By Chris Alleny
We've all heard that chocolate, derived from the cacao bean and prized by Meso-American peoples, is also an aphrodisiac. However, to many of us, that claim seems suspect. Can eating chocolate really help you get in the mood? Here are some basic facts about chocolate to tell you whether its reputation as an aphrodisiac is just fluff, or the real thing.
Chocolate refers to raw and processed foods that come from cacao seeds. This tree is native to tropical South America, and has been cultivated for more than three thousand years. It is earliest documented use is around 1100 BCE. The Maya and Aztecs are most famous for using chocolate, but it was made into drinks by most peoples in Meso-America. The seeds are intensely bitter, and have to undergo fermentation to develop the flavor we think of as chocolate.
After they've been fermented, these beans are cleaned and dried, then roasted. The shell is removed, producing cacao nibs, which are then ground and liquified. This produces pure liquid chocolate in the form of chocolate liquor. This is usually then processed into cocoa butter and cocoa solids. Completely unsweetened chocolate contains a variable percentage of cocoa solids and cocoa butter, depending on the type. However, most of us consume sweetened chocolate, combined with sugar.
There are a number of different types of delicious sweet chocolate. Milk chocolate adds condensed milk or milk powder into the confection. White chocolate also uses milk, sugar and cocoa butter, but there are no cocoa solids in it. That's why it's not usually considered a true chocolate. Real dark chocolate does not contain any milk at all.
There are alkaloids in chocolate - most notably phenethylamine and theobromine, both of which can have effects on human beings, and which are toxic to some animals such as dogs. These chemicals found in chocolate have been linked to levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is one of the chemicals linked with pleasure and good feelings in humans when stimulated.
There are also chemicals called unsaturated N-acylethanolamines in chocolate. They can result in euphoria and heightened sensitivity. However, the amounts of all these chemicals in a typical amount of chocolate are fairly small, so its real aphrodisiac affect probably comes from the fact that eating it is such a sensual pleasure.
It's fatty, sweet and delicious, which is why so many of us love it. There's no firm proof that chocolate can work as an aphrodisiac, but we often give this wonderful treat to someone we love, and almost everyone appreciates it. So, whether it's chemically an aphrodisiac or not, there are still excellent reasons to give chocolate.
Everyone is different and responds to things in their own way. We each need a certain level of anything to react with our own personal body chemistry. You will want to experiment to find your own answer to this question. The nice thing about this experiment is that chocolate is delicious and if you are right there is a bonus.
Chris enjoys writing about all kinds of food especially chocolates. For more information on finest gourmet chocolates visit www.ultimatechocolateshoppe.com
Source:www.isnare.com |
