Dechox – March 1st -31st

Dechox is the equivalent of Dry January, only for chocolate. While the sought-after dessert may seem less innocuous than alcohol, it actually comes with its own set of potential problems. From rotten teeth in children to sugar-induced obesity, the issues chocolate can cause are not light and, as such, it should be enjoyed responsively. But is it?

Love at First Bite

According to the latest data, the average Briton enjoyed some 8.4 kilos of chocolate in 2017. They also had the most chocolate of any country in Europe. And on the topic of Europe, the old continent eats 40% of the world’s chocolate.

However, chocolate is not a new indulgence. The Mayans invented the great-great-…grandfather of what we call a hot chocolate drink today, by roasting cocoa beans and mixing it with spices. Later, the Aztecs used it in their religious ceremonies. The bean made its way to Spain in the 16th century, until it finally turned into the chocolate bar we know today some 200 years ago.

Chocolate is ubiquitous – it is available on every supermarket or corner shop shelf, books have been written about it, and now it is even part of an art movement involving food. It has multiple uses in the kitchen and it is often the go-to item on our shopping list when we want a little mood boost.

Here’s a world statistic on chocolate:

Solutions?

As it has become increasingly clear that overconsumption can lead to trouble, people have tried to downsize their intake. Producers, on the other hand, came up with solutions – bite-sized bits. The production of chocolate bites, and their close relatives, the thins, has increased by 50%, and 48% respectively.

Ultimately, that means it is up to users to refrain from overindulging… something that is never easy. As such, the Dechox challenge is meant to get people to stay away from the tasty treat for one month a year only. Easy? We’ll have to try and find out.

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