Wow, the very word chocolates make me crazy. In fact, everyone from a small child to a young boy or a girl, middle or old age everyone loves chocolates. Have you ever wondered why everyone loves chocolates and why they are so special ? Chocolates brings a smile on everyone's face whether you are sad or depressed, It's taste, look, and smell drives everyone crazy.
Chocolate has been in existence for centuries and most of us are left fascinated because of its rich history and of course its mouth watering taste. Stories have been told about the importance and value placed on Chocolates by our ancestors who compared the worth of a chocolate to Gold during the Aztec's period, It is said that Aztec kings were first to have eaten chocolates. Even though we have read in books about its health benefits, but what leaves us stunned is the unique feeling we feel when we eat it. This unique feeling has made a European man regard it as 'the food of the gods'.
Chocolate comes in various variety such as white chocolate, chocolate liquor, dark chocolate, butter chocolate, white chocolate, chocolate cream and a host of others, the process of making chocolate is complex and involves a lot of people, chocolates as we know today are prepared from cacao seeds and beans which are grounded into powder, cacao solids, and cacao butter are added along with sugar and condensed milk - preparation looks difficult but eating chocolate is became popular throughout our society. To my surprise at one point of time, chocolates were affordable only by the rich people.
Chocolate is the sweet that you can enjoy every day and it’s always there when you need it. But is it at all healthy?
In high quantities of course not, but scientists have discovered that chocolate can be good in many forms. The dark chocolate is very good for us. A recent study made shows that especially dark chocolate is very good for our heart and restoring our energy. Surprisingly, it reduces the risk of stroke by 17 percent. Dark chocolate is packed with very good minerals for the human body such as potassium, zinc, and selenium.
Benefits of eating chocolates:
• Taste: We love chocolate because it tastes super good, be it young or old everyone loves the taste of chocolates because it leaves a warm tingling feeling when it melts in your mouth, the milky sweet delight of white chocolate that leaves me salivating and asking for more. The advent of several types of Chocolate flavors has made it taste even much better than yesteryears.
• Health Benefit: Chocolate possesses great health benefit even though we hear our medical experts say, ''Don't eat too many chocolates because it's not good for your health". One thing we should take note of is that chocolate is an antioxidant which helps to free radicals, nasty little molecules causing aging and diseases in the body. Intake of chocolate which is rich in antioxidant reduces Cholesterol problems, Asthma, Cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure.
• Low level of Caffeine in Chocolates: Dark chocolates contain a low level of caffeine which is according to medical experts is good for our health. For instance, an average Chocolate bar contains about 27mg, about half what you would find in Coke or Coffee. Because of certain small stimulant measures such as Caffeine and Obromine, it makes us feel alert and active.
• Mental and Emotional therapy: It creates a peaceful and mild mood atmosphere in our brains. Chocolate when taken, triggers the release of Endorphins and Serotonin which has the ability to make us feel good. It also possesses Phenylethylamine, a mild mood elevator that our brain releases when we are happy, or in love. Scientists have proven that drinking two cups of hot chocolate keeps the mind fresh and healthy and reduce memory decline in older people.
Chocolates, naturally contains something we call energizers like caffeine and sugar which helps up your breathing and give you a feeling of relaxation, having the same effect as the coffee just in lower amounts. But as the saying goes eat less keep fit, same applies to chocolates no matter how much you love it. It’s important to remember not to forget that chocolate in high quantities is not good in any form. It contains a high amount of sugar and fats that can cause seriously health damage and obesity.
But, in lower amounts, it tastes wonderful, since childhood I have hearing all mom's shout at their children that chocolates are not good, but the rich taste of chocolates is loved by all.