9 weird and wonderful things you never knew about chocolate

1. It's good for the heart...
Medical studies have shown eating a small amount of dark chocolate every day can reduce your risk of heart disease by one third.

2. ...in more ways than one!
Physiological studies have shown that eating chocolate (of any kind!) gets the heart pounding more than kissing does!
It contains a chemical called phenylethylamine, which releases pleasure endorphins similar to those experienced by people madly in love.

3. ‘Death by chocolate' is plausible
Chocolate contains high levels of theobromine, a stimulant of the nervous system, which can prove deadly if eaten in high quantities. A fatal amount is about 10kg (depending on body weight), which works out at around 35 Dairy Milk Bars, so just make sure you stop at the 34th!

4. It's the perfect bribe
A 2004 study in London found that 70% of people would reveal their passwords in exchange for a chocolate bar - would you?

5. It helps you relax
The smell of chocolate has been proven to increase theta brain waves, which triggers relaxation. We're sure eating it is just as relaxing; excuse us while we just test that theory...

6. White chocolate isn't actually chocolate
Why? It's made primarily of cocoa butter and doesn't contain any cocoa solids so cannot be defined as chocolate in the strict sense. Forget technicalities, it's still delicious!

7. The Swiss consume more of it than anyone else
Not surprising really, given their country is home to two of the world's most well known chocolate brands: Lindt and Nestle. The average citizen eats 9kg of chocolate in a year - that's almost two Gold Bunnies a week!

8. Chocolate rivers exist
Or at least one did, back in 1971. The famous chocolate river in the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory film was made using 15,000 gallons of water mixed with chocolate and cream. Amazing in theory but according to the cast it spoiled quickly leaving behind a horrible smell on set. Yuck!

9. Toblerones are top of the chocs
We eat a lot of Toblerones.So many in fact, that if you laid out all those bought in a year, they would stretch for 62,000km - longer than the circumference of the Earth!

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