Chocolate products are one of the world’s most famous commodities. We consume it as food in a form of a candy, a warm drink, cold drinks, pastries and more. It even made its way to alcohol mix drinks and people will do anything to copy that feeling of satisfaction in having chocolate in your life by making chocolate scented candles, oils, soaps, lotions and gels. Therefore, have you ever even wonder what makes chocolate this good? Where does it come from and how does it affect us human beings. For those who are chocolate lovers like me, there is nothing in this article that you already know; but for those who are curious…read on. You might find it interesting that it does not only made its popularity to our palate but also to the sensitive part of our body which is our skin.
For us women, chocolate is the next best thing to men especially during our hormonal cycle. Sometimes we get these intense cravings for anything chocolate. We get moody, irritable and cranky but once we have some chocolate of any kind, be it white, milk or the best one, dark chocolates, we feel better afterwards. I can definitely say that it is undeniably mystical. Having it slowly melt in my mouth creates sensual and romantic feeling. However, what happens if a raw cocoa butter (a byproduct of cacao beans where chocolate came from) is applied in your skin and pair it up with a relaxing massage. Imagine a hard substance like soap that turns into creamy and silky texture while slowly melts on your skin as your body temperature heats it up. It creates a warm covering that let the pressure of the hand glides all over your skin while allowing the exquisitely sweet, rich flavor and tantalizing aroma of the chocolate pamper the olfactory sense of your brain through your nose. The seductive characteristics of chocolate can lift the senses and send one’s memory to happy youthful years where we enjoy eating chocolate as kids with no worries in the world. Of all the plant-base products, I guess both vegans and meat lovers will agree that chocolates are a happy bean fruit that makes a rainbow to our happy childhood and who does not want to happiness.
Theobroma cacao is the official name of chocolate. A tree produces cacao beans also known as cocoa beans in common American tongue. Cocoa butter however is also called theobroma oil. A pale yellow, pure edible vegetable fat extracted from the cacao beans. It is use to make chocolate as well as some ointments, toiletries and pharmaceutical products due to its good quality of resisting oxidation. It contains 50% fats primarily compressed of two saturated fatty acids (palmitic and stearic acids) and one mono unsaturated acid (oleic acid). It is one of the most stable fats known, a quality that coupled with natural antioxidants, which prevent rancidity granting storage up to two to five years. The moisturizing abilities of cocoa butter are frequently recommended for prevention of stretch marks in women, treatment of chapped skins and lips and as a daily moisturizer to prevent dry and itchy skin. Our skin is like a sponge, it absorbs whatever we apply in it. Cocoa butter is high in antioxidants. It has polyphenols similar to grapes and green tea. The flavinoids in it reduce oxidation which is the rusting process of body that naturally happens as we age. It also has a rich number of minerals including magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, copper potassium and manganese that helps relax and calm the muscle and nerves. Remember how it helps me get rid of my cranky moods? It is because of the alkaloids such as theobromonine, a mild stimulant on the brain and the phenylethylamine, a slight anti depressant. It helps increase serotonin in the brain that is why it is known to have calming physiological effect in our body. Cocoa butter is the major ingredient in the commercial production of both white chocolate and milk chocolate so technically, you are applying food in your skin to feed your senses that brings happy thoughts.
So whenever you feel like going back to your happy feelings through chocolate. Get a massage with pure and raw cocoa butter. You have eaten chocolates; now try it on your skin and see what yummy feelings bring.
Jessica Clarisse Blaisdell is a senior massage therapist and a trainer at Spa Esmeralda in Indian Wells. They offer Cocoa Butter Massage where you receive relaxing massage using only natural ingredients such as cocoa butter, aloe butter, shea butter and vitamin E. At the end of the treatment, you get to eat dark chocolate truffles to complete the chocolate experience. For more information, please visit www.spaesmeralda.com or call 760-773-4444 extension SPA.
