Chocoholic...

Ahhh chocolate! Forgot I picked up a bar of Ghirardelli's new Dark Intense Toffee Interlude...just had to take a bite ;) Its so velvety smooth - filled with toffee and caramelized almonds...perfection! I dont like sweets too much - but I love chocolate - the dark variety only...70% or more cacao. This was a delish snack...and with this, food and drink week ends ;)

I've always said chocolate is the most perfect food...here a the top 10 scientific reasons to back me up ;)

1) Chocolate contains tryptophan, a chemical in the brain that is used to produce the neurotransmitter, serotonin. High levels of serotonin stimulate the secretion of endorphins, and produce feelings of elation.

2) Chocolate also contains a chemical called phenylethylamine. High levels of this neurotransmitter help promote feelings of attraction, excitement, and giddiness.

3) Chocolate helps fight heart disease. Chocolate contains chemicals called flavinoids, which thin the blood, helping to prevent clotting.

4) Chocolate is structurally sound. The World's Tallest Chocolate Structure was unveiled in October 2006 at NYC?s FAO Schwarz. It was over 20 feet tall, and made of 2285 pounds of chocolate.

5) A chocolate craving during pregnancy may indicate mild anemia. Call it an early warning system. Chocolate contains iron, and this may be the pregnant body's way of signaling that iron levels are low.

6) Chocolate contains magnesium, which is known to ease symptoms of PMS. Calcium does too, which of course can be found in milk.

7) Chocolate may help people live longer. In a Harvard University study conducted in 1999, researchers tracked 8,000 men and found those who ate chocolate lived almost a year longer than those who didn't. Although scientists don't know why the men lived longer, they speculate it has to do with the antioxidants found in chocolate.

8) Chocolate is a viable alternative energy source. Researchers at the UK's University of Birmingham fed Escherichia coli bacteria a feast of waste caramel and nougat from a chocolate candy bar. The bacteria subsequently burped out hydrogen gas, which was harnessed via a fuel cell to power an electric fan.

9) Chocolate contains sugar and caffeine...energy!

10) Cocoa butter melts at 97°F. That's right, just below body temperature. So it actually does melt in your mouth.