Persuasive Essay: The Dark Side Of Chocolate

Chocolate was previously considered a “delectable symbol of luxury, wealth, and power” (Klein) in the 1500s. Using modern technology, it is now easily produced. While

Junk food is one of the main causes of obesity in America.It contains things that have unhealthy ingredients that could lead to illnesses in the future if a person consumes a large amount of junk food.But there are ways to eat junk food and still be healthy while enjoying your favorite junk foods . Over the years there has been a lot of history behind junk food and the effects of it. Some of these historical findings have started leading people to understand that the amount of junk food that they consume is something that is very important for the health.Usually a person who is young that consumes a large amount of junk food may see an increase in obesity cholesterol and high blood pressure. For a person who is older such as in their 30s and 40s they may then see those things as well plus other illnesses that could lead to things such as high blood pressure and heart disease .To avoid an unhealthy lifestyle in the future something that might be questioned. Is it possible to live a healthy lifestyle while still enjoying junk foods?

While Europe and the United States account for most chocolate consumption, the confection is growing in popularity in Asia and market forecasts are optimistic about the prospects in China and India (Nieburg, 2013, para 9). According to the CNN Freedom Project, the chocolate industry rakes in $83 billion a year, surpassing the Gross Domestic Product of over a hundred nations (“Who consumes the most chocolate,” 2012, para 3).

We all encounter chocolate in our daily life, and whether we want to admit it or not, chocolate has been a major part of history, and it is still seen today.

Research has proved that humans have been consuming cocoa for over 2600 years from once upon a time being used as currency to becoming serious pirate loot to being the key ingredient along with sugar in producing chocolate today.

Not only is their chocolate unhealthy, it doesn’t taste very good either, but the corruption lies deeper than their consumer products. Within the countries of South America, where Hershey’s, and essentially all chocolate companies import their cocoa from, the cocoa farmers are not what they seem. On the outside they appear to be men working hard at gathering the raw substance, but look into the darker areas of the farms, and you find children, maybe just barely the age of 10, perhaps older, but more likely younger. These children aren’t the sons and daughters of the farmers though. These children are the

As a nation, Americans revel in the consumption of junk food. These extremely unhealthy foods are often present during many various occasions, such as sports events, movies, and parties. When a person craves a quick snack, junk food is the ideal solution. However, beyond the satisfying taste of foods such as Doritos and potato chips lies a very serious problem. These foods can lead to physical disrepair, sickness, and even death. Yet many Americans remain oblivious to this nationwide issue and allow it to remain unaddressed. The crisis of junk food in America needs to be resolved immediately. To go more in depth, it is imperative that the nation resolves this issue relatively soon, primarily because the excessive consumption of

Each year, scores of books are challenged and removed from schools and libraries across the United States. Most challenges are brought about by single individuals, or a small group of people, though usually for different reasons. It is inferred that most of these challenges occur when parents of children object to a novel’s use of foul language, appear to discredit individual family values, or portray adolescent characters in sexual situations. Whatever the reasons may be, we must remember that the decision to ban a book from school libraries does not affect only the adolescents of the parents who challenge any given novel, but also affects those adolescents whose parents do not object to its content or in fact see merit in the controversial

Chocolate is made from the seeds of the tropical tree, Theobroma cacao. Theobroma is the Greek term for 'food of the gods.' In Aztec society chocolate was a food of the gods, reserved for priests, warriors and nobility. The Aztecs used cacao beans to make a hot, frothy and bitter beverage called chocolatl. Chocolatl was a sacred concoction that was associated with fertility and wisdom. It was also thought to have stimulating and restorative properties. The bitter drink was first introduced to Europe in 1528. However, it was not until 1876 that milk, cocoa powder and cocoa butter were combined to form what we now know as chocolate (1).

For centuries, chocolate has been one of the favorite sweet- tasting treats in the world. Today, chocolate has become so common in our culture that it is nearly impossible to go through your day without encountering chocolate in your house, office, cafeterias, stores, and schools. Chocolate has many purposes including: improving mood, lowering blood pressure, improving a person’s ability to clot, and it helps the body repair from free radicals. Alberto Villodo summed it up best when he said, “We are spirits in a body.  The reason we came here to this World and to this Earth from the Spirit World is so we could experience chocolate, among other things – good coffee, the senses.” (“Heart Health Benefits of Chocolate”)

Chocolate was linked to the nineteenth-century food linked to religious (D’Antonio 68). It was even linked to the social and health concerns. Chocolate, said by researchers, helped with bringing people closer to religion in many ways.

Chocolate became “a respected scholarly subject” only in recent decades suffering from “puritanical prohibitions” of discussing food or writing about it that were recognized standards of behavior in the Western world. The reviewed book The True History of Chocolate is a valuable addition to what the public knows or, rather, does not know about chocolate, with an interesting historical background that makes an entertaining and useful reading and extends one’s knowledge of things we use daily, sometimes without realizing their long history of evolution and multiple meanings.

Chocolate can also create the feelings of pleasure as well as bring the feelings of love through an endorphin rush. Endorphins are pain killing hormone. Finally, chocolate evokes psychopharmacologic (study of drugs-induced changes in mood, thinking, and behavior) and behavioral reactions. Studies show that chocolate cravings are often episodic and fluctuated with hormonal changes. Chocolate also contains several biologically active constituents (describes the beneficial or adverse effects of a drug) which causes abnormal behaviors. Those abnormal behaviors can be from the effects of your health or mood.

Baking is a skill that I have always been eager to learn. This past summer, I learned that I am unfortunately, intolerant to dairy and have a gluten sensitivity. Most places do not offer gluten-free and dairy-free options so it has been difficult for me to find baked goods that I am able to eat. I have been meaning to learn some recipes that I can bake and eat that work with my dietary needs. Many of the vegan and gluten-free chocolate cakes that I have tried so far have been very good, and is something that I want to try making myself.

Everyone seems to love chocolate, and it is one of the most purchased treats on Valentine’s Day for friends, family, husbands and wives. When people are stressed, or feel like they need a comfort food, chocolate is one of the first things that comes to mind, and is reached to soothe a troubled emotional heart. In the past, chocolate has been considered to be a ‘sweet junk food’ that is high in sugar and calories with no nutritional value. But due to recent nutritional and scientific research people should be eating a bit of dark chocolate for the antioxidants and heart healthy benefits. Chocolate has recently been researched in the science world for its high levels of antioxidants,