Did you know that according to the Mori survey for Cadbury Dairy Milk that 50% of women would rather eat chocolate than have sex? Even the aroma itself is considered a powerful stimulant. On average each of us will eat 160kgs of chocolate over our lifetime!

Chocolate has been around in one form or another since the ancient Maya and Aztec civilisations, who used to drink chocolatl - a blend of ground cacao beans and spices. The botanical name for cacao beans is theabroma, which translates as food of the Gods in Greek.

But is it any wonder the Greeks thought of chocolate as food of the Gods when this meaning has obviously been carried on into modern life? It began with Fry's making the first solid edible bar of chocolate in 1849, and now the average Britain spends more a year on chocolate than on bread. Spending an average of £32bn a year, this equates to us Britain's munching our way through 533,000 tonnes of chocolate.

You can detect fine, well made chocolate, as it has a sheen, varying from silky to flossy depending on whether it has been moulded or not. The cocoa solid content varies, with dark chocolate containing a minimum of 60% cocoa solids, and milk chocolate containing 30% minimum. White chocolate is actually made from cocoa butter, which is the fat extract of crushed and roasted cacao beans.

Women especially, crave chocolate at certain times of the month, due to its high magnesium content. Here are 10 perfect excuses to justify your chocolate cravings and get you reaching for the chocolate bars.

* Chocolate promotes a positive mental attitude and helps you stay alert - contains Theobromine, a mild stimulate and anti-depressant

* Dark chocolate thins the blood and helps prevent clotting when eaten in addition to a balanced diet - contains flavonoids (naturally occurring antioxidant)

* Chocolate increases the body's ability to fight heart disease and cancer - can make the blood flow smoother by dilating the arteries

* A mug of chocolate has twice the amount of antioxidants than red wine, and three times that of green tea (Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry Dec 03)

* Chocolate reduces anxiety - it contains Tryptophan, which aids in the production of Serotonin, which in turn reduces anxiety

* Chocolate can help ease a hangover

* Eating chocolate triggers endorphins - endorphins reduce pain and sensitivity, which in turn creates a warm, comfort feeling

* White chocolate contains no caffeine

* Good chocolate eaten 3 times a month will help you life almost a year longer than those who don't eat it (Harvard University Study)

* Chocolate is a powerful stimulant - contains over 300 natural chemical compounds which make for a complex range of tastes as it hits the most sensitive taste zones on our tongue

Sarah PJ White is a freelance writer and life coach who specialises in self help and general interest articles. You can find out more about her latest ebook entitled "The Little Book of Elder" at http://www.theelderbook.com.