fun chocolate facts
Why Women Crave Chocolates
September 1, 2011
We all have chocolate cravings, but women seem to have stronger desire for it than men do. Why is it so? Research has found that these cravings may be in relation to blood sugar levels, stress and hormonal changes caused by a woman’s menstrual cycle.
Chocolates have sugar and caffeine content and these can alter your blood sugar levels. One reason why we sometimes crave chocolates is because sugar in our blood hits the low levels and chocolates can be a good source of a quick sugar fix.
Eating chocolate never fails to make you feel good and this is due to the serotonin which is a neurotransmitter that can enhance the mood. This is the main reason why chocolate is a renowned comfort food.
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The Beginning of Chocolate
August 25, 2011
Chocolate has been around for millennia now, and the history is extremely long and diverse. The earliest references of chocolate were over fifteen hundred years ago in the Central American Rain Forest, an ideal environment for the cultivation of the Cacao Tree because of the mix of high rain fall, temperature and humidity.
The Mayan culture worshiped the Cacao tree as they believed it was of divine origin and it symbolized life and fertility. Cacao is actually a Mayan word which meant “God Food”, modernly coined as “Food of the Gods”. The Mayans were believed to be brewing and drinking this spicy bittersweet beverage by roasting, grinding and fermenting the seeds of the Cacao Tree. This was intended for the wealthy and elite.
The Aztecs, like Mayans, also have their own version of the fermented drink and they called it Xocolatl, meaning “bitter water”. Their Emperor, Montezuma, allegedly believed that this was an aphrodisiac, and drank almost 50 cups a day. The beans were even used as currency and considered as treasure that when Spaniards came and searched for gold and silver, they found no more than the beans.
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Fighting Cancer with Chocolate?
August 18, 2011
If that would be the case, who wouldn’t want to kick cancer’s butt? Here are some interesting tidbits of information to help you realize how good chocolate can be for your health!
Cacao seeds contain Flavonoids (specifically Flavanols) that are chemicals found in plant-based foods that give major health benefits. Over 4,000 flavonoids have been known and almost all of it are found in fruits, vegetables and beverages such as tea, coffee, beer, wine and fruit drinks. Good thing our beloved chocolate is part of the list!
When we eat foods that have flavonoids, it just means that we also take advantage of the antioxidants in it which are believed to help the body fight cell damage. In addition to that, studies say that flavonoids have other helpful influences on vascular health, such as lowering blood pressure and improving blood flow to the brain and heart, making blood platelets less viscous. Thus, keeping cholesterol from gathering in blood vessels. It also slows down the immune responses that lead to clogged arteries.
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Chocolate as Favorite Food
June 17, 2011
Is chocolate your favorite food? Recently a study was completed that asked an open-ended question of people from 17 different countries to name their favorite food. Chocolate made the published list of top 15 favorites in only 5 of those countries.
Today we can celebrate with the Australians. Australia was the only country on the list that named chocolate as its number 1 favorite food! A total of 8.9% of the surveyed population gave that answer. I'm going to have to visit Australia and hang out with the abundance of chocolate lovers.
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Chocolate and Countries
May 26, 2011
Here’s are some facts and tidbits of the early history of the use of cacao tree, the main source of chocolate!
Chocolate was first developed in the area now called Mexico. In 1519 it was served during breakfast by emperor Moctezuma to his guest, Hernan Cortes Pizarro.
The Spanish conquistador was so impressed with the delicious taste of the “chocolatl” made from cocoa beans that he brought the recipe back home to Spain. He also brought cacao trees with him and he named it the precious tree.
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Chocolate Lava Cake
May 16, 2011
I remember a certain look on my babies’ faces after they finished filling their tummies with milk. Their sleepy smiles were a mixture of deep satisfaction and complete happiness. Life was good.
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Ooh La La – Chocolate and Kissing
February 18, 2011
Now here is a research study that will make your day!
According to a study done in the UK, chocolate and kissing stimulate the body in very similar physiological ways.
The researchers studied six couples and measured brain waves during various activities including kissing and letting a piece of chocolate melt in their mouths.
Both kissing and eating chocolate increased the activity in the brain that signals alertness and relaxation.
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Chocolate Trivia
January 27, 2011
Here are some interesting numbers related to the chocolate and candy industries in the United States.
1,317............
the number of U.S. manufacturers that produced chocolate and cocoa products a year.
38,369............
the number of people employed in the chocolate and cocoa products industry in U.S.
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Vietnam Cacao Production
January 20, 2011
Here's an update on cacao sourced from Vietnam...
Back in October of 2010, I wrote in my blog about the introduction of a limited edition of Scharffen Berger 72% Vietnamese single-origin chocolate bar.
Now, a Belgian chocolate manufacturer has launched the first ever, 100% Vietnamese chocolate available for wholesale, a new business-to-business operation.
Vietnam is new to cacao production. Plantations have had many setbacks over the years, but since 2005 the production has increased.
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