The Properties of Chocolate that Make it Unique

Chocolate is made from the seeds of the Cocoa tree. In Ancient Greece they thought chocolate was "food from the gods", naming the treeTheobramo Cacao. Cocoa seeds are large ranging anywhere from 5 to 12 inches and between 3 to 5 inches wide. The pods, when reaches maturity, turn brown on the inside and anywhere from 20 to 40 almond shaped seeds are left inside to scoop out and undergo the fermenting process. This reduces the bitterness. You can find the tree most popularly in South America in Tropical locations. The Aztecs reserved chocolate for Warriors, Priests, and Nobility. They used Cocoa beans as a source of money in which they could buy slaves or a night out with a Courtesan. Chocolate has become very popular in our societies to use around holidays in the United States. Chocolate in stockings in Christmas, Chocolate bunnies on Easter, and heart shaped boxes full of many different types of chocolates on Valentines Day. Even on birthdays, the most popular cake is chocolate or white with chocolate frosting, and chocolate ice cream is very popular as well. Chocolate drinks, frothy and hot, are used nearly in all of history and all over the world. Chocolate has some interesting properties that are rarely talked about.

Chocolate was first drunk before eaten and some Placebo trials suggest that chocolate enhances cognitive thought and memory. In one Harvard study, they found that people who were chocoholics live longer due to the polyphenols levels in chocolate. This is found to reduce your risk of heart disease. They suggest, though, eating dark chocolate because it doesn't have as many substitutions and calories. Chocolate is thought to have aphrodisiac properties and is used for well being, reducing anxiety and depression because it increases serotonin in the brain. Also, chocolate reduces fatigue, because it has low levels of caffeine in it. Scientists say that in moderation chocolate can lower blood pressure. Although there is a very popular myth that suggests that chocolate can cause acne, it seems that dark chocolate contains many anti-oxidants, which improve skin complexion.