Chocolate Temptation!!

"Make a list of important things to do today. At the top of your list, put "eat chocolate." Now, you'll get at least one thing done today."

Temptation

No body can escape from chocolate temptation! It is everyone’s favorite. Chocolate! A large part of chocolate's fascination, of course, lies in its taste. Delicious chocolate full of rich concoction satisfies the most intense craving. Opening your snicker foil can be quite awkward affair. If you love to watch movies, probably movies like Chocolate, The Chocolate War, Chocolate For Breakfast, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Like Water For Chocolate or Strawberry and Chocolate may remind you to have it in mouth!!

The Word!

The word ‘chocolate’ comes from the Aztec word ‘xocolatl’ which means ‘bitter water’. Chocolate is made from the seeds of the tropical tree, Theobroma cacao. Theobroma is the Greek term for 'food of the gods.'

Richard Cadbury introduced the first chocolate box in 1868 when he decorated a candy box with a painting of his young daughter holding a kitten in her arms. Today the list of world’s market leaders in chocolate making includes Hershey, Mars & Lindt, in USA, Nestle in Switzerland, Cadbury and Ferrero in Australia and Europe. Others are Rowntree, Fry, Terry's, Tobler and Sechaud. Chocolate bars like Cherry Ripe, Crunchie, Picnic, Mars, Snickers, Kit Kat and Violet Crumble account for about 40% of chocolate market sales.

Health & Chocolates

If you feel a little guilty about eating it or you are stopped to have it only because of your health then here is something for you.

Numerous medical studies have proven that moderate amounts of chocolate may actually be good for you and a little understanding could eliminate the culpability typically associated with satisfying this adoring longing. Chocolate is calorific only if you eat too much.

Chocolate contains vitamins A, B1, C, D, and E, as well as potassium, sodium, iron, and fluorine.

A lack of calcium is estimated to cause many diseases. Chocolate ties up calcium in the body. The high Magnesium content of Chocolate is beneficial for the Cardiovascular System and hypertension.

Chocolate helps to normalize blood fats such as cholesterol and converts dangerous cholesterol to non-dangerous form. Eating dark chocolate significantly drop blood pressure. Chocolate bar and phenols help preserve the fat.

Cocoa flavonoids relax the blood vessels that inhibit an enzyme that causes inflammation. It also contains natural chemicals that inhibit the bacteria, which are responsible for dental decay.

A study in Spain last year reported that cocoas contained more than 600 chemicals that may help fight cancer and heart disease and could also help strengthen the immune system, fight rheumatism and alleviate stress. Further its chemicals have long been associated with feelings of love, safety, and comfort.

It is not true that eating chocolate can cause acne or make skin spotty. Nor is chocolate the threat to healthy teeth that is thought to be. A study in the British Medical Journal Lancet in December 1998 reported that men who ate chocolate and candy live almost a year longer than those who did not.

Chocolate Addiction?

Theobromine is a close structural relative of caffeine, but has one-tenth the stimulating effect caffeine has. The level of theobromine in commercial chocolate varies from bar to bar. Milk chocolate bars contain the lowest levels of theobromine. Many people eat chocolate to relieve anxiety, but that is unlikely that tryptophan is solely responsible for chocolate cravings or a chocolate addiction.

Many researchers argue that women crave chocolate prior to menstruation because it contains high levels of magnesium. Women experience magnesium deficiency prior to menstruation.

Chocolates Selection

Bitter chocolate: Finely ground and roasted beans made with chocolate liquor. It is mainly used by professionals as it is quite difficult to work with. You may call it Baking chocolate also. It is pure chocolate liquor.

Covertures: It is a term used for cocoa butter rich chocolates of the highest quality.

Dark chocolate: It can be in general term for chocolates containing at least 15% chocolate liquor and less than 12% milk solids. The second types of it is The darkest of eating chocolate with the highest percentage of chocolate liquor that contains extra cocoa butter to make it melt easily.

Milk chocolate: This chocolate contains at least 12% milk solids and not less than 10% liquor.

White chocolate: This one is a blend of cocoa butter, milk, sugar and flavor. There is no chocolate solids other than cocoa butter are present.

Words From Last Para

"Life is like a box of chocolates... you never know what you're gonna get." - Forrest Gump

Chocolate with its offerings temptations, has both positive and negatives aspects. What & how much you pick up is solely depends on you. Balance it and enjoy!!

Source & Further Readings

Health Benefits of Chocolate: By Leslie Alders Shatto