'In most countries chocolate is associated with romance,
and with good reason, it was thought by the Aztec's to have
aphrodisiac qualities, invigorating men and making women less
inhibited. So when it was first introduced to Europe, it's
small wonder that chocolate quickly became the ideal gift
for a man to bestow on a loved one.'
Chocolate An Aphrodisiac?
Chocolate was thought to have aphrodisiac qualities by the
Aztecs, so when it was first introduced to Europe it was natural
that people continued to associate it with love. The reasons
for this are associated with the observed affects of chocolate
on human behavior.
Chocolate contains substances called Phenylethylamine and
Seratonin, both of which (put simply), are mood lifting agents
found naturally in the human brain. They are released into
the nervous system by the brain when we are happy and when
we are experiencing feelings of love, passion or lust. This
causes rapid mood change, a rise in blood pressure and increasing
heart rate, inducing those feelings of well being, bordering
on euphoria usually associated with being in love.
Eating chocolate also releases Phenylethylamine and Seratonin
into the system producing those same euphoric effects, plus
it can give a substantial energy boost thus increasing stamina
(at the critical moment?), so it's probably these effects
which gave rise to chocolates reputation as an aphrodisiac.
Recent research suggests that women are more susceptible to
the effects of Phenylethylamine and Seratonin than men, although
Casanova is said to have consumed chocolate before frolicking
with his conquests, but there's no mention of him actually
sharing it with them.
So there you have it, calling Chocolate an aphrodisiac is
probably stretching it a bit, but eating chocolate does make
you feel good and can actually induce or 'mimic' the feelings
of being in love...
So, aphrodisiac or not, if you want to ensure your loved one’s
devotion, a gift of chocolate is the way to do it and you
can’t do better than a gift of our Ecstasy chocolate, handmade
in the English countryside, specially for a loved one! .
Written By: Janet Vine - Aphrodite Handmade Chocolates.
Visit
the Aphrodite web site for handmade Chocolates, Truffles,
Liqueur Marzipan, Liqueurs and Fine Coffee Gifts - Online