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The Maya, Inca And Aztec Culture

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Many of us would agree that when Carolus Linnaeus, in 1753 called chocolate "the food of the gods", he was right on target. Chocolate is a universal food enjoyed by people in every country.

The source of cocoa, chocolate and cocoa butter is Cacao and is native to the Americas. The the Maya, Inca and Aztec people, the plant was used as a food and as a medicine. At one point, cacao was so valued that its seeds were used as currency. Cacao is a small tropical tree that thrives in warm, humid climates. It requires fertile soil and protection from wind and direct sunlight.

This tree originally came from the Amazon rain forest and then moved to Central America. In 1500 BC, the Mayans cultivated it to use for its many healing properties. The ancient Aztecs used it to create a sacred beverage they named chocolate. This is where it get it name "chocolate". The first …show more content…

It was also a popular cure for infections as well as congestion in the lungs and shortness of breath. It was used externally to treat wounds, burns and skin irritations.

Some of its other uses were to treat angina (chest pain), improve digestion, gain weight, prevent fatigue and cure tuberculosis, bronchitis, fever, gout and kidney stones. Wow, what a long list of health benefits from something that tastes so good!

So what give chocolate its many healing properties? The plant contains over three hundred chemical compounds. They are very rich in caffeine and theobromin which is an alkaloid that has an energizing effect on the nervous system and a calming effect on the brain. It also contains epicatechin, catechins, flavonoids and procyanidins. These all directly contribute to its health giving benefits.

Theobromine helps to relax bronchial passages, making breathing easier. It also can relax the walls of blood vessels and the digestive tract. Chocolate also raises blood sugar and blood pressure to a slight

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