Why is chocolate so important?

• For years, people ate chocolate for its stimulatory properties: it was thought to increase energy, stimulate sexual desire, and generally add zest to life.
• Chocolate is a divine, celestial drink, the sweat of the stars, the vital seed, divine nectar, the drink of the gods, panacea and universal medicine. (Geronimo Piperni (1796) 
•  Chocolate may have effects on people’s moods. Most chocolate is eaten in the winter, which suggests that people often use it as a way to beat the seasonal blues.
• Chocolate may also improve cognitive performance, according to some studies.
• Foods rich in cocoa may reduce blood pressure, which could be due to flavonoids, since they can modify the production of inflammatory modulators and dilate blood vessels in the body, similar to omega-3 fats. While some research has shown that cocoa is associated with a lower incidence of experiencing a cardiovascular event, other studies indicate no benefit (unless you consider a higher heart rate a health benefit).
• Inflammation contributes to plaque buildup on blood vessel walls. Combine inflammation with an unhealthy blood lipid profile .
• Flavonoid rich chocolate can decrease bad cholesterol, increase good cholesterol, and reduce platelet stickiness.
• If chocolate reduces inflammation, it seems to do so mostly in women. Perhaps this explains women’s fabled love of chocolate?
• On the other hand, if eating more chocolate eventually leads to a bigger waistline, any potential health improvements could be negated.
• While chocolate contain saturated fat, it’s a unique variety of saturated fat known as stearic acid. Once consumed, a majority of stearic acid is converted into monounsaturated fat. This means it has very little effect, if any, on blood lipid levels.