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Chocolate, which has many varieties such as milk chocolate, dark chocolate, pistachio, hazelnut and caramel, is a unique flavor loved by many people of all ages. Certainly, chocolate, which helps you secrete happiness hormones, was a challenging factor to reach today. Chocolate, which was consumed only by the nobles in the past, is now accessible to almost everyone's taste. Let's have a look at the journey of these flavors and the unknown benefits of chocolate, which is among our indispensable preferences with its unique taste. 

Chocolate's Taste Journey

The origin of chocolate goes back about 4000 years. According to research, chocolate was first used as a beverage on Mexican soil. Cocoa seeds planted in the rainforests of Central America were fermented into a paste. In the end, a bitter-tasting drink appeared. Mayans, Olmecs, and other people of the period consumed this drink by adding many ingredients, such as honey, vanilla, water, cocoa and bitter spices. They believed that this drink they prepared gave them energy and happiness.

An explorer named Hernan Cortes, after invading Mexico, allowed cocoa beans to spread to Europe and from there to the entire world. First, the Spaniards added sugar to this chocolate-like beverage prepared with cocoa and threw the first seeds of today's chocolate. When Princess Anne, daughter of King Philip III. of Spain, married King Louis XIII. of France, Anne took this chocolate-like beverage to France. Thus, the demand for this beverage, which spread to Europe over time, increased and cocoa production accelerated by creating cocoa plantations.

Because cocoa was expensive, only aristocrats and nobles could consume it for a long period of time. But then chocolate became a more accessible food when chemist Coenraad Johannes van Houten invented the cocoa machine.

Unknown Benefits of Chocolate

It is a well-known fact to everyone that chocolate gives you happiness. So, what are the other benefits?

• Dark chocolate has an antioxidant effect due to the cocoa it contains and thus protects the heart by reducing the risk of a heart attack. Antioxidants relax the nervous system while reducing stress-induced tension.
• When you consume chocolate in a controlled manner, your blood sugar can be balanced. The reason behind this is the flavonoids in chocolate slow down the digestion of carbohydrates and the absorption of carbohydrates in the intestine. Thus, it improves glucose homeostasis.
• Chocolate, which gives you energy, can also reduce the risk of cancer.
• Chocolate contains potassium as well as flavonoids. These ingredients can help lower blood pressure.
• You can minimize skin damage caused by aging by consuming chocolate in a controlled manner. The polyphenols in dark chocolate can improve skin health by increasing skin elasticity. At the same time, it can support the skin to stay alive by providing blood flow to the skin.
• There is more cocoa in dark chocolate. In this way, it contains more of the components that reduce infection, known as inflammation. As a result of research, it has been revealed that dark chocolates that contain 70% cocoa contribute to the immune system.
• Dark chocolate contains vitamin E, zinc, manganese, calcium, copper, sulfur and some B-group vitamins. When you consume dark chocolate in moderation every day, you can meet more than half of your daily magnesium needs and 2/3 of your iron need.
• Dark chocolate contributes positively to intestinal health thanks to the beneficial bacteria in its content.
• Dark chocolate also helps your cells to fight brain damage. Chocolate, which helps prevent the damage caused by age-related Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, can also help regenerate brain cells. In short, you can improve your cognitive functions by consuming dark chocolate.

However, you need to be careful when consuming chocolate. Experts think that dark chocolate with a minimum of 60% cocoa content should be consumed at most 20-30 grams per day. You should know that excessive consumption of chocolate will cause more harm than benefit. If you don't like to consume chocolate, you can also consume it as a beverage. With its fragrant and delicious aroma, hot chocolate can be your indispensable companion during the winter days. However, if you have a chronic disease such as diabetes, blood pressure, you should consult your doctor before consuming chocolate.

The Address of the Most Delicious Hot Chocolate: Elite World Hotels & Resorts

One of the most delicious forms of chocolate is undoubtedly hot chocolate. This beverage, which is enjoyed especially during cold winter days, is a must for peaceful moments. If you are also a hot chocolate lover, you can encounter delicious hot chocolates until the end of February at the Coffee Company of Elite World Hotels & Resorts. Hot chocolate, prepared with expert hands, will warm you up during the winter days and blow your mind with its delicious aroma! You can visit Elite World Hotels & Resorts to get detailed information about the event and benefit from the other opportunities.

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