Chocolate Decadent Desserts

Choleate Good For Your Health

Chocolate food products are made from refined cocoa beans often consumed as candies, beverages made to flavor decadent recipes or coat various dessert confections.  The cocoa tree was cultivated more than 3.000 years ago by the Maya, Toltec and Aztec civilizations who prepared a beverage from the fruit of the cocoa bean, sometimes using it as a ceremonial drink and used the bean as currency held highly as part of their monetary system. In order to understand commercial transactions of the Aztec world the Spainards created tables to indicate trading values of specific amounts of the cocoa beans. Spain was the earliest European country to incorporate chocolate into their cuisine mixing it into chili adding more savory flavor to the dish.  “In May 1502 Christopher Columbus set out on his fourth voyage to the New World from this trip he brought back many things to Europe including gold, silver, and the plain looking cargo of beans. 

The Spaniards weren’t impressed and largely overlooked them.  At the same time no one would have predicted just how much the unassuming bean would end up transforming Spanish and European cuisine.” says National Geographic. Today chocolate is highly valued for its rich flavors and nutrition consumed worldwide as a favorite commodity. Dark chocolate is loaded with nutrients that can positively affect your health.  It is rich in antioxidants, minerals, and fiber that help protect your blood vessels.  Studies indicate chocolate can significantly improve your health, lower the risks of heart disease and reduce stress.  Dark chocolate contains a decent amount of soluble fiber and is loaded with minerals including iron, magnesium, copper, manganese. One bar of dark chocolate 6 pieces contains 270 calories, 21 grams of fat, 20 grams of carbs, 3 grams of protein.  Dark chocolate contains caffeine theobromine which can improve brain function in the short term.  It contains flavonoids which can improve blood flow to the brain and enhance cognitive function.

People who eat and drink chocolate are less likely to be depressed.  Chocolate contains a number of psychoactive ingredients which produce feelings of euphoria and a state of happiness.  “Eating dark chocolate may positively affect mood and relieve depressive symptoms, finds the new UCL led study.  Chocolate is widely reported to have mood enhancing properties and several mechanisms for a relationship between chocolate and mood have been proposed” says Neuroscience News. Eating 2 ounces of unsweetened dark chocolate once per day can have beneficial health effects. Dark chocolate contains compounds that can reduce stress and improve mood. It contains phenylethylamine (PEA) which stimulates endorphins, the body's natural pain killers and mood enhancers. While dark chocolate has many health benefits for the body it also may contain sugar and high calorie content and should be eaten in moderation. For those watching their weight unsweetened, sugar free chocolate options are readily available online or at your local retailer. 

Hershey’s special dark zero sugar candy individually wrapped 2.5-pound bag made without the sugar perfect for the holidays consumed as a delicious treat any time. Chocolate desserts can be made with sweetened or unsweetened chocolate syrups, cocoa powder, baking chocolate, and sauces. Sugar free chocolate treats benefit health while reducing stress, enhancing good mood. Decadent chocolate desserts like bon bon, lava cake, brownies, candies, chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate covered roasted nuts, Mocha coffee, hot chocolate, chocolate covered raspberries, Hazelnut milk chocolate, chocolate with mint, chocolate truffles are among some of the favorites.  Everything's better with chocolate!

Cheers!

Patricia Lynn

Images Courtesy of Food Photographer Jennifer Pallian on Unsplash