Chocolate is one of those food that everyone loves. It's delicious and available in so many different forms and flavours these days that it's possible to try something new every day and not repeat yourself for many years.

Chocolate contains some chemicals that stimulate the body into producing endorphins - natural body hormones that generate feelings of pleasure and well-being.

Chocolate contains a variety of substances, some of which can have an affect on the human body

Chocolate contains fats and sugar which affect the body's hypothalamus, inducing pleasureable sensations as well as affecting the levels of serotonin. This means eating chocolate can put you in a good mood.

You only have to think how revived a sugar burst makes you feel to know that anything containing lotsof sugar will have this affect.

A complex chemical called theobromine is present too and this also contributes towards the mood lift you get from eating chocolate.
It is this chemical that can poison pets - including horses, dogs, parrots, small rodents, and cats.

It is thought that some chocoholics are self-medicating depressives who need their regular chocolate fix to stay happy.

Chocolate also contains
Tryptophan, an essential amino acid and precursor to serotonin
Phenethylamine, an endogenous alkaloid sometimes described as a 'love chemical; but it is quickly metabolized by monoamine oxidase-B and does not reach the brain in significant amounts
Caffeine although this is present in very small amounts.

Dark chocolate is said to be healthier as cocoa contains a significant antioxidant action, protecting against LDL oxidation.

However the calorie content of chocolate sadly means it has to be reserved as a treat rather than a staple. There are some who will argue that as cocoa comes from a bean then it counts as one of the five a day fruit or vegetables, clearly it might do in the raw state but when highly processed and combined with suagr it doesn't!

Chocolate melts at body temperature which is how you're supposed to enjoy it most, by letting it melt on your tongue.

The pleasure we get from chocolate is surely one of the reasons we give it as a gift as we are aware of how good it makes us feel.