Why Chocolate for
Valentine's Day?
By David Eisen
Valentine’s Day is many things
to different people- a chance to
start new relationships,
rekindle old ones, or remind
that special someone how
wonderful they really are.
Others feel it is just another
“Hallmark” holiday where they
are expected to do something for
unknown reasons. Regardless of
your hopes, expectations, or
reservations about Valentine’s
Day, chocolate has long been a
favorite gift for lovers.
Since the days of the Aztecs
chocolate has been used as a
gift. Today a box of luxurious
quality chocolate says a
thousand “thank you’s”, “good
luck”, or “I love you”.
Chocolate can be given as a way
of saying “congratulations”, “I
am sorry” or “get well soon”. On
Valentine’s Day chocolate
clearly says “I LOVE YOU!”
Chocolate is more than food, it
not only fills your belly but
also makes you feel soooo good.
Elaine Sherman wrote “Chocolate
is heavenly, mellow, sensual,
deep, dark, sumptuous,
gratifying, potent, dense,
creamy, seductive, suggestive,
rich, excessive, silky, smooth,
luxurious, celestial. Chocolate
is downfall, happiness,
pleasure, love, ecstasy, fantasy
… chocolate makes us wicked,
guilty, sinful, healthy, chic,
happy.” What more could you want
to say to your lover on
Valentines Day? Even the
scientific name for the tree
from which chocolate is derived,
Theobroma cacao, translated from
Greek, means “food of the gods”.
Why does chocolate evoke so
many feelings and emotions for
us? Chocolate has long been
associated with passion, romance
and love. This association may
go all the way back to the
Aztecs. They believed chocolate
was a source of spiritual
wisdom, incredible energy and
elevated sexual power. Chocolate
was widely used as a nuptial aid
and was widely served at wedding
ceremonies. The Aztecs did not
know chocolate as we do today;
they consumed the cocoa as a
drink. Reports indicate that the
Emperor Montezuma consumed large
quantities of the drink every
day and always fortified himself
with a cup before entertaining
his harem. The explorer Cortes
reported to Carlos I of Spain
that chocolate is “… the divine
drink which builds up resistance
and fights fatigue. A cup of
this precious drink enables a
man to walk for a whole day
without food.” From the earliest
times, chocolate was considered
a substance of power and a
source of vitality.
Chocolate has been a subject
of study since the first
shipment from Veracruz arrived
in Spain in 1585. But modern
science has made some
interesting findings that may
help explain our lust for
quality chocolate. Chocolate
contains organic substances
known as alkaloids. The most
important of these substances is
theobromine, which works as a
stimulant to the kidneys.
Stimulants in chocolate also
affect the central nervous
system, with effects similar to
caffeine, which is also present
in chocolate. A chocolate bar
may contain as much as 200 mg of
theobromine but only about 25 mg
of caffeine. Another important
substance found in chocolate is
phenylethylamine, which is part
of a group of chemicals known as
endorphins. Endorphins have an
effect similar to amphetamine
and are found naturally in the
human body. When endorphins are
released into the bloodstream,
the mood is lifted and feelings
of positive energy are reached.
The sensation known as “runners
high” is caused by endorphins
released during exercise.
Phenylethylamine levels in the
brain have also been linked to
“falling in love”. One more
chemical found in chocolate is
seratonin. Seratonin is known
for its calming properties. The
presence of these chemicals may
explain the multitude of
feelings chocolate evokes.
Debra Waterhouse, author of
Why Women Need Chocolate,
conducted a survey and found:
97% of women reported cravings,
68% of which are for chocolate,
50% would choose chocolate over
sex, and 22% were more likely
than men to choose chocolate as
a mood elevator. These findings
could easily be interpreted as a
result of how chocolate makes us
feel. I don’t know why more
women choose chocolate than men,
for I am a man and I love
chocolate.
Critics would say that the
benefits of eating chocolate are
small when compared to the sugar
and fat contained in a chocolate
bar. The best chocolate, dark
chocolate with high cacao butter
content has no added fat, as
well as a high percentage of
cacao solids and correspondingly
less sugar. Although chocolate
will never be considered a
health food based on its
nutritional value, it is still
good for you! Good for your
heart and soul-anything that
helps relieve stress and makes
you feel so good must be.
Receiving a nicely wrapped
box of chocolates causes a sense
of anticipation. The pleasure of
unwrapping the box, the sensual
smell, lifting the soft
seductive papers, the look of
the smooth dark chocolates. When
it finally passes your lips and
starts to instantly melt filling
your mouth with exquisite
pleasure. The taste and smell
flood your senses with
overwhelming ecstasy. Eating it
slowly, taking time to enjoy and
savor every bit. What better way
to start off an evening of love?
