Pilbara Health

Like most of us, you have probably only just taken down the Christmas tree and already the shops are full of Easter eggs and chocolate bilbies. Yes it's that time again when we have a legitimate excuse to fill our stomachs with delicious cookies and cakes, fabulous hot-cross buns and truffles, and let's not forget the good old-fashioned milk chocolate bunnies.

For all of you who feel that familiar pang of guilt as you step on the scales after Easter, here are some interesting facts on chocolate, which may help alleviate this pain.

• The Mayans and Aztecs believed that the cocoa bean originated from paradise and would bring wisdom and power to the consumer.
• Despite the popular myth, chocolate does not cause acne. Acne is usually due to a diet or hormone imbalance.
• Chocolate is supposedly an aphrodisiac, especially when coupled with strawberries, which are of course fruit and good for you!

Beware of imitations. White chocolate is not actually chocolate at all! It is made of cocoa butter, milk and sugar and lacks the essential cocoa powder made from the cocoa bean. You need to be cautious before buying white and milk chocolate. Always read the label, as many are made using vegetable fat and don’t taste as good as the real thing!