New evidence that dark chocolate helps ease emotional stress

November 11, 2009

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Scientists report that dark chocolate may help ease emotional stress. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

The "chocolate cure" for emotional stress is getting new support from a clinical trial published online in ACS' Journal of Proteome Research.

It found that eating about an ounce and a half of dark chocolate a day for two weeks reduced levels of stress hormones in the bodies of people feeling highly stressed. Everyone's favorite treat also partially corrected other stress-related biochemical imbalances.

Sunil Kochhar and colleagues note growing scientific evidence that antioxidants and other beneficial substances in dark chocolate may reduce risk factors for heart disease and other physical conditions. Studies also suggest that chocolate may ease emotional stress. Until now, however, there was little evidence from research in humans on exactly how chocolate might have those stress-busting effects.

In the study, scientists identified reductions in stress hormones and other stress-related biochemical changes in volunteers who rated themselves as highly stressed and ate dark chocolate for two weeks. "The study provides strong evidence that a daily consumption of 40 grams [1.4 ounces] during a period of 2 weeks is sufficient to modify the metabolism of healthy human volunteers," the scientists say.

More information: "Metabolic Effects of Dark Chocolate Consumption on Energy, Gut Microbiota, and Stress-Related Metabolism in Free-Living Subjects", Journal of Proteome Research, http://pubs.acs.org/stoken/presspac/presspac/full/10.1021/pr900607v

Read also: Chocolate rich in flavanols may protect the skin from UV

Source: American Chemical Society (news : web)

• paulthebassguy - Nov 11, 2009
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  could this be explained simply that the act of eating chocolate is enjoyable and therefore decreases stress?
  
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• Bob_B - Nov 11, 2009
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  paulthebassguy - perhaps years of stress early in life, having been weaned and then told "No you can not have that chocolate Hershey Bar" is all it takes?
  
  In any case I discovered dark chocolate is great for helping to get all my meds to go down, hehe, it is so tasty too!
  
  Oh Paul, is that bass as in music or fishing, hehe?
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