Once considered the "food of the gods" by the Mayan and Aztec civilizations in South America, chocolate has been a favorite on dessert menus in the United States for some time. Interestingly, for the last 20 years cocoa and chocolate have been gaining attention for their heart health benefits. However, this isn't anything new. Researchers at the University of California, Davis have uncovered letters dating back as early as 16th century describing the medicinal benefits of chocolate.