I recently reposted a blog on Facebook that was filled with interesting food facts like celery is a natural tranquilizer and parsley is an effective diuretic. I heard from so many people who found the blog enlightening. So I thought I’d take a minute and share a few facts about chocolate you might not know.

Here are a few interesting things I’ve learned:

• Chocolate is the only edible substance to melt around 93° F, just below the human body temperature. That’s why chocolate melts so easily on your tongue.

• The scientific name for the tree that chocolate comes from, Theobroma cacao, means “food of the gods”

• Research shows that Chocolate gives you a more intense mental high and gets your heart pounding more than kissing!

Believe it or not, high-quality Dark Chocolate with a high cocoa content has many nutritional benefits. First, it can reduce your risk of heart disease. Studies show cocoa powder significantly decreases oxidized LDL cholesterol in men. It is also a good source of anti-oxidants. The flavanols in dark chocolate can help reduce blood pressure.

Since store bought chocolate often has lots of calories and sugar, it is best to use cacao powder to make your own chocolatey treat! The post also includes some great ways to show your family you love them and you don’t have to wait for Valentine’s Day to do it!