Issue 36 hits the stands today with me on the cover! “I lost 70kg and still ate chocolate” is the headline they used – not one I would have chosen myself but it is true, and I still eat chocolate to this day. The are of course some differences – I eat much less chocolate, and I eat dark chocolate, usually 85% cocoa. Before I lost the weight I was craving fats and sugars, and so commonly advertised chocolate bars or blocks of chocolate easily satisfied my need. But these types of chocolate are not quality products, they actually have very little cocoa in them at all and are often filled with other unhealthy items like peanuts, wafers and chewy caramel – more fat and sugar.

Now I eat chocolate as a little luxury, not every day and I eat it for its heath properties: anti-oxidants which rid the body of free radicals; and its oleic and stearic acids which make up 75% of the fat in dark chocolate and help to lower cholesterol. Plus, chocolate makes you feel good – it has a variety of chemicals which boost our endorphins and elevate our mood – one of the reasons we often crave it when we’re feeling down or premenstrual. Sure you can get more natural dopamine by eating a bowl of broad beans but that just isn’t as much fun! And the bottom line here is it’s all about balance.

My favourite chocolate? Green and Black’s Maya Gold. Perfect as a special treat with a good Barossa Shiraz – but only one glass and only a couple of squares!