title: ["On bitter and sweet"--women and chocolate].
abstract: Chocolate has been known in the Western World since being introduced to Europe in the 16th century by the Spanish Conquistadors who brought it from Mexico. From the beginning, chocolate had an immense power of appeal to people, Leading to craving and addiction especially among women. This appeal lies in its content, texture and aroma, as well as the presence of ingredients that are believed to have psycho-pharmacologic influence. This issue, combined with hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, is discussed in an attempt to understand women's attraction to chocolate. Despite all existing theories on chocolate having a particular appeal to women, there is no explanation that comprehensively elaborates this well-known phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva. dadirabi@gmail.com
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rabinerson
authors.forename: Nir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Melamed
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D002099:Cacao; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology