World Chocolate Day is celebrated on 13 September. Chocolate is a food with multiple properties.
Legend has it that chocolate originated in Mexico, where the god Quetzalcoatl gave the cocoa tree as a gift to mankind. The tree later became known as Theobroma Cacao, which in Greek means ‘food of the gods’. It was so called because it was given aphrodisiac and strength-giving powers due to its stimulating components.
It seems to me a beautiful story to explain the origin of this food that today has become one of the most consumed foods in the world.
On the occasion of World Chocolate Day on 13 September, we delve into the benefits of this delicacy and take the opportunity to talk to Lluc Crusellas. In 2022, he received the title of best chocolatier in the world at the international World Chocolate Masters competition in Paris.
Chocolate containing a minimum of 70% pure cocoa is considered healthy. Editorial credit: Pexels.
Although we cannot say that all chocolate is healthy, it is true that chocolate made with at least 70% pure cocoa offers benefits to the body. It is rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals, although it stands out above all for its antioxidant properties, which help reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and can help strengthen the immune system.
Other properties are that it helps to lower cholesterol levels, prevent cognitive deterioration and protect the skin: the same flavonoids that help to lower blood pressure, moisturise and improve the skin.
Nor can we omit the power it has on our mood: eating chocolate helps reduce stress by lowering levels of cortisol, the hormone released in response to stress. It also helps to combat symptoms of depression thanks to theobromine and phenylanine, two antidepressant substances that help motivation and learning.
Interview with Lluc Crusellas
How can chocolate be integrated in a healthy way into a balanced diet? Which one should we take?
Cocoa itself is healthy if taken in a balanced way. It depends on which chocolate we eat and the habits we have. If we buy a well-fermented and roasted chocolate with reasonable sugar levels, it is not necessarily bad to consume it.
We should eat chocolate with less sugar and a higher percentage of cocoa.
Lluc Crusellas in his workshop. Editorial credit: Magazine Horse.
Is it recommended to eat chocolate every day?
You have to take into account the lifestyle of each person: if you are an active person, you can eat more chocolate. At the end of the day, it is still a series of fats and sugars that we need to integrate into our diet. It is a question of finding a balance in our daily life and choosing what we prefer, whether to eat a little chocolate and sacrifice other things, or not to eat it at all.
How do you see the future of innovation in the world of chocolate and what new technologies could revolutionize the industry?
The world of chocolate and food in general is evolving very fast, with very powerful trends making a mark. Even so, it is true that when it comes to food, classics never die: tradition makes a product last over time. It is true that technology allows us to work faster, create experiences, reduce costs and make this product more regular and even better, but the good product has undergone few changes over time.
