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April 08, 2019

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Great News / thank you for voting !

We asked for a huge favor from all of you and we just received the news that out of the thousands of entries for the FedEx grant, we are in the top 100 to proceed to the last step toward final selection. 

Whether we are selected or not, I still feel like we have won the prize! With your support we made it to the next level.

The final announcement will be made at the end of this month. We will let you all know if we are one of the final ten chosen for the 2019 FedEx small business grants.

Thanks again for voting for us !

Susan

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January 28, 2016

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When It Comes to Coughs, Chocolate Is More Effective Than Codeine

Who are you to argue with clinical research?

It’s always when you’re in a meeting--or trying not to make a peep--when you feel it: that annoying, please-everyone-stop-staring-at-me beginning of a cough. The next time it happens, you just might want to reach for dark chocolate.

Here’s why: According to Professor Alyn Morice, head of cardiovascular and respiratory studies at the University of Hull, chocolate is actually a more effective method for relieving a tickle (or hacking cough) than other over-the-counter drugs.

The prof--and resident cough expert--references a recent study where patients who took a new medicine containing cocoa (versus cough syrup) saw a significant improvement in their cough within two days. Another study, performed at the Imperial College of London, further explains: There’s an alkaloid in cocoa that is better at suppressing the urge to cough than codeine. Codeine.

It makes sense: Chocolate’s texture is stickier than regular cough medicines, which means it’s better equipped to coat your throat and protect the nerve endings that trigger the coughing sensation.

There’s more research to be done, of course, but in the meantime, we’re happy to test the theory.

 source: http://www.purewow.com/food/Chocolate-Cures-a-Cough

November 22, 2015

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"The Doctor On Demand Diet" book launch celebration!

DARK SECRET® chocolate wants to join in "The Doctor On Demand Diet" book launch celebration!

With the holidays coming up, chocolate is going to be everywhere.  

It's too tempting not to indulge, so we want you to enjoy it in a healthy way! What better way to do it than with DARK SECRET chocolate, 

one of Dr. Melina's favorite portion controlled, artisanal chocolate treats!

Tell us what time of day you like to enjoy a chocolate treat and we will pick one winner to get a prize pack of DARK SECRET chocolate. 

https://www.facebook.com/drmelina/

To win you must enter by 5 pm on 11/24 and be a resident of the Continental United States.

September 24, 2015

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DARK SECRET chocolate and CACAOCUVÉE share a new home.

Both brands originate from the same high-quality dark chocolate and share many attributes. We think it’s time to start sharing secrets among friends.

Please explore this gourmet chocolate place that’s yours, all yours, and share your thoughts of what you love and what we might do to serve you better.

September 23, 2015

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Sharing the love of all-things chocolate

and the lovely things we learn from chocolate lovers!

We get a lot of love (and learn a lot of lessons) from our customers. And we love hearing from you. That’s why we’re working to make our new site a place that our CACAOCUVÉE and our DARK SECRET customers will love to share—not just for your love of all-things chocolate—but also for the creative ideas and loving intentions behind so many of your orders.

Today it was a mom seeking to comfort her homesick college freshman. Yesterday it was bride seeking a unique confection for her guests. Almost every day we hear from someone who’s adopted DARK SECRET chocolate as a healthy habit. And much of what we’ve learned from these folks has changed (and occasionally blown) our minds and even the direction of our company.

We know you’re going to love getting to know each other. We’ll share our CACAOCUVÉE customers’ best ideas for beautiful presentations and meaningful gifts. And we’ll share the myriad of healthful intentions and amazing rituals DARK SECRET devotees bring to their “chocolate moments.”

Help us share the love! Keep sending the ideas, requests, and stories that inspire us every day. They deserve to be shared.
September 08, 2015

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5 Things Your Brain Needs More Of Every Day

Eat more chocolate, get more sunlight. You're going to like this list of things your brain needs to perform at its best.

The things we put into our bodies have a gigantic effect on the way that we feel. While it's obvious that a salad for lunch will give us more energy in the afternoon than a plate of cheese fries, there's a whole range of consumables—via eating, drinking, or otherwise—that can boost your alertness, awareness, and productivity.

Some of these things you're probably already doing, like drinking tea. Some of these things you're not getting enough of, like sunshine. Some of these things you didn't expect.

What you need: Caffeine + Theanine to get relaxed and alert

If you know how to use it well, caffeine can help you remember things. Drink too much of it, and caffeine can leave you feeling jittery or crashed out. That's because caffeine needs a friend: theanine, an amino acid that reduces anxiety.

How to get more: Thankfully, the caffeine and theanine super combo is readily present in one of the most-sipped beverages the world over: the black and green varieties of tea. So have a few cups a day. We recommend: DARK SECRET chocolate with Espresso Beans.

What you need: Sunlight for a sunny disposition

The most and least obvious of the things we need more of is sunlight. About 10% of Americans wrestle with Seasonal Affective Disorder, a sense of lethargic sadness that comes with shorter autumn and winter days. The best way to hedge against SAD—and the everyday gloominess being burned into you by your office's iridescent lights—is to simply get more sun.

How to get more: Take a walk outside, as early in the day as possible.

What you need: polyphenols to keep your neurons happy

Turns out there is some wisdom to a chocolate binge: there's a class of antioxidants inside cocoa called polyphenols. They lend chocolate a lot of its mood-enhancing ability—this is because, research suggests, they stimulate the same brain receptors that anxiety medications work on.

Add that to the list of chocolate's benefits, like decreasing the chance of stroke, diabetes, and heart disease while increasing blood flow.

How to get more: If you're not doing so already, keep some dark chocolate near your desk. We made DARK SECRET chocolate specifically for this purpose

What you need: Omega-3s to give your brain fuel

While the brain accounts for only 2% of our body's weight, it takes up 25% of our total glucose production. This is a long way of saying that our brains are hungry hungry hippos inside our heads—and if they don't get fed, they get distracted.

Our brains especially love to nosh upon foods rich with omega-3 fatty acids since they're so nice to our neurons.

How to get more: Eat more nuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds, and fatty fish like salmon.

What you need: Creatine to pump your brain up

This is the weirdest one: Creatine, beloved by body builders, is good for your brain, too. Studies suggest that creatine boosts memory and attention span.

How to get more: Add a creatine supplementation to your morning smoothie.

 

April 22, 2015

191 comments

Posted in DARK SECRET chocolate time


Dark Secret Chocolate Moments

I receive an abundance of email from people explaining how their “Dark Secret moments” impact their lives. Often, they’re about managing stress or satisfying cravings to help them avoid junk food. More fascinating is how many people use their chocolate time to practice gratitude, stay in the moment, or focus on an intention.

One woman shares a serving with her partner to create intimacy when they need help connecting. She writes, “It’s almost impossible to feel angry or think about things that didn’t get done that day when you lock eyes with a couple of Dark Secrets melting in your mouths.”

Tell us about your DARK SECRET ritual. And check back to find out how other gourmet chocolate lovers use their Dark Secret practice to support intentions and manifest change in their lives.