• Breaking News
  • U.S. News
  • Contact
  • View Print Edition
    • CL Digital
  • Subscribe
Friday, August 19, 2022
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
Advertise with us
The Chicago Leader
Donate Now
  • Home
    • Subscribe to the print newspaper
    • Scavenger Hunt Contest
    • Download Media Kit PDF
    • Ad submission
    • Sponsors
  • World
    Cancer

    Scientists Make Breakthrough That Could Eliminate Cancer Cells

    Monkeys

    Monkeys Attack Children and Elderly in Yamaguchi

    Polar bear

    Polar Bear Subpopulation Found in Southeast Greenland

    Trending Tags

    • Breaking News
    • Health
    • Coronavirus
    • coronavirus pandemic
  • U.S. News
    • All
    • Black History
    • Chicago
    • Illinois
    Public Transportation

    Why Is Public Transportation Unsafe?

    988

    New 988 Hotline Launches in Illinois

    Illinois

    Illinois Residents Will Soon See Checks in the Mail

    Trending Tags

    • U.S.
    • U.S. Census
    • Politics
  • Business
    • All
    • Jobs
    Equifax

    Equifax Causes Woman to Make Two Car Payments Due to Credit Error

    Joe Biden’s Economy is Booming and the Right Wing Is Speechless

    Joe Biden’s Economy is Booming and the Right Wing Is Speechless

    Save A Lot

    Save A Lot Granted $13.5M for Stores in Chicago

    Trending Tags

    • Wall Street
    • Trump
    • Bankruptcy
    • Federal Reserve Bank
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Arts
    • Book Review
    • Chicago Film Office
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Review
    streaming

    Streaming Platforms Leave Broadcast and Cable TV in the Dust

    Chicago

    Classic Chicago Film Locations

    Rowling

    Threat Made Against J.K. Rowling After Salman Rushdie Was Attacked

    Trending Tags

    • Movies
    • marvel movies
    • Dancing
  • Sports
  • Science
    • All
    • CBD
    • Climate
    • Marijuana
    carbon

    Carbon Emissions Alter Earth’s Ability to Heal Itself

    pig

    Scientists Restore Pig Organs After Their Heart Stop

    face mask

    New Face Mask Material Can Deactivate COVID-19 Particles

    Trending Tags

    • UFO
    • Coronavirus
    • Novel coronavirus
    • coronavirus pandemic
    • NASA
    • scientists
  • Health
    • All
    • COVID-19
    • Faith
    • food
    • homeopathy
    • mental health
    • prostate
    greyhound

    Greyhound Tests Positive for Monkeypox in France

    Vitamin

    Vitamin B12 Could Help People With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

    Virus

    Scientists Identify 35 Cases of New Spillover Virus in China

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • English
  • Spanish
  • Home
    • Subscribe to the print newspaper
    • Scavenger Hunt Contest
    • Download Media Kit PDF
    • Ad submission
    • Sponsors
  • World
    Cancer

    Scientists Make Breakthrough That Could Eliminate Cancer Cells

    Monkeys

    Monkeys Attack Children and Elderly in Yamaguchi

    Polar bear

    Polar Bear Subpopulation Found in Southeast Greenland

    Trending Tags

    • Breaking News
    • Health
    • Coronavirus
    • coronavirus pandemic
  • U.S. News
    • All
    • Black History
    • Chicago
    • Illinois
    Public Transportation

    Why Is Public Transportation Unsafe?

    988

    New 988 Hotline Launches in Illinois

    Illinois

    Illinois Residents Will Soon See Checks in the Mail

    Trending Tags

    • U.S.
    • U.S. Census
    • Politics
  • Business
    • All
    • Jobs
    Equifax

    Equifax Causes Woman to Make Two Car Payments Due to Credit Error

    Joe Biden’s Economy is Booming and the Right Wing Is Speechless

    Joe Biden’s Economy is Booming and the Right Wing Is Speechless

    Save A Lot

    Save A Lot Granted $13.5M for Stores in Chicago

    Trending Tags

    • Wall Street
    • Trump
    • Bankruptcy
    • Federal Reserve Bank
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Arts
    • Book Review
    • Chicago Film Office
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Review
    streaming

    Streaming Platforms Leave Broadcast and Cable TV in the Dust

    Chicago

    Classic Chicago Film Locations

    Rowling

    Threat Made Against J.K. Rowling After Salman Rushdie Was Attacked

    Trending Tags

    • Movies
    • marvel movies
    • Dancing
  • Sports
  • Science
    • All
    • CBD
    • Climate
    • Marijuana
    carbon

    Carbon Emissions Alter Earth’s Ability to Heal Itself

    pig

    Scientists Restore Pig Organs After Their Heart Stop

    face mask

    New Face Mask Material Can Deactivate COVID-19 Particles

    Trending Tags

    • UFO
    • Coronavirus
    • Novel coronavirus
    • coronavirus pandemic
    • NASA
    • scientists
  • Health
    • All
    • COVID-19
    • Faith
    • food
    • homeopathy
    • mental health
    • prostate
    greyhound

    Greyhound Tests Positive for Monkeypox in France

    Vitamin

    Vitamin B12 Could Help People With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

    Virus

    Scientists Identify 35 Cases of New Spillover Virus in China

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • English
  • Spanish
No Result
View All Result
Chicago Leader
No Result
View All Result

Chocolate Is the Ultimate Mood Booster

Celebrate World Chocolate Day

by Cathy Milne-Ware
July 6, 2022
in Featured, Headlines, Health and Lifestyle
0
cholocate

Courtesy of Shania Pinnata (Unsplash CC0)

0
SHARES
8
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Don't like to read?

One of the most beloved flavors worldwide is chocolate. Nine out of ten people love this ultimate mood booster. For a connoisseur, just thinking of chocolate makes their mouth water. Likewise, seeing a young child’s face smeared with ice cream or birthday cake elicits a smile.

Mayan, Aztec, and other Mesoamerican cultures valued chocolate greatly; they used it in religious ceremonies and as an aphrodisiac. They drank cocoa before going to war for its energizing and mood-enhancing qualities. At times, it was also used as currency.

Chocolate
Courtesy of Marco Verch Professional Photographer (Flickr CC0)

In addition to its fantastic taste, chocolate is considered a superfood with a reputation for its health benefits and mood-enhancing effects. Cacao beans “stimulate the brain to release neurotransmitters that can trigger emotions like euphoria,” explained Dixie Sandborn. These messengers tell the body how to act and feel:

  • Phenylethylamine (PEA) is a chemical found in cacao that is also naturally produced in the body. PEA is an adrenal-related chemical that causes a person’s pulse to quicken; it improves focus and alertness. The brain releases this stimulant when a person falls in love.
  • Tryptophan is one of the building blocks of serotonin, one of the brain chemicals linked to arousal.
  • Anandamide is a little-known brain chemical. It is often referred to as the bliss molecule because of the role it plays in producing feelings of happiness and mental balance. It works by binding to the same brain receptors as THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana.
  • Theobromine acts similar to caffeine. It helps relieve fatigue, has mild anti-depressive effects, and can produce a euphoric mood.
Chocolate
Courtesy of Jessica Johnston (Unsplash CC0)

How to Celebrate World Chocolate Day

World Chocolate Day, July 7, allows people to indulge in their favorite sweet treat without feeling guilty.

A person could celebrate by baking brownies or choco-chip cookies. Then, take the time to share the chocolaty snacks with neighbors, especially the elderly or widowed.

Consider hosting a chocolate-themed party or potluck:

  • Sundae Party: guests bring their favorite toppings to share.
  • Dinner Potluck Challenge: every dish from salad to dessert uses a cacao bean by-product in its preparation.
  • Cookie Exchange: participants bring a dozen cocoa-based cookies and the recipe for sharing.
  • Meet with friends to bake chocolate chip cupcakes and take them to a homeless shelter.
Chocolate
Courtesy of Isabelle Boucher (Flickr CC0)

If hosting a party is not appealing, perhaps visit a local bakery, ice cream parlor, or restaurant and indulge in some mood elevation.

Imagine curling up on the sofa with a significant other to watch a drama/romance movie like “Chocolat” or “Like Water for Chocolate,” while sipping homemade Mexican Hot Cocoa.

No matter how the day is celebrated, indulging in any form of chocolate will likely brighten the day.

Written by Cathy Milne-Ware

Sources:

Medical News Bulletin: How does chocolate actually affect your mood? By Lacey Hizartzidis
Michigan State University Extension: Chocolate science, history and fun facts – Part 2; by Dixie Sandborn
National Day Calendar: World Chocolate Day
Food Network: Mexican Hot Chocolate; recipe courtesy of Sandra Lee

Featured and Top Image by Shania Pinnata Courtesy of Unsplash – Creative Commons License
First Inset Image Courtesy of Marco Verch Professional Photographer’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Second Inset Image by Jessica Johnston Courtesy of Unsplash – Creative Commons License
Third Inset Image Courtesy of Isabelle Boucher’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License

Tags: Chocolate
Cathy Milne-Ware

Cathy Milne-Ware

Next Post
great whute sharks

Orcas Scare Great White Sharks From Their Stomping Grounds

Recent Posts

  • Streaming Platforms Leave Broadcast and Cable TV in the Dust
  • Why Is Public Transportation Unsafe?
  • New 988 Hotline Launches in Illinois

Newsletter

Loading
No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • Ad submission
  • Contact
  • Team
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • FAQ
  • Mission

© 2018 TNS - TNS theme by Frackle TNSthemes.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Politics
  • World
  • Business
  • Science
  • Entertainment
  • Gaming
  • Movie
  • Music
  • Sports
  • Health and Lifestyle
  • View Print Edition
  • Subscribe to the print newspaper
  • Contact

© 2018 TNS - TNS theme by Frackle TNSthemes.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Support independent local journalism by subscribing to the Chicago Leader print
and digital publication for just $15 a year.

Subscribe Now