Here are some interesting facts about chocolate

It’s great for cheering you up

The invention of the first chocolate bar in the way that modern people would imagine it is credited to Joseph Fry in 1847. However, before that it had been consumed as a delicious snack for thousands of years, though mostly in liquid form. It’s been said that Aztec sacrifice victims who were too sad to join in with the ritual dance before their death were given some chocolate to cheer them up.

Europeans love a bit of chocolate

According to the International Cocoa Organization, Europeans account for almost half the world’s chocolate consumption. They estimate the average Brit, Swiss, or German eat 11kg of chocolate a year. That’s a lot!

Chocolate makes you smarter (maybe)

Did you know that there’s a correlation between the amount of chocolate a country consumes on average and the number of Nobel Laureates that country has produced? According to a 2012 study, Switzerland was the top performer for both chocolate consumption and Nobel Laureates, which the study attributes to the increased brain function that comes with chocolate consumption.

That’s a lot of chocolate!

According to Guinness World Records, the largest chocolate bar ever weighed just over 12,770 pounds or 5792kg. It measured 4m in length and was created by Thornton’s in Alfreton, Derbyshire, UK.

It’s an excellent bribery tool

A 2004 survey in London found that 70% of people would reveal their passwords in exchange for a chocolate bar. Given that an alarming number of passwords are either ‘1234’ or ‘password’, it’s not surprising!

Where does Truede fit in?

At Truede, we wanted to pair the wonderful taste of chocolate with the natural ingredients and flavours that have made our Turkish Delight famous. And with our Rose and Mint Chocolate Covered Turkish Delight, we think we’ve got that delicate balance right.

But in addition to our Turkish Delight, we’ve also got something a bit more unexpected. Our Chocolate Spoons are a novel way to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, or they can be munched through on their own.

And because we commit to the health of our customers wherever we can, our Truede chocolate spoons come in a mixture of milk chocolate and dark chocolate. We wanted to let you know why dark chocolate can actually be really good for you (in moderation of course).

The surprising health benefits of dark chocolate

Healthier Heart

In a 9 year Swedish study of more than 31,000 women, those who ate one or two servings of dark chocolate each week cut their risk for heart failure by as much as a third. Another study undertaken in Germany this year found that approximately a square of dark chocolate a day lowered blood pressure and reduced the risks of a heart attack or stroke by 39%. Most of the credit goes to flavonoids, antioxidant compounds that increase the flexibility of veins and arteries.

Weight Loss

Chocolate might not seem an obvious choice for people looking to lose weight, but a study conducted by the University of California suggested that chocolate may not only be kilojoule neutral, as it increases your metabolism, but also help to lose weight. The researchers discovered that adults who consumed chocolate frequently have a lower BMI than those who didn’t, despite them often eating more kilojoules and exercising less frequently. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen found that dark chocolate is far more filling, making it easier for you to stick to the recommended portion for optimal health.

Higher Intelligence

Dark chocolate is rich in brain-boosting chemicals, called flavonoids, which can enhance your cognitive skills by inducing the creation of new neurons in the brain and improving their ability to form new memories, and improving blood flow to the brain. A University of Nottingham researcher found that cocoa rich in flavanoids (like dark chocolate is) boosts blood flow to key parts of the brain for 2 to 3 hours, which could improve performance and alertness in the short term. Other researchers from Oxford University and Norway looked at chocolate’s long-term effects on the brain by studying the diets of more than 2,000 people over age 70. They found those that consumed flavonol-rich chocolate scored significantly higher on cognitive tests than those who didn’t.

Keeps You Happy

Chocolate is known to be high in mood-boosting chemicals, and findings published in the scientific journal Nutritional Neuroscience have suggested that the food can even help reduce the symptoms of depression. The popular treat is not only high in magnesium, which can aid relaxation, but it contains a neurotransmitter called anandamide, which can help to regulate mood, and phenylethylamine, which raises endorphin levels. So if you ever find yourself reaching for chocolate to ease a bad mood, it seems you could be onto something.

Helps You Live Longer

Jeanne Louise Calment – the oldest verified human being to have ever lived – lived a grand total of 122 years and 164 days, and put her good health down to her regular chocolate consumption. Now researchers have found that there may be some truth in the claims that chocolate can help you to live longer. Cocoa beans are packed with antioxidants which studies have found can help fight disease and cut your risk of heart disease – the biggest killer in the Western world. Indeed, US researchers published in the British Medical Journal believe that chocolate can lower your risk of heart disease by over a third.

Chocolate has a surprising amount of benefits…

So, what are you waiting for?

Take a look at our products and get some chocolate based delights of your own. Or if you’re not into chocolate then no worries, we have plenty of other treats you’ll be delighted by.