In honor of yesterday being Valentine’s
Day, I thought we’d discuss my favorite treat – chocolate. Chocolate is so tasty and it has a way of lifting
your spirit with just one piece. And as you’ll see, chocolate can actually be good for your health.
In doing a little research, I
was surprised to find out that chocolate has a rich history tracing back thousands
of years. Central American and Mexican societies have cultivated cocoa seeds,
which are used to produce chocolate, because of their medicinal properties. To
get chocolate, these societies would dry, ferment, roast and grind up the seeds
from the cacao tree. The ground seeds would then be mixed with water and other
spices to produce a cocoa liquid, which they then drank. Eventually, the Spanish
conquistadors conquered these areas and the recipe was
taken back to Europe. Sugar was eventually added
to the chocolate recipe and more recently, new technology allowed for the drink
to be made into a solid, creating the treat we enjoy today.
As mentioned, chocolate has been consumed for thousands of years because of its
health benefits. Cocoa
is high in antioxidants, which are believed to neutralize or delay the aging
process. Cocoa
also contains essential vitamins and minerals like iron, calcium and potassium.
Plus, cocoa may be good for cholesterol by lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol and
raising HDL (good) cholesterol levels in the bloodstream. The problem is that much of the
chocolate produced today has low amounts of cocoa and high amounts of sugar and
fat, negating any health benefits. For example, some mass-produced chocolates
have only 10% cocoa while some high-quality dark chocolates have 70% cocoa.
So
the next time you’re craving some chocolate, just remember to choose the dark
chocolate with a high cocoa content. You’ll see the greatest benefit to
your health and enjoy a tasty treat with a rich history.
Have a great weekend.
Justin – A Lumen
