Indulge yourself this Chocolate Week: your favourite sweet treat has healthy benefits

By Davina C.

Chocolate Week (14th-20th Oct) returns for its 17th consecutive year and its popularity is hardly surprising as the nations favourite sweet treat.  Did you know that according to research group Mintel, 17% of UK consumers eat chocolate four to six times a week with a quarter of consumers aged 25-34 eating it daily.

However as top chocolatiers, artisans, and brands all come together across the country, it is not just a time to celebrate chocolate as a tasty indulgence but to also show it's positive health benefits, to illustrate the variety of ways it can be incorporated into your diet (smoothie, cocktail, yes!) and also to promote independent chocolate artisans who work directly with cocoa farmers, encouraging consumers to pay a fairer price for their chocolate.

Chocolate actually has an incredible history: it is first traced back to the time of Christopher Columbus, whose ambassador received it as a gift from an Aztec emperor - he took cocoa back to Spain in 1527, where the Spanish kept it as a secret for over a century, who taxed it so highly only the wealthy could afford it. Eventually in around 1650, chocolate came to the UK and the Chocolate Houses of London opened, but it was a still a drink for the wealthy. It was only towards the end of the 18th century, that it began to be produced as we know it today.

Of course the benefits of chocolate have also long been documented in history: regarded as an aphrodisiac, Casanova was known for eating chocolate before sleeping with women, whilst it is thought to release endorphins, which make us feel happy and attractive.

Other positive health benefits are that chocolate is full of magnesium, iron and potassium and more great vitamins for a wellbeing kick.

Ella Owen, in-house nutrition expert recommends the following products as easy ways to get your chocolate fix.

Giovanni Hot Chocolate Sugar Scrub

Not your average way to get your chocolate fix but just as rewarding! Nourish, exfoliate your body with this Giovanni gentle body exfoliator made ingredients including sugar, safflower seed oil, kukui nut oil, shea butter, walnut shell powder, aloe vera leaf juice and macadamia. Soak up this intoxicating feeling that both polishes the skin's surface whilst removing cellular debris. Richly scented, to get the full chocolate buzz even in the bath.

Shop it: Giovanni Hot Chocolate Sugar Scrub

Organic Traditions Chocolate Latte with Ashwagandha and Probiotics

Switch up your coffee habit this winter with this warming Organic Traditions Chocolate Latte filled with both the sweet treat taste of chocolate and the immune support and adaptogen wellbeing of Ashwagandha and probiotics. Filled with fibre, Vitamin B12, A, C,D, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, as well as cinnamon, nutmeg, cacao powder for a delicious flavour and topped with ashwagandha and probiotics to reduce stress and anxiety.

Shop it: Organic Traditions Chocolate Latte with Ashwagandha

Organic Food Bar

Never thought chocolate could be a healthy lunch alternative? Think again. These best selling organic active greens bars give you all the green super foods benefits whilst being coated in thick organic non-dairy Belgian chocolate. Filled with all things organic - from spirulina, blueberry, raspberry, carrot juice, beet juice - with flax, quinoa, chia seeds too.

Shop it: Active Green Protein Box 75g