Life is sweeter with chocolate…Happy world chocolate day!
How will you be celebrating world chocolate day? Will you be settling into a comfy position on the couch with a hot chocolate? Or eating chocolate covered strawberries with a glass of sparkling wine?
Chocolate is a food with an incredibly rich history which started over 4,000 years ago in Mesoamerica (present day Mexico). It was initially consumed as a chocolate drink which was used as a medicine and in rituals, it wasn’t until the middle of the 19th century that the chocolate bar was introduced. While we’re sure you already know heaps of fascinating facts about chocolate and its health benefits, we wanted to share with you our top five, most outrageous chocolate facts.
1. Did you know that the 1971 movie Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory was actually an advertisement?
The original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory movie was financed by the company Quaker Oats to promote the launch of their new Wonka chocolate bar. That’s the reason why the title of the book written by Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) doesn’t match the title of the film.
2. Eating chocolate makes you happier
Chocolate releases endorphins in the brain when you eat it. The Amino acids found in chocolate are linked to the production of serotonin in the neurotransmitter which is responsible for feelings of joy and happiness. Want to be happier? Eat more chocolate (in moderation of course).
3. Want to relax? Sniff some chocolate.
Did you know that the smell of chocolate is a relaxant? A study by Middlesex University, London found that people were more relaxed and actually paid attention and retained more information when just the smell of chocolate was around. In a similar study published by the Journal of Environmental Psychology it was found that shoppers were more inclined to make a purchase when the smell of chocolate was in the air. The researchers assumed that this was due to the scent's calming properties. That’s because the smell of chocolate increases theta brain waves, which triggers relaxation.
4. Did you know that chocolate is the only edible substance to melt at around approximately 33 degrees? That’s just below the human body temperature.
5. The largest chocolate bar in the world according to The Guinness World Records weighs 13.079kgs.
