For Love of Chocolate...The Best News You'll Hear All Day

You can thank the Spanish for making chocolate a common ingredient of the western diet.

Cacao is a bean that we get chocolate from, and I have been studying the Cacao bean, lately. It is native to the Americas and was used by the Aztecs both for food and currency. Cacao is the bean that we get cocoa from which is made by grinding the beans and removing the butter. Thanks to the Spanish it was introduced to Europe in the 1600s, and the world has been enjoying its decadent taste ever since.

Who in their right mind doesn't love chocolate? Some are extremists, called chocaholics, but most enjoy sinking their teeth into a rich dark chocolate bar, or sipping on a big mug of hot cocoa. Over the centuries it has become an indulgence that we have felt guilty for, but not enough to abstain from. And there is good reason that we love it so much.

One reason (backed by research) is that cacao raises the levels of endorphins in our bodies which relieve pain and give us a feeling of euphoria. It also raises serotonin levels and acts as an antidepressant. It is the ultimate comfort food!

There are many other health benefits to cacao. One of the most astounding is that raw cacao ranks higher in antioxidants than even acai berries, and blueberries. It has also been shown to lower blood pressure, balance blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of blood clotting. It's a complete food, and has everything your body needs to survive.

Cacao has even been shown to be good for your heart. A 15-year study of elderly men published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2006 found there was a 50 percent reduction in cardiovascular death for men who regularly consumed the most cocoa, compared to those who consumed the least.

But the best news of all is...it can be a vital ingredient in a successful weight-loss program! Yes!!! Cacao can actually help you to lose weight. Imagine enjoying the wonderful, rich flavor of chocolate everyday and losing unwanted pounds. The best part is that you can get cacao and the two other ingredients you need for a delicious weight-loss recipe right from your local health food store! And the recipe is so easy to make, you can easily whip it up every day.
CLICK HERE for more information about this recipe.

ISN'T THIS THE BEST NEWS YOU'VE HAD ALL DAY?