Food of the Gods

Who doesn't love chocolate?

A chocolate bar is a magical bar that elevates the mood and draws the smiles. The chocolate is made from the "Theobroma cacao" tree. The word Theobroma means "food of the Gods", of course you can figure out why? This tree is cultivated in many tropical areas all over the world and in West Africa. The West African cocoa fields have major problems with their yield. Most of the cocoa farms are small and the owners are very poor. An interesting book "Chocolate Nations: Living and Dying for Cocoa in West Africa (African Arguments)" is discussing all problems faced by the cocoa farms in Africa.

Why do we like chocolate?

First we have to admit that not all of us are addicted to chocolates, but we all love it. Psychologically, the degree of chocolate craving with some people coincides with the alcohol craving in alcoholics. I am not exaggerating. Chocoholism is the name of the chocolate addiction. The craving for chocolate in chocoholics is unstoppable and non-chocolate sweets will not satisfy their needs. Because chocolate causes euphoria, elation and a major sense of wellbeing, also chocolate is a major aphrodisiac.

The physiological impact of chocolate is overwhelming. A lot of researches relate chocolate with elevated serotonin release. Serotonin is a chemical substance produced in the brain and is responsible for elevating our mood. Some researchers will even go further and hypothesize that chocolate craving is a sign of low serotonin level, thus, the body is calling for the chocolate. The peculiar thing about chocolate is, in depressed mood it is actions are reversed!!!

Yes!!!

If you are in a normal or happy mood, chocolate will make you happier. However, if you are depressed it will not reverse your mood or even decrease the intensity of depression. Some scientists will even say it may prolong the depression period!!!

At the end of the day chocoholics will remain chocoholics, and there is no problem with that. They just should take care of their weight as chocolates are mainly sweets and fat. I like chocolate sometimes, whatever the scientists will say about chocolate...that will not change people's mind about it.

Image by David Leggett via Wikimedia Commons.