Jonathan Bradley, Managing Director of specialist healthy School Meals Company Q-tass Ltd, believes dark chocolate should be available in Schools. 
1). The background to the current ban on chocolate in UK (state) Schools
2). So what is special about dark chocolate?
3). About Q-tass Ltd.
- If we could convince you that dark chocolate can form part of a healthy balanced diet, would you eat it?
- If we could prove that it can make you happy, would you buy your spouse and kids dark chocolate eggs for Easter?
- If we could quantify how dark chocolate can reduce depression, PMT, blood pressure and cholesterol would you be happy for your kids to have some following a healthy meal at school?
(When I refer to dark chocolate it means having a minimum cocoa content of 70%).
So, if dark chocolate, consumed in moderation (3 squares / 1oz / 28.35g) per day), can form part of a healthy diet, why are we having to justify its availability in UK Schools?
1). The background to the current ban on chocolate in UK (State) Schools
Much to my delight, in 2005 following a campaign by Celebrity Chef Jamie Oliver to improve the diets of children in Schools, the British Government created the ‘School Food Trust’ (SFT). The role of the SFT, was to introduce clear guidelines for Councils and Contractors to work on eliminating the bad practices and poor food that had plagued School meals for 20 years. This was a mammoth task and overall a fantastic job was done. However, some of the broad brush measures introduced went too far and others not far enough. Whilst the standards of nutrition provided by many school meals providers were raised, the proactive, innovative flair and creativity of other very talented catering professionals has been inhibited. In addition, there are many confusing inconsistencies as coffee and cheese go uncapped and unregulated, whilst our flexibility to react to new research and product availability is hindered.
The purpose of this document is not to criticise the work of the SFT, Jamie Oliver nor the UK Government.
This document is not a ‘campaign’ to get dark chocolate reinstated in all UK Schools.
This document is merely my way of explaining why Q-tass plan to re-instate dark chocolate into its Secondary Schools in February 2009, following the findings of our research.
2). So what is so special about dark chocolate?
Dark chocolate can reduce cholesterol, lower blood pressure and prevent clotting.
Tryptophan (a precursor to serotonin) in dark chocolate is a mood enhancer that can reduce depression and PMT.
Tannins, a chemical in chocolate can apparently prevent cavities from forming.
Powerful antioxidants in chocolate can prevent cell damage, and reduce the risk of age related chronic diseases and cancer.
However
Dark chocolate contains caffeine, which is addictive and promotes the expulsion of fluids from the body.
It acts as an appetite inhibitor, so if it is eaten in isolation as opposed to part of a meal, the brain may indicate that the body is satisfied before sufficient other essential nutrients have been consumed.
Unless taken in moderation as part of a balanced diet overconsumption can lead to obesity.
Tryptophan a precursor to Serotonin
Our brains make Serotonin, a natural, mood enhancing drug. It makes us feel happy and can reduce depression. During menstruation females have less oestrogen, which is used by the brain to make serotonin, which may account for mood swings and PMT.
At school, social interaction, exams, pressure to perform, bullying and many other factors can cause pressure in the daily life of students and if we can help to alleviate this by providing dark chocolate as part of a healthy meal (not in isolation) we feel we should.
What dark chocolate contains:-
Cocoa, cocoa butter, calcium, iron, fat, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, caffeine, serotonin, flavonoids, calories, protein, vitamins A,B,D and E
Calories 136
Protein 1.19g
Total Fat 8.51g
Calcium 9mg
Magnesium 33mg
Phosphorus 37mg
Potassium 103mg
Caffeine 18mg
(You will notice I am not referring to milk or white chocolate, as they have almost no nutritionally beneficial qualities and Q-tass ltd will not be introducing them as products within our portfolio).
Cocoa
Made from beans harvested from the cocoa tree.
Cocoa butter
Cocoa butter does contain saturated fats, however oleic acid, a monosaturated fat has been shown to be either a neutral or beneficial on the effect on cholesterol as opposed to hydrogenated fats which negatively impact on cholesterol.
This means that dark chocolate can reduce cholesterol.
Flavonoids (antioxidant) called epicatechins and procyanidins. Flavonoids are powerful antioxidents which remove free-radicals. However, they can also be found in tea, red wine and various fruits and vegetables.
Calcium
Essential for the growth of bones and teeth.
Other sources of calcium are:-
· Whole grains
· Pulses
· Vegetables
· Water
Magnesium
Magnesium is vital within your body for hormone production and can have beneficial effects on pre-menstrual problems. Magnesium is present in all green vegetables
Potassium
Potassium is one of the essential body salts helping to balance fluids and muscle contraction and therefore heartbeat. Replenish your potassium levels after exercise as potassium is excreted through sweat.
It is easy to top up with:-
Vegetable juices
Fresh fruit
Avocados
Potatoes
Nuts
Leafy green vegetables
Iron
The vital component of haemoglobin, which transports oxygen from the lungs to the cells and returns waste carbon dioxide to the lungs from the cells using the circulaqtory system.
60% of the iron in our bodies is in the form of red pigment, best ingested by eating meat, especially liver and kidneys. This form is much more readily absorbed than iron in non-meat food sources such as:-
Chocolate
Shellfish
Broccoli
Egg yolks
Symptoms of iron deficiency include fatigue, pale skin, sore tongue, loss of appetite and nausea.
About Q-tass Ltd
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=20818434248&ref=ts
My Company, Q-tass Limited has specialised in providing healthy, nutritious food various types of organisation including Schools for several years. The Q-tass brand represents an uncompromising approach to healthy food. We believe that a healthy, balanced diet can improve an individual’s potential through better concentration, stamina, IQ, self confidence and energy. The benefits of healthier students and staff to organisations include greater productivity, reduced legitimate sickness absence and so on.
Despite having written several health and nutrition related e-books, I do not class myself as either a Nutritionist or a Dietician. I am a career caterer, with a profound interest and passion for good, fresh, healthy food.
We (Q-tass Ltd) have since our launch in 2004 habitually removed confectionery, crisps, chips, soft drinks and junk food from Schools whilst taking over the catering service from other School meals providers, long before the birth of the SFT.
I am continuously reviewing our products and services to ensure that it is both appropriate and relevant and to my surprise, the information I have come across about cocoa and dark chocolate has not only given me a different perspective, but I notice that the endless number of internet entries have also carried a similar message, which is that in moderation, dark chocolate has many health benefits.
The information relating to nutrients and their role in the body came from my book “Are you digging your grave with your teeth?” available through our website at www.q-tass.com
If you want to check any of the other sites which I read, to find my information, just type Dark Chocolate, nutrition into Google and look at any of the following:-
The British Nutrition Foundation, Cacao Web, About.com (Busy Cooks), The Institute for Optimum Nutrition (Newswire), Chocolate Necessities, Chocolate Expert (UK), BBC NEWS, University of Michigan (Integrative Medicine), Clinical Trials.gov,
