Got Chocolate?
Chocolate refers to a number of raw and processed foods that are derived from the seed of the tropical cacao tree. The seeds of the cacao tree have an intense bitter taste, and must be processed using a heat and a grinding process to create the flavor billions have come to love. It is only after being roasted and ground, that the chocolate or cocoa, delivers the intoxicating flavor.
Much of the chocolate we consume is made into candy bars that combine cocoa solids, fats (cocoa butter), and sugar. Chocolate has grown in popularity over time to become one of the most treasured flavors in the world. Chocolate has become the traditional food gift on certain holidays: heart shaped chocolate for Valentine's Day, chocolate Santas for Christmas, chocolate bunnies and eggs for Easter, and chocolate coins for Hanukkah. Chocolate is also used in cold (chocolate milk) and hot (hot cocoa) beverages.
Do you ever wonder why chocolate makes you feel so good when you eat them? Well, there is a scientific reason why this happens. Chocolate contains alkaloids such as theobromine and phenethylamine, which have physiological effects on the body. It also contains flavanoids and antioxidants, both of which are linked to healthier living.
Do you feel more amorous when eating chocolate? A study reported by the BBC indicated that melting chocolate in one's mouth produced an increase in brain activity and heart rate that was more intense than that associated with passionate kissing, and also lasted four times as long after the activity had ended. For a more pedestrian benefit, scientists have discovered that chocolate, eaten in moderation, can also lower blood pressure.
So don't delay, buy some chocolate today!
