Chocolate - For Health and Happiness
Chocolate has a long history that began in 600 AD when cocoa plantations were introduced by the Mayans in Mexico. The first chocolate drink developed by the Aztecs was produced from beans on the cocoa trees. The Aztecs revered cocoa, believing that it was brought to earth from the gods as a blessing for the people.
Cortez, the Spanish conqueror of Mexico, introduced cocoa to Spain in 1528 during the reign of King Charles V. The Spanish would not divulge the secret of processing chocolate to any of the European countries and would allow only monks in the monasteries to process the beans into chocolate. The secret eventually was obtained by other countries as Spain declined as a political power.
Chocolate became popular, but in the 17th century only the rich could afford it and it functioned as currency among the countries at the time. However, when the price of chocolate dropped in the early 18th century it was no longer only for the wealthy.
Although chocolate has been one the most popular foods of the last two centuries, in recent years it has been considered junk food. However, present research has shown it to have great health benefits that may restore it to the elite status it enjoyed during the l7th century.
Here are some of the benefits:
- It ranks number one as an anti-oxidant. ORAC is a measurement of antioxidant activity. On the ORAC scale, dark chocolate measures 13,120. Other foods ranked in comparison are raisins 2,830; blueberries 2,400; spinach 1,260; and broccoli 890. Antioxidants destroy free radicals, thus protecting the body from heart disease and cancer.
- It lowers cholesterol and blood pressure. A recent study indicated that dark chocolate dropped the level of blood pressure and cholesterol by 10 points in only two weeks of taking chocolate.
- The flavonoids in chocolate decrease inflammation. Lowering inflammation helps heal chronic disease and pain.
- Dark chocolate helps to prevent blood clots, thus reducing the danger of heart attack and stroke.
- Dark chocolate helps reduce insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is characteristic of diabetes. A study on insulin sensitivity revealed that chocolate significantly improved the sensitivity healthy bodies should have.
- Most people love the feeling they receive from chocolate. Few foods taste so good. Montezuma, the ruler of the Aztecs, is reputed to have drunk 50 cups a day of chocolate! The euphoria obtained from chocolate may occur because it has a substance that regulates the build up of serotonin. If the brain has enough serotonin, a person feels relief from anxiety. Chocolate releases endorphins in
the brain which give you a wonderful feeling of happiness.
Sure, chocolate is loaded with calories and fat. But the benefits cannot be questioned.
The safe way to enjoy chocolate is to count the calories and take those calories out of other items in meals. Good quality chocolate can be obtained from health food stores and grocery stores. Almost all of the major producers have special dark chocolate bars. One has a special dark chocolate in a small oblong \pack about one inch long and one half inch wide that makes a nice serving of 50 calories. Look for bars with 55 percent or more of cocoa. Keep in mind that the benefits are from dark chocolate, not from milk chocolate. Be happy and enjoy your chocolate - dark chocolate, that is!
