Chocolate – The Pleasure Drug of the Human Race

While the history of chocolate goes back as far as prehistoric times, the bean actually originated in the Americas. Two thirds of the world’s cocoa is produced in the Ivory Coast and Western Africa. The Aztecs and Mayas were among the first peoples to make chocolate, and Europeans followed suit. Throughout history, people have used the cacao seed to create everything from hot chocolate to ice cream. Today, chocolate is popularly molded into shapes to celebrate holidays and festivals.

The process of making chocolate involves chemical reactions that produce the sweet substance we know as chocolate. Chocolate contains hundreds of different ingredients and is known as the “pleasure drug” of the human race. It affects the brain and taste buds in a variety of ways. Some chocolate ingredients can actually change your mood or even affect your body’s weight. In addition to its taste, the sugar content can lead to weight gain, so it’s best to eat it in moderation.

In case of excessive consumption of chocolate, it’s important to know that it’s harmful for your pet. Theobromine, a bitter alkaloid found in chocolate, is toxic to animals. It remains in their bloodstreams for up to 20 hours. As a result, animals fed chocolate may develop heart attacks, epileptic seizures, or internal bleeding. If you feed chocolate to your pet, make sure you call a veterinarian and give them the chocolate immediately after eating it.

The chocolate used in baking is made up of type V crystals. These crystals give chocolate its mouth-feel and appearance. The fat content in chocolate produces a greasy surface covering. This happens due to improper tempering, cooling, or storage. Poor handling of chocolate also contributes to fat bloom. So, the next time you buy some, remember to do some research on chocolate before you make a purchase. There are a number of ways you can tell if your chocolate is good or not.

Dark chocolate contains at least 35% cocoa solids. It also contains milk, butter, and sometimes a small amount of sugar. While it’s a good choice for treating yourself, it can contribute to weight gain. Nevertheless, you’ll still have to watch your calorie intake in order to consume chocolate in moderation. You can try to buy organic chocolate, or certified chocolate. For example, try buying chocolate from Rainforest Alliance. Similarly, look for fair trade chocolate.

Research has shown that eating a small amount of chocolate daily can lower the risk of heart disease by about a third. Higher levels of chocolate consumption may reduce the risk of certain cardiometabolic disorders. This research needs further experimental studies to prove that chocolate has health benefits. However, a recent study from Canadian researchers shows that people who eat one or two ounces of chocolate per day were 42 percent less likely to die from a stroke than those who did not consume any chocolate.

Cocoa trees grow best in tropical regions around the equator, and require four inches of rain a month. Because of this requirement, cacao trees are only grown in tropical countries. Around three quarters of the world’s chocolate comes from West African countries. The rest is produced in countries in South and Southeast Asia. The production of cocoa involves numerous steps, including fermentation and drying. The chocolate liquor obtained from the beans is then added to other ingredients to make it a delicious treat.