Chocolate is amazing and actually isn’t bad for you, unless you’re eating, like, the entire Nestle factory or something. So here are 7 weird but true and awesome facts about chocolate!
Chocolate Was Used As Money
In Mayan history, cacao beans were used as currency. The beans were literally coins and were even counterfeited! And the only people who consumed chocolate were the extremely wealthy who had extra to waste.
Dark Chocolate Is The Best
Chocolate has flavonoids, which give off anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and cell-protective effects. Flavonoids have been linked to lowering the risk of heart disease. But dark chocolate has the highest amount of flavonoids with 536 milligrams per 1.4-ounce serving.
Chocolate Was A Form Of Medicine
Throughout history, cocoa was used to treat a variety of ailments from fevers to stomach aches to tuberculosis. It has a long, long medicinal reputation. A chocolate bar probably won’t cure you of the flu today, but it might make you feel better if your blood sugar is low.
It Won’t Keep You Up At Night
Many claim that chocolate has a bunch of caffeine, but it actually doesn’t. Chocolate barely has any caffeine and even has less than soda and coffee.
White Chocolate Isn’t Really Chocolate
Gasp! I know. Whatever, it doesn’t even taste like chocolate if we’re being honest. That’s because it isn’t. White chocolate doesn’t contain any chocolate solids. Instead it’s made out of cocoa butter and other dairy products. Impostor!
Chocolate Does Make You Happy
Chocolate contains a chemical called serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter for good feelings. Serotonin also curbs feelings of depression. Eating chocolate literally makes you happy because you’re taking in happy feelings.
Chocolate Is Good For Your Teeth
Recent studies show that chocolate isn’t bad for your teeth and might actually be good for them! Don’t start brushing your teeth with hot fudge just yet. Scientists found that cocoa beans actually prevent mouth and tooth decay and that chocolate has an anti-bacterial effect so chewing on a chocolate bar isn’t the best remedy. But cocoa beans might help!
