Dark Chocolate Secrets

Is dark chocolate too good to be true? You probably have heard that dark chocolate is good for your health, but is it true? Here are some dark chocolate facts that you will be happy to read. We consider them to be "deep dark chocolate secrets." You don't have to keep these secrets, but be careful. If you tell your friends they may dig into your supply of dark chocolate!

1. Dark chocolate helps prevent heart disease.
2. Dark chocolate flavonoids can help with your blood circulation in the same way that aspirin helps to reduce the likelihood of a blood clot.
3. Dark chocolate can contribute to lowering your blood pressure.
4. Dark chocolate does not cause acne or "zits." the milk content of other chocolates can cause acne, but not dark chocolate.
5. Dark chocolate is less likely to cause cavities than other candy because it melts more quickly in the mouth and the cocoa butter actually protects the teeth.
6. Dark chocolate can help in prevention of cancer due to a high level of flavonoids/antioxidants - a higher level than wine, berries, and green tea.
7. Dark chocolate is a valid source of iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium.
8. Dark chocolate helps to generate seratonin in the brain, creating a healthy "feel good" sensation.

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What is a Chocolate Truffle?

A chocolate truffle is a small somewhat spherical confection with a creamy chocolate center and a hard chocolate shell. Ganache is the word most commonly used to describe the center of a chocolate truffle. It is a mixture of cream and chocolate and often includes creative additions such as nuts, fruits, and liqueurs. In fact, many truffles vary dramatically in their contents and coatings so that they don't look anything alike.

No matter what you are looking for in a chocolate truffle, you can be certain that you will find a mouthful of delight, and of course, a smile. Where does the term "Truffle" come from? The original dessert truffle was the mushroom/fungi that were popular throughout the course of history (they were mentioned in The Bible and in the works of Plato). The mushroom version of the truffle first encountered the chocolate version of the truffle in the 1600's when chocolate became popular in England.

At some point in the evolution of the desserts, the mushroom truffle was coated or layered with chocolate. It has been theorized that the chocolate truffle took its name from the mushroom truffle. Both are desserts soft in the center, and highly sought after. Mushroom truffles are still "hunted" today, and enjoyed by purists who prefer the fungi dessert. In fact, they are considered a rare delicacy because they are hard to find. But the chocolate truffles that we now know and love are quite different - pure chocolate, pure delight. And of course, much easier to find.

BBC reported the new study of Health benefits of Chocolates

A recent BBC News article emphasized the connection between dark chocolate and low blood pressure. Citing a study by The University of L'Aquila , Italy, they also concluded that milk chocolate offers similar benefits to dark.

A separate report by WCVB News (Boston) echoed these findings, giving the credit to an ingredient known as Flavonoids - found in all dark chocolate. In fact, the WCVB article also reported that chocolate can contribute to a healthy heart.

You wouldn't recognize the chocolate prepared by the Aztec people. It was a cold, bitter drink with a variety of spices, having a watery texture and served with a swizzle stick. The Spanish word that is the root of "chocolate" translates to "food of the gods." The name tells us a lot about how the Aztecs coveted this drink - it was enjoyed by royalty alone. It was also enjoyed in remarkable proportions: Montezuma is reported to have consumed fifty pitchers per day. The Aztecs believed that the drink provided vitality, energy, and longevity.

About a century after the Aztecs discovered chocolate, Royalty in Spain and France adopted the idea. In the 19th century the drink was enjoyed in the same way as the Aztecs and the health benefits did not go unnoticed. Brillat-Savarin reflected the French national view of chocolate when he wrote: "Chocolate is one of the most effective restoratives. All those who have to work when they might be sleeping, men of wit who feel temporarily deprived of their intellectual powers, those who find the weather oppressive, time dragging, the atmoshere depressing; those who are tormented by some preoccupation which deprives them of the liberty of thought; let all such men imbibe a half liter of choclat ambre... and they will be amazed."

Dark Chocolate has certainly received a lot of good press recently, but is it really a breakthrough discovery? Are we the first generation of chocolate consumers to uncover this great secret? The answer is "No." In fact, the health benefits of dark chocolate were discovered centuries ago by the Aztecs, a Mexican empire that thrived in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries.

It is clear that we cannot give credit to modern scientists for discovering the health benefits of chocolate. However, we can appreciate the fact that the news is being brought to our attention. After all, it reminds us that we can enjoy our favorite treat knowing it's good for the body and perhaps also the mind. It's old news, but it's good news.