When people started saying the chocolate was healthy I did not think that it was true. I merely thought that it was people using it as an excuse to eat something which tasted good that was thought of as being unhealthy and had no idea about the dark chocolate health benefits. People often are looking for a good excuse to eat something that they like but have been told is not good for them. However, it seems that there are some health benefits to eating dark chocolate. It contains similar health benefits as dark vegetables because it contains flavonoids which act as antioxidants in the body. The flavonoids also help to decrease blood pressure because they produce nitric oxide which helps to balance some of the hormones in the body responsible for blood pressure.

There has also been evidence to show that it can reduce bad cholesterol levels due to it containing one third oleic acid which is a healthy fat found in olive oil. There are also benefits to mental health with the endorphins and serotonin that is produced when it is eaten. These both give feelings of happiness which is great for anyone that tends to get depressed or just for overall well being.

They could reduce stress which can be the cause of some nasty illnesses and lowers the immune system. Although chocolate should not be used as a replacement for advice from a doctor or any sort of medication, there is evidence to show that it does have some health benefits.

It is important to make sure that it is dark chocolate that is consumed as not in massive amounts as it is still calorifically high and will therefore increase weight if eaten in excess. Also make sure that it is eaten as part of a healthy balanced diet in order to see the maximum dark chocolate health benefits.

Some nutritionists and scientists have been raving about the health benefits of dark chocolate for awhile. This is because it contains a relatively high amount of antioxidants. Dark chocolate has more of this because it has a much higher amount of cocoa powder. However, this also gives it a bitter flavor and is thus considered to be an acquired taste. So even though you know someone is a health nut, they might not actually want a gift of dark chocolate. And if you’re planning some sort of social event, you should choose other types.

Milk chocolate has significantly more milk (as you can tell by its name.) It is the least offensive and most popular type. If you are unaware of someone’s tastes (or you’re hosting a party), milk chocolate is probably your best bet.

Many people do not consider white chocolate to be real chocolate. This is because it does not contain cocoa powder (instead it only has cocoa butter.) Sometimes vegetable fat is substituted for the cocoa butter. It has a creamy vanilla taste to it. This is also an acquired taste so unless you know a person will enjoy it you might want to refrain from using it.

The earliest chocolate beverages were a frothy, bitter drink that was made by the Mayans. They grew cacao beans in their backyard. In addition to everyday use, there is also an indication the Mayans used the drink for ceremonial purposes. Throughout pre-Columbian Mesoamerica the cacao beans were traded as a luxury food item and sometimes even used as currency. Records indicate that Aztecs used cacao beans to trade. A turkey was priced at one hundred beans and an avocado at three beans. The beans were also used to pay tribute to the Aztecs in the regions they conquered.

It was only by the 16th century, with the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs and the Americans, that the cacao beans and chocolate were imported to Europe. Before then Europeans had been completely unaware of it. It was brought into Spain by the Conquistadors and quickly became a favorite beverage at the Spanish court. Within a century it had spread throughout Europe and became highly popular. Demand for cacao beans increased. Chocolate was in such high demand that Spanish armies enslaved the Mesoamericans in order to mass-produce cacao. But even with the mass production chocolate was still expensive. Only European nobility and the rich could afford it.

The first European chocolate house opened its doors in London in 1657 making chocolate more accessible and popular in England. Still, it was not exactly as we know chocolate today. The first milk chocolate drink was developed by an Irish physician named Hans Sloane in Jamaica in 1689. It was originally intended for use in apothecaries. In 1897 the formula was eventually sold to the Cadbury brothers.

The emergence of modern chocolate only occurred with the arrival of the Industrial Revolution. Sweetened, tasty chocolate bars came into existence with an invention from a Dutch family that allowed for the production of chocolate bars. Mechanical mills were built to churn out cocoa butter helping to create hard chocolate. It could be poured into different forms and molds to create interesting and unique chocolate shapes once hardened.

These mills originated in the 1700′s but were only put to greater use when the Industrial Revolution came along. With new technology and types of machinery being produced and with higher yields of cacao beans from plantations the business of making chocolate started booming and chocolate as we know it today was born. Chocolate is a much loved treat and its popularity never seems to wane. Whether chocolate is drunk as hot cocoa or enjoyed as a bar it remains the king of confection for most.

The hotel is named after chocolate magnate and philanthropist Milton Hershey who finished only fourth grade but managed to build a sweet empire that conquered America and many parts of the world. Following a trip to Europe, Hershey built the hotel in 1930 which became a popular destination. His love of chocolate is reflected in The Spa which offers a variety of chocolate treatments like the Whipped Cocoa Bath and Chocolate Hydrotherapy.

In the former, the customer gets a foaming chocolate milk bath for $45. The 15-minute bath is said to soothe the senses and soften the skin. In Chocolate Hydrotherapy, essence of coca is used to help a person relax and relieve minor aches and pains. A 25-minute session costs $55.

The above spa treatments may sound ridiculous but scientists are slowly uncovering many health benefits of chocolate. At the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting in Boston, researchers reported that eating flavonoid-rich foods like chocolate decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease.

“One study found that a substance in cocoa helps the body process nitric oxide, a compound critical for healthy blood flow and blood pressure. Another study showed that flavonols in cocoa prevent fat-like substances in the bloodstream from oxidizing and clogging the arteries, and make blood platelets less likely to stick together and cause clots,” revealed Patti Schmidt in “Chocolate’s Potential Health Benefits and Its Effect on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients.”

Flavonoids come from plant metabolites and are most commonly known for antioxidant properties. To date, scientists have identified over 4,000 types on flavonoids. When it comes to chocolate, the cocoa bean contains large quantities of flavonoids. Other sources high in flavonoids include red wine, tea, cranberries, peanuts, strawberries, apples and many other fruits and vegetables. Those flavonoids in chocolate are called flavonols.

At this time, no one knows if bathing in chocolate will produce the same effects. But The Spa at the Hotel Hershey has a simple solution for that: it offers chocolate treats to customers. With their service, you can bathe in chocolate and eat it too.

If you prefer relaxing in your own hot tub at the privacy of your own home, simply go online and choose the model you like depending on your budget.

Chocolate contains caffeine and saturated fats, and these two factors create a reputation as bad for us. Cholesterol levels raise because the fat in cocoa butter, but it also contains phenolen which helps reduces the risk of heart disease.

A cup of regular coffee has more caffeine in than one ounce of chocolate, 150 mg compared to 6 mg. Therefore its far better to give up coffee than it is chocolate.

Chocolate has also found to contain more antioxidants than green tea. The catechins within are powerful in preventing some cancers and heart disease. Chocolate also creates endorphins enable us to become relaxed, allows more oxygen to reach our inner blood supply and can even improve our memory.
Do not be misled, chocolate does have some negative effects but they are outweighed by the positives. Eating chocolate as part of a varied diet where intake is balanced with regular exercise is probably healthy for the heart.

Chocolate also contains a variety of minerals that are essential to good nutrition. These include calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, iron, zinc and copper. Each of these minerals plays important roles in a variety of biological functions, including growth, bone formation, metabolism and oxygen transport within the blood.

If you love chocolate and eat it regularly, the most beneficial types are dark chocolates that contain only natural ingredients and are not overly processed. Just remember, chocolate is high in calories and eating too much can therefore make you fat, increasing your risk of heart disease and over-eating of chocolate can also lead to obesity.