Scientific discovery finds special properties of chocolate crucial to a successful diet. Without these chemicals, depression sets in to propel repeated cycles of overeating. In the British Journal of Clinical Psychology , researchers observed that many depressed people exhibit food cravings, especially for chocolate. Anxiety, fatigue, low energy, and low libido are usually part of the problem. Now, on the verge of the 21st century, researchers have isolated the chemical components of chocolate and discovered just why chocolate is as valuable as money.
Chocolate contains vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and plant compounds that the brain needs.
These same natural compounds found in chocolate also affect mood. Besides the guilt, all the sugar and fat added to the original chocolate will be converted into unwanted pounds, setting up a self-defeating cycle of depression and more weight gain. Food of the Gods Chocolate's botanical name is Theobroma cacao . Scientists have identified over 300 compounds in chocolate, some of which are beginning to draw interest as guardians against cell damage. Chocolate is high in magnesium, a mineral of key importance to heart and bone health.