Five reasons we love chocolate
It is one of the most popular sweets of all time. Women crave it, men treasure it, and Aztec kings are said to have been the first to eat it. But why do we love chocolate so much? The following are just a few of the reasons chocolate is so popular, and why you shouldn’t give it up entirely, even if you’re on a diet!
Melts in your mouth, chocolate contains fat, that’s no surprise. The cocoa butter in the chocolate gives it a rich and creamy consistency that also perfectly conveys the flavor of the cocoa. It also has a melting point that is slightly lower than average human body temperature, giving you that melting-in-your-mouth feeling every time you put a piece of chocolate in your mouth. Chocolate lovers often describe this feeling of fusion as a true moment of ecstasy.
The correct chemistry: According to a study conducted at the University of Michigan in the United States, chocolate contains chemicals called opioids. Opioids are also found in opium and serve to relieve pain and provide a sense of well-being to people who ingest them. According to the study, people who eat chocolate produce natural opiates in the brain that calm their nerves and make them feel good. When the receptors that detected opioids were blocked, that craving for chocolate diminished.
Chocolate also naturally contains “premium ingredients” like caffeine, sugars, and phenyltalimine, which will make your heart beat a little harder, your breathing a little faster, and give you a feeling of alertness. The effect is not dramatic enough to be uncomfortable for most people; it is mild enough to produce a pleasant “high” that is often equated with the feeling of being in love.
Chocolate equals love: Speaking of love, the association may not be completely physiological. Women crave chocolate more often than men. Women also routinely receive chocolate as a birthday and Valentine’s gift. In our culture, chocolate is considered a romantic gift. It is outside the realm of mundane, everyday food, reserved for special occasions and, especially for women, is associated with love and romance. That could be another reason why women love chocolate – deep down, it makes them feel loved, cared for, and pampered.
It’s really good for you: Recent studies suggest that chocolate, especially dark chocolate, contains chemicals that reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease. The flavonoids and antioxidants in dark chocolate have been shown to make a difference in cardiovascular health. Until recently, tea was considered the main source of these chemicals. Now, scientists recommend that you have a chocolate chip cookie or cookie with your tea so your body receives more of these life-prolonging chemicals. However, do not drink milk with your dark chocolate; The same studies show that milk can cancel out the healthy effects of eating chocolate by preventing those helpful chemicals from being fully absorbed into the body.
Chocolate contains fats and sugars that you shouldn’t eat a lot, but as long as you eat it in moderation, science suggests you can add up to a year to your life.
It’s great for your sex life: Since the time of the Aztecs, people have believed that chocolate has aphrodisiac properties. But there may be a deeper truth to those old legends. Recent studies have shown that women who eat a little chocolate a day have significantly more sex than women who do not. This could be due to those brain-calming chemicals found in chocolate, and that chocolate stimulates the brain to release more as it is eaten. Chocolate just makes us feel good, which is a key ingredient for a healthy sex life.
But there are more creative ways to use chocolate in the bedroom besides eating it. Adventurous and playful couples have incorporated it into the bedroom for years. For a sensual treat, make a chocolate fondue and feed your loved one strawberries dipped in the sweet sauce. Give your spouse fine chocolates for no reason; they will surely show their appreciation later. If you’re not afraid of getting a little dirty, use chocolate-flavored body lotions and lubricants; You can always share a shower to clean up afterwards!
It is important to remember that you should not consume too much chocolate. It contains high amounts of saturated fats and sugars that can cause damage to health and obesity if ingested in excess. However, when consumed in moderate amounts, chocolate can really be a wonder food. Even better, it tastes wonderful – it’s hard to find someone who doesn’t like some kind of chocolate, be it white, dark or milk, Hershey or Belgian. So the next time you have to give up something during Lent or start a new diet, think twice about giving up the chocolate. Not only does it taste good, its health benefits give you a great excuse to keep enjoying it.