Health Benefits of Chocolate

No one if chocolate became one of the most widely given gifts on Valentine's Day is. Until now the tree is called chocolate "the food of God". Fairy tales in various cultures mention chocolate consumption related to health, strength, and passion enhancer.

Cocoa trees, whose fruits contain seeds that can be processed into chocolate, was found about 2,000 years ago in the American tropical rain forests. Nations who first go down eating chocolate is the Maya (250-900 BC). They mix the cocoa beans with a certain spice to offset the bitter and spicy taste before making a drink.

For the Mayans, chocolate fruit is a symbol of life and fertility. The fruit is also often presented in religious rituals, including weddings. In Mexico, the Aztecs believed people who eat chocolate will be overflowing with the fruit of wisdom and strength.

In 1519, the Europeans are new to brown when the fruit is brought Spanish sailors who brought this plant. From the king's favorite drinks, chocolate and then spread throughout Europe and for centuries the only known as a noble beverage.

Chocolate's reputation as an arousal enhancer afrosidiak or food came from the French nobility. Casanova, renowned ladies' man, known to have a habit of drinking chocolate before erotic adventure with many women.

Although better known as afrosidiak, it turns out the content of phenylethylamine in chocolate only slightly. Phenylethylamine (PEA) or also called "love drug" related to the regulation of physical energy, mood and attention. The body will issue a PEA when there is an emotional euphoria that blood pressure and heart rate increase. But the scientists found no evidence that the PEA in the diet can increase the PEA in the brain.

Chocolate is also believed to affect the psychology of a person by arousing feelings of pleasure and positive. It is pointed out by a researcher from the University of Cambridge that the distinctive aroma of chocolate with the texture and taste the "sweep" to give the sensation of its own.

The content of PEA-owned chocolate is also one of the possible causes generating this feeling. This is because the content is a substance similar to amphetanine that enhance uptake of tryptophan into the brain and eventually produce dopamine. Impact of dopamine is what led to feelings of pleasure and improved mood.

To be sure, recent research found that dark chocolate contains flavonoids that are rich in pure, resembling those found in tea, red wine, fruits and vegetables. The research also found a small serving of dark chocolate will improve blood circulation and reduce the risk of diabetes.

But beware, chocolate and chocolate candy packaging that are sold usually contain saturated fat and high sugar. To get the healthful effects, pure dark chocolate which is recommended.