Try a Cup of Hot Chocolate to Keep the Nasties Away


by Erich Wasfer - Date: 2010-02-17 - Word Count: 498 Share This!

Hot chocolate was a popular beverage as far back as 2000 years ago. The Mayans and the Aztecs believed that chocolate was a food taken from Paradise and given to man by the god Quetzalcoatl. Chocolate was considered so powerful a drink and so precious that the nobility served it in golden cups which were thrown away after the chocolate was consumed. Those ancient people believed that chocolate was a nourishing and healthy drink, capable of maintaining youth and arousing sexual prowess.

And surprise, surprise! recent experiments have proven that those ancient Aztecs knew what they were talking about; everything they claimed chocolate could do has been shown to be scientifically true.

First, drinking hot chocolate releases flavonoids into the blood stream. These flavonoids are anti-oxidants that remove free oxygen radicals from the body, prevent tissue breakdown and preserve youthfulness. As much as 500 times the anti-oxidants in blueberries are the statistics for cocoa anti-oxidants.

Second, flavonoids also help to regulate blood pressure by producing nitric oxide in the blood stream. In this way, it also helps to improve the flow of blood in the body.

Third, of the three types of fat that are found in chocolate, only one has been found to increase the LDL(bad) cholesterol in the body. The oleic acid found in chocolate actually gives the body healthy fats. So dark chocolate gives you one part of good fat, one part of neutral fat and one part of bad fat.

Fourth, hot chocolate also contains ingredients that relieve persons in states of depression, improve congeniality and friendliness and increase sexual power.

Point by point, those are exactly what the Aztec kings claimed chocolate did for them. One Aztec king loved hot chocolate so much that he drank up to 50 cups a day of it. Of course, the hot chocolate the Aztecs drank was not sweetened. It was laced with assorted spices and fragrant herbs, hot chili pepper and sometimes with corn.

In order to avail of the health benefits of hot chocolate it is better to use unsweetened powdered cocoa. Powdered cocoa has less fat and more chocolate than processed commercial chocolates. Mix in just the right amount of sugar to deaden its bitter taste. Preferably, use dark brown sugar or molasses to sweeten it. Adding a pinch or two of cinnamon will increase the health value of your hot chocolate. You can also follow the example of the Aztecs and add a few corn flakes to it or lace it with medicinal herbs.

Don't use candied chocolate preparations for your choco health drink. Black and bland chocolate made from unsweetened cocoa powder is a good health drink if not taken in excess. The intake recommendation for sweet chocolate is 100 grams daily, for unsweetened chocolate it is more. Two cups of hot chocolate a day, mildly sweetened, with a dash or two of cinnamon will can work to preserve your vitality, your good mood and your health. Black and hot, chocolate is one of the healthiest supplements you can get.


Erich Wasfer is working on building his dream home theater. His first toy for his new home theater is an old fashioned popcorn machine. If not sitting back, eating popcorn, and enjoying a movie, Erich works on his site with reviews of popcorn machines for sale, as well as a review of the cotton candy maker.n
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