Chocolate Anyone?

Oh, the wonders of chocolate!

Chocolate. Need I say more? Along with Dory's helpful attitude, there is always chocolate. It is a teacher's best friend, right? Bad teacher conference? Chocolate. Students driving you CRAZY? Chocolate. We're changing our curriculum? Chocolate. The down side is that all that chocolate (along with all of the stress) is causing me some serious weight gain! 

Did you know that Central America used chocolate for thousands of years before anyone else knew it existed? They even gave it the name 'Cacoa' which means 'god food' in Mayan. Personally, I think this is the most appropriate name one could give to a food as divine as chocolate. Then in the 16th century the Europeans decided to combine it with milk and sugar and 'Voila!' Now we know who to blame or not.  Can you imagine life without chocolate? 

Science has confirmed why we crave chocolate. Apparently when chocolate is consumed, it increases serotonin and endorphin levels in the brain which is similar to what a mild anti-depressant does. And because it contains a small amount of caffeine, it also acts as a mild amphetamine. No wonder Napoleon carried it around with him everywhere he went. So good or bad, chocolate is the bomb.