Chocolate love

Here’s a sweet surprise: chocolate is actually good for you! Go ahead. Take a bite.

He opens the door for you and you think that every gentleman simply should. He sends you flowers and you think he’s thoughtful. He sends you a box of chocolates and you decide he must be rich. But sink your teeth into one of these confectioners and boom! You’re in love.

“They’ve got chemistry!”
…So we say of people who are “perfect” for each other. Scientists agree. Several studies prove that “true” love is not an affair of the heart but rather the result of a chemical imbalance in the brain. Few people realize that as humans, we are chemical beings. “[We are] a system of intricate, hormonal, adrenal and pulmonary interactions,” says Julia Cameron, a renowned recovery teacher. “All of us have experienced a ‘flood of rage,’ a ‘dry-mouthed fear,’ a ‘wash of terror,’ or a ‘heart-pounding panic.’ These are chemical reactions.”

Hence, what one experiences as infatuation is actually the result of an influx of phenylethylamine and anandamide, which are naturally produced by our bodies. Phenylethylamine induces feelings of slight euphoria while suppressing appetite.

This chemical naturally spikes during orgasm and ovulation. Watching romantic scenes in movies or engaging in sexual fantasies also induces the release of this chemical. Anandamide is a compound that binds to the same receptors in the brain as marijuana, hence inducing slight feelings of elation. These chemicals, both of which chocolate has an abundance of, also raise levels of the “feel good” hormone serotonin in the brain.

Chocolate’s sweet history
It has been reported that chocolate has been arousing strong feelings of romance for 1,500 years. Montezuma, the last ruler of the Aztec Empire in Mexico, was reported to drink fifty goblets of chocolatl (chocolate water) a day to help him handle the demands of his 600-strong harem.

The tropical Central American forests with its abundant rainfall and year-round high temperatures provided the ideal climate for Cacao trees, from which chocolate is made. The Mayan civilization worshiped these trees as divine, hence calling chocolate as “food of gods.” The cacao produced seeds in pods—called cocoa bean—which are then harvested, roasted and pounded. When brewed and mixed with local spices, this bitter drink became the revered xocolatl, a beverage reserved only for the nobility and for religious celebrations.

The Aztecs further up north traded for these highly valued cocoa beans and used them as currency. They treasured these beans so much that when the Spanish conquistadore Hernan Cortes defeated Montezuma in the 15th century, he found the Aztec treasury devoid of the reported silver and gold but filled with cocoa beans.

Cortes, and Christopher Columbus who visited the Mayan civilization, brought cocoa beans to Spain. The Spanish mixed sugar to sweeten the brew, instead of the spices that the Mayans and Aztec used this resulted in the the first chocolate drink in 16th century Europe. Over the years, they developed a process of making the chocolate into solid, bite-sized chunks which we now enjoy today.

Chocolate and its sweet benefits
Since its early beginnings in Europe, chocolate has been widely thought of as a powerful medicine and aphrodisiac. Is chocolate really beneficial to health? The answer is, yes.

However, we should say no to binging on this treat. Taken in extreme quantities, chocolate can trigger migraine attacks. It may also contribute to lower bone density. A quick glance at the label reveals milk chocolate is also high in calories, saturated fat, sodium and sugar.

Taken in moderation however, chocolate does have benefits. Men who eat chocolate regularly live on average one year longer than those who don’t. The flavanoids in chocolate help keep blood vessels elastic. The aroma of chocolate may increase theta brain waves, resulting in relaxation. Chocolate also increases antioxidant levels in the blood.

Feel less guilty when you treat yourself to some chocolate. Make it your personal “prize” after a week of sticking to your aerobic or yoga workout. You’ll feel happier you did!