Hello everyone,
1. Why does chocolate make people feel good?
Only thinking about chocolate makes me feel good 🙂
But yes, it’s important that the chocolate is pure and of good quality (and small quantity), in order for it to be healthy.
But why?
– Chocolate contains tryptophan, an amino acid that helps produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter linked to mood regulation and feelings of happiness.
– Eating chocolate stimulates the release of endorphins in the brain, which are natural opioids that can induce a sense of pleasure and well-being.
– When we taste the sweetness of chocolate, it triggers the brain to release dopamine, another neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward.
There are other many positive benefits of chocolate (such as lowering blood pressure), but these are the main ones related of making us feel happy.
2. Using mallow plant in cuisine
I never thought of cooking with mallow. Reading about it, I see it is compared to spinach, kale or mloukhiya (from jute mallow). It seems common in Egyptian / Andalusian / Palestinian cuisines.
Some nice recipes I found are:
РSaut̩ed mallow leaves with onion here
– Analusian mallow with chickpeas here
Looking forward to trying some fresh mallow leaves in spring.