Feb 10
25
Eat more chocolate–it’s good for you!
Events in my life lately have left me searching for comfort food and of course one of which is chocolate. This is a great way to justify to myself and I just wanted to share it so others can indulge with me.
The Aztec leader Montezuma introduced chocolate to Cortez that took it home to Spain and added sugar and vanilla. Chocolates allure comes from the release of natural endorphins in your body similar to a “runner’s high.” Chocolate also contains a neurotransmitter called serotonin that acts as an anti-depressant. Other components that chocolate can boast are theobromine and phenylethylamine that act as stimulants to the body. Chocolate still baffles scientists. It contains over 300 different chemicals that make us feel good. It also contains potassium, magnesium, B1, B2, D and E vitamins. It has even been found that chocolate is the least likely snack food to cause tooth decay or even acne due to phosphate and other minerals. As with all food, moderation is the key and the sugar in chocolate needs to be considered as well. Dark chocolate (at least 70%) is always your best option it has even been shown to reduce the growth of cancer cells. It ranks up there with green tea and blueberries and is even low glycemic.
