Ten Reasons to Love Chocolate

Chocolate is delectable in nearly every form but its traceable origins date back to the Mayan who prepared it specifically for drinking. Chocolate historians suggest that in the Mayan culture only the most prosperous savored the luxurious drink from intricate chocolate goblets.

The Mayan people used chocolate in ceremonies and weddings; exchanged by husband and wife. Ancient burial tombs have been unearthed to find vessels of chocolate at their side.

When the Aztecs overtook the Mayan people, they found the chocolate to be delectable and continued to practice the societal customs and traditions that the Mayans set in motion. The Aztec lore is written that Quetzalcoatl was cast from paradise for giving chocolate to man.

Fast forward to 1907, Nestle, Lindt and Hershey were pumping out chocolate as fast as it could be consumed.

Although it's debated in the medical community , dark chocolate and cocoa are both rich in antioxidants. Some believe that if you consume moderate amounts of dark chocolate every day it will have bodily benefits such as lowering your blood pressure, improving blood flow to the brain and heart, keep your cardiovascular system running well and reducing your cholesterol.

Research also suggests that eating extra-flavonoid-enriched cocoa on a daily basis keeps skin moist, smooth and prevents it from becoming scaly and red when exposed to the sun. Scientists believe that the flavonoids increase blood flow to the skin which improve appearance.

1. Chocolate is not high in caffeine. Eating milk chocolate is the equivalent of a cup of decaffeinated coffee.
2. Eating chocolate does not cause acne. Many studies have been done to prove that there is no scientific link between ingesting chocolate and getting a pimple.
3. Chocolate does not cause hyperactivity. It is typically the environment and the child's temperament that cause the behavior.
4. Chocolate is not a trigger for migraines. Studies have shown that migraine sufferers do not react to chocolate.
5. Chocolate is not physiologically addictive. The desire for chocolate is about the pleasure of what it feels like to eat it as opposed to needing the actual components that make up chocolate.

Since dark chocolate has a low glycemic index - close to plain oatmeal, it will not cause your blood sugar level to spike-and-crash. Eating milk chocolate or white chocolate can cause the roller coaster effect which can alter your moods and energy level.

Chocolate contains theobromine which is a natural cough suppressant. It's a natural way to remedy coughing as opposed to using cough syrups and this is a treatment that your kiddos will love!

Professors at the University of Nottingham used MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to detect increased brain functioning in subjects who ingested flavanol-rich cocoa. The results confirmed that there was increased brain activity for 2-3 hours after drinking just a single drink of the cocoa. Unfortunately, the high dose flavanol cocoa is not available commercially but was created only for the purpose of scientific study.

Additionally chocolate produces endorphins which give a natural feeling of pleasure and It contains serotonin which acts as an anti-depressant. It seems you cannot go wrong by having a bit of chocolate everyday.