I’m in West Texas for the week with my mom because my dad is in the hospital. And I’m craving chocolate.
I’m reading this history of the Hershey company and of Milton Hershey’s company town, Hershey, Pennsylvania in between visits to the hospital, and tonight I want a Hershey with almonds even though my dad is in the hospital for diabetes-related problems.
 According to the book, in the nineteenth century people thought chocolate could benefit all sorts of people: alcoholics, malnourished children, even factory workers. The factory workers supposedly would perform better and faster work with a dose of chocolate.
Nowadays, “some neuroscientists believe that chocolate, which stimulates the same areas of the brain activated by cocaine —the orbital frontal cortex and the midbrain —is addictive.”
As my urchins would say, “Duh.” How many chocolate bars does one need to crave, obtain, and eat before knowing that the substance is at least psychologically addictive?
But it also “can improve your mood and may inhibit blood clotting.” Maybe I should take my dad a chocolate bar after all —unsweetened chocolate.
I’m not sure if I could read this book without a few chocolate bars and a bag of peanut clusters nearby. And I really love Hersheys with Almonds. I have heard interesting things about the Hershey company’s history.
Hi Sherry,
I’ll have to locate this book for both my sister and me to read. She lives very close to Hershey, PA and even goes to church across the street from one of the Hershey plants. Often during church, the aroma of chocolate fills not just the church, but the whole town. Actually, it is the smell of cocoa. And it’s wonderful! Milton Hershey provided monies for much of the town, including her church. I’m going now to see if our library has the book. Thanks! And enjoy all the chocolate you want! 🙂
Hmmm, chocolate! I highly recommend the Kissables in the milk and the dark chocolate. Yummy.
Hmmm, chocolate! I highly recommend the Kissables in the milk and the dark chocolate. Yummy.
I hope your father gets well soon.
Best wishes to your father.
Chocolate is addictive??!! 🙂
Hope your father is recovering and feels better soon.