Re: Chocolate

Opinicus said:

Kidding aside, are there any scientific studies on chocolate "liking" (I
won't say "addiction"😉 and physiology/psychology etc?

Why not say it? That's what it is. That's how our body gets us to do the
things it wants us to do. Without these mechanisms we would forget to
eat, just like we forget to take out the garbage.

I've heard it said (and by at least two candy store operators) that
women seem to prefer milk chocolate, while men tend more towards dark.
A rule with exceptions, of course. My wife prefers dark, as do I. I
think also it's a matter of what you're exposed to. I see dark as more
"gourmet", to use a value laden term. If all you've experienced in the
way of "chocolate" is Hostess snack cakes, off the shelf cake mixes,
cookies, puddings etc., and vending machine [censored] like M&M's, Snickers
and so on, dark chocolate may strike you as bitter at first. Also
there's the issue of "tasters" and "non-tasters", a genetic difference
which may account for one's preferences, though I haven't heard it
specifically mentioned as regards chocolate.

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/helthrpt/stories/s369.htm

Dan

Opinicus said:

Kidding aside, are there any scientific studies on chocolate "liking" (I
won't say "addiction"😉 and physiology/psychology etc? It's quite
obvious, even from the few responses in this thread, that there's a big
divide between people who "really like" chocolate and everybody else.
(My own anecdotal experience is the same.)

Dan said:

I've heard it said (and by at least two candy store operators) that
women seem to prefer milk chocolate, while men tend more towards dark. A
rule with exceptions, of course. My wife prefers dark, as do I. I
think also it's a matter of what you're exposed to. I see dark as more
"gourmet", to use a value laden term. If all you've experienced in the
way of "chocolate" is Hostess snack cakes, off the shelf cake mixes,
cookies, puddings etc., and vending machine [censored] like M&M's, Snickers
and so on, dark chocolate may strike you as bitter at first. Also
there's the issue of "tasters" and "non-tasters", a genetic difference
which may account for one's preferences, though I haven't heard it
specifically mentioned as regards chocolate.

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/helthrpt/stories/s369.htm

Dan

I was looking for that link! Thanks, Dan.

--
Bob in CT

I should rephrase that 1st part, what I meant was of those who prefer
dark chocolate, the majority tend to be male, not most men prefer dark.
In general my guess is more people prefer milk chocolate, again
because of what they've been exposed to, regardless of gender.

Dan

Dan said:

I've heard it said (and by at least two candy store operators) that
women seem to prefer milk chocolate, while men tend more towards dark. A
rule with exceptions, of course. My wife prefers dark, as do I. I
think also it's a matter of what you're exposed to. I see dark as more
"gourmet", to use a value laden term. If all you've experienced in the
way of "chocolate" is Hostess snack cakes, off the shelf cake mixes,
cookies, puddings etc., and vending machine [censored] like M&M's, Snickers
and so on, dark chocolate may strike you as bitter at first. Also
there's the issue of "tasters" and "non-tasters", a genetic difference
which may account for one's preferences, though I haven't heard it
specifically mentioned as regards chocolate.

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/helthrpt/stories/s369.htm

Dan

Opinicus said:

Kidding aside, are there any scientific studies on chocolate "liking"
(I won't say "addiction"😉 and physiology/psychology etc? It's quite
obvious, even from the few responses in this thread, that there's a
big divide between people who "really like" chocolate and everybody
else. (My own anecdotal experience is the same.)

Bob-I've never taken that test (taster-non taster), it would be
interesting to try. I think I'll see if it can be ordered somewhere.

Dan

Bob M said:

Quoted message said:

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/helthrpt/stories/s369.htm

Dan

I was looking for that link! Thanks, Dan.

"Dan" <[email hidden]> wrote
..

Quoted message said:

I've heard it said (and by at least two candy store
operators) that women seem to prefer milk chocolate, while
men tend more towards dark. A rule with exceptions, of
course. My wife prefers dark, as do I. I think also it's
a matter of what you're exposed to. I see dark as more

This makes chocolate sound like "The Force". (There's a Dark
Side and a Light Side and it holds everything together.)

--
Bob

Kanyak's Doghouse
http://www.kanyak.com

Dan wrote:
:: I should rephrase that 1st part, what I meant was of those who prefer
:: dark chocolate, the majority tend to be male, not most men prefer
:: dark. In general my guess is more people prefer milk chocolate,
:: again because of what they've been exposed to, regardless of gender.
::

I know I prefer mile chocolate simply because I've eat enough of it.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Opinicus said:

"Dan" <[email hidden]> wrote
.

Quoted message said:

I've heard it said (and by at least two candy store
operators) that women seem to prefer milk chocolate, while
men tend more towards dark. A rule with exceptions, of
course. My wife prefers dark, as do I. I think also it's
a matter of what you're exposed to. I see dark as more

This makes chocolate sound like "The Force". (There's a Dark
Side and a Light Side and it holds everything together.)

Yeah, well, what's your point? ;-)

Priscilla
--
"You can't welcome someone into a body of Christ and then say only
certain rooms are open." -- dancertm in alt.religion.christian.episcopal

Oh, I DEFINITELY lean towards the Dark Side ;-)

Dan

Opinicus said:

"Dan" <[email hidden]> wrote
.

Quoted message said:

I've heard it said (and by at least two candy store operators) that
women seem to prefer milk chocolate, while men tend more towards dark.
A rule with exceptions, of course. My wife prefers dark, as do I. I
think also it's a matter of what you're exposed to. I see dark as more

This makes chocolate sound like "The Force". (There's a Dark Side and a
Light Side and it holds everything together.)

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden]
says...

Quoted message said:

Kidding aside, are there any scientific studies on chocolate
"liking" (I won't say "addiction"😉 and physiology/psychology
etc? It's quite obvious, even from the few responses in this
thread, that there's a big divide between people who "really
like" chocolate and everybody else. (My own anecdotal
experience is the same.)

Chocolate IS addictive. I had gotten into the habit of making and
eating my own version of chocolate bars for several months now and made
myself go cold turkey a several days ago because I was eating more and
more of it and it was really affecting my calories (and carbs, but
mostly calories). I had a nasty caffiene headache for 2 days (so I
added regular coffee to the mix, which I've now managed to get down to
1/2-caf--1/2 decaf.

Last night I wanted something sweet, but not too much because I was
going to bed and I've been very good about resisting making up a new
batch of bars (I have a veritable stockpile of ingredients for it and
it's quick and easy to make). Instead, I mixed 2 tbl of plain yogurt
with 1/2 tsp of dutch cocoa powder and some Sweetzfree liquid Splenda --
it was GREAT! I'm going to have to experiment some more with THAT.
I've been working on a box of Droste cocoa powder since last fall, but
my son gave me son premium dutch cocoa powder for Christmas -- I think
it's time to open it to see what it's like.

--
Saffire
205/144/125 - 5'1.5"
Atkins since 6/14/03
Progress photo: http://photos.yahoo.com/saffire333

Dan said:

I've heard it said (and by at least two candy store operators) that
women seem to prefer milk chocolate, while men tend more towards dark.
A rule with exceptions, of course. My wife prefers dark, as do I. I
think also it's a matter of what you're exposed to.

I prefer dark. I will eat milk chocolate too, and I do like Hershey's
very much. But give me a good dark chocolate, and I will be very
happy.

There are some chocolates I do not like at all. Whitman's, Palmers,
etc. And I don't care for most candy bars or candies. I would much
rather eat a plain chocolate bar than a bar with other junk in it.
Just give me the chocolate 🙂

--
Meghan & the Zoo Crew
Equine and Pet Photography
http://www.zoocrewphoto.com