Magical chocolate...

Bit of an emergency blip - but it has been a busy day. Anyway, it was inspired by D eating with impunity her dark chocolate just across the desk - with no compassion at all for a poor Type 2 Diabetes sufferer. (Actually, I have to say -not simply because she will read this - that I am joking - she is très compatissante!)

Chocolate, I remember, is magical. And of course every Christmas the chocolate shops do a roaring trade - for presents. For at least three thousand years, human beings have enjoyed the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree processed in various ways.

According to the literature, the possible health effects of chocolate are great. Cocoa or dark chocolate may positively affect the circulatory system. Other possible effects under basic research include anticancer, brain stimulator, cough preventor and antidiarrhoeal effects. An aphrodisiac effect is yet unproven.

But it's up to you if you want to research!