Cchocolate has become one of the most popular types and flavors of food in the world. Gifts of chocolate molded into various shapes have become a tradition on certain days: chocolate bunnies and eggs are popular at Easter, chocolate coins at Hanukkah, Santa Claus, and other holiday symbols at Christmas, and chocolate hearts or chocolates in heart-shaped boxes on Valentine’s Day. . . Chocolate is also used in cold and hot beverages, to produce chocolate milk and hot chocolate
So don’t be afraid to eat and enjoy chocolate, chocolate won’t make you fat. Chocolate is healthy, delicious. Chocolate can always make you happy and smile. Chocolate makes you forget your problems for a while 🙂
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(source : Wikipedia And ChocoholicsHeaven)
Cchocolate comes from cocoa beans. The beans are removed from the pods, fermented, dried, roasted, and then made into cocoa mass or cocoa liquor. It is then pressed to make cocoa butter and cocoa cake, which is then ground into a powder.
Cacao is a rainforest herb, technically known as Theobroma Cacao. Cocoa has been used by indigenous tribes in South and Central America for thousands of years. Tribes have used it to fight parasites, cure snake bites, and as a general antiseptic
Cocoa solids contain alkaloids such as theobromine and phenethylamine, which have physiological effects on the body. This has been linked to serotonin levels in the brain. Several studies have found that chocolate eaten in moderation can lower blood pressure. The presence of theobromine makes it toxic to some animals, especially dogs and cats.
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How does chocolate heal?
Research from the University of California, Davis shows that consuming dark chocolate increases oxidation levels. Chocolate contains flavonoids, which are part of a group of antioxidants found in tea, red wine, and many fruits and vegetables. Increased levels of flavonoids lower the risk of heart disease, lung cancer, prostate cancer and type 2 diabetes. Consuming dark chocolate also reduces LDL (bad cholesterol) oxidation thereby reducing the risk of blood clots, lowering blood pressure and improving blood flow to the arteries.
How much chocolate to eat and what kind is best?
1 ounce of dark chocolate a day or 7 ounces per week provides the antioxidants needed. Dark chocolate, also known as “bitter” or “semi-sweet” chocolate is best. This chocolate has a higher percentage of cocoa and little or no added sugar. Dark chocolate should be made with cocoa butter, not fats like palm oil or coconut oil. The darker the chocolate, the more flavonoids there are in the chocolate. Milk binds to antioxidants, rendering them unavailable, so milk chocolate is not a great source of antioxidants. Milk chocolate candy is just candy and has no nutritional value for you. Chocolates made in Europe are generally richer in cocoa and are great to try.
