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Why eating chocolate isn't sinful
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Valentine's Day is just around the corner and heart-shaped chocolate confections are everywhere. Since it's also National Chocolate Month, here's some science-based reasons why you shouldn't feel guilty when you indulge. - photo by Devrie Pettit
February is known for celebrating love and chocolate two wonderful components to a fulfilled life. Unfortunately, our society tends to encircle both chocolate and love with feelings of lust, sin, indulgence, and seduction.

It is common in our culture to entangle our emotions with food, sadly eroding our trust and connection with our body. Too often, we tell ourselves that a food like chocolate is something we should only consume on occasion. That its only for a certain time of year. Or, we need to choose the healthiest form of chocolate think extra dark. When we continuously suppress the innate desire to partake, mental tension increases and our cravings become unbearable.

A craving is a great or eager desire a yearning. Contrary to what our diet-centric society tells us yearning for a good piece of chocolate or a warm, fudgy brownie is nothing to be ashamed of. Chocolate isnt sinful either. Its just chocolate and it tastes good.

The key to regularly enjoying chocolate

Learning to honor our cravings and avoid conforming to societal pressures to vilify or glorify a certain food takes practice. This process is also extremely unique for each individual as we all find different foods satisfying.

A smaller portion of a high-quality chocolate can be more satisfying than handfuls of a standard piece of chocolate candy.

You might find this to be the case as well if you find yourself with a heaping pile of Valentines Day candy wrappers and still looking for more. Your stomach might be physically full, but you are not satisfied and will likely continue grazing until you are or until you are uncomfortably full.

A rich piece of chocolate is one of the most blissful and sweetest pleasures in life. To deprive yourself of such an experience is tragic. Additionally, to think that dark chocolate is the only acceptable form is as well also tragic.

One study published the journal Heart showed that those who eat any type of chocolate on a regular basis have an 11 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease and a 23 percent lower risk of having a stroke.

While many correlations can be made from this study, perhaps the biggest benefit to eating chocolate is that it makes us feel happy. Enjoying food is a big part of enjoying life, so dont stress when those cravings come. Choose high-quality chocolate confections and savor your chocolate-filled moments.
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Have You Seen This? Street musician slays with clarinet
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Better than almost every face-melting guitar or drum solo. - photo by Facebook video screenshot

THE BIG EASY — Yeah, yeah, we all know that New Orleans is stuffed to the gills will incredible musicians.

But knowing that fact and then hearing that fact are two different things. You can step into any number of jazz clubs on any given night on Bourbon Street, and you’ll probably be impressed with virtually every act. Or you can sit at home on your comfy couch and watch this featured video.

In the video, you’ll see a woman who is in the groove. She is swinging hard, and wailing on her clarinet with a practiced expertise that makes it sounds so easy.

From note one you’ll be drawn in; your appreciation will grow with every second, and then your face will melt off when you realize how incredible she really is.

If you’ve never played a woodwind or a brass, you may not know everything that comes with a performance like this. Lung capacity and breath control are huge factors in keeping your notes clear and loud, and hitting those high notes is especially difficult.

So when this woman hits that high note and holds it for several seconds, you know you’re dealing with an exceptional musician. It means she has worked hard for years to develop skill on top of her natural talent, and we get to benefit.

It kinda makes you wonder how we let people get away with mumble rap and autotune when talent like this exists in the world.

I wish this video were longer, and I wish I had more information about this woman, but as it is, we’ll just have to appreciate the little flavor of New Orleans jazz posted by the Facebook group Clarinet Life.

Street musician killing it on clarinet

She must have lungs of iron! Its inspiring hearing the upper registers being played so well.

Posted by Clarinet Life on Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Martha Ostergar is a writer who delights in the ridiculous that internet serves up, which means she's more than grateful that she gets to cruise the web for amazing videos to highlight for your viewing pleasure.
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