can help. There's also a handy reference guide in the appendix to help you locate! the best chocolate all over the world. The book is entertaining and certain to conjure up a few laughs, but it's also loaded with valuable statistics that will have you reaching for chocolate over chips or chicken nuggets every chance you have. By the time you've finished reading, you'll be healthier, happier, and eating chocolate absolutely guilt-free.

Genres: Nonfiction

106 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2005

Reviews

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This book was really good. It was all about chocolate, and it was very informative. The author is not only intelligent, but she is kind of funny, as well. The only drawback is that she seems to be a little sexist. She, like so many people, seem to think mostly women enjoy and benefit from chocolate. Men can enjoy chocolate just as much!!! She covers the history of chocolate, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, fats, selecting the proper chocolate, cocoa percentages, white chocolate (which she totally writes off), organic, fair trade, assorted, an ingredient dictionary (which I found fascinating! A long list of the most common chocolate ingredients, an explanation of each of them along with a rating on how good or bad they are), how to properly eat chocolate (a long process: smelling, melting in mouth, swirling, etc.), bean flavor profiles, chocolate remedies: for everything from ADD to weight gain (about 61 ailments, including why not to feed it to the dog, and how to switch from loving milk chocolate to loving dark chocolate), where do you hide your chocolate, chocolate and wine pairings (doesn't really apply to me), and recipes. I enjoyed this book WAY more than I thought I would and I learned a lot from it. I would definitely re-read this one!

[Ashley Mauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nygard’s humor and irrational love of chocolate was relatable and made this book worth the read. She may have stated that chocolate is from a fruit-better, a seed! More times that necessary to make her point, but her adoration of chocolate is inspired.

[Alethea · Rating 3 out of 5]

As if I needed any excuse to keep eating chocolate, this book will convince you of the health benefits of one of my favourite sweet treats. However only if you eat the right kind of chocolate - dark. I also liked how the author considered the current research into nutrition before presenting her theory.

[JayeL]

Gift from Carolyn.

The first part of this was good. I liked the history of chocolate, what ingredients should be in chocolate and the tips on how to eat chocolate. I thought the stories of where people (mostly women) hid their chocolate were mildly interesting for a few pages and then became repetitive,

[Gil Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing facts about the great benefits of Chocolate, or Dark chocolate and cocoa. Learn about the Good fats, the way to read the wrappers and just how powerful theobroma cacao the food of The gods truly is. A wonderful read with charts, definitions and real facts and places you can go to find out more on them.

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I learned a lot about chocolate and all the therapy it provides. Very interesting and light and funny. But I am interested in the history and health properties of chocolate. I always prayed it would be a health food -- hee hee, it came true!