Dark chocolate reducing stress is a no-brainer for most people. We chocoholics understand that in a moment. Isn't that one of the reasons many of us reach for a yummy piece of dark chocolate? When we are stressed? Now there is scientific evidence to show that chocolate reduces stress. Yeah!
According to a new study published online in ACS' Journal of Proteome Research (and reported in Science Daily Nov. 12, 2009) there is new support from a clinical trial that there is a "chocolate cure" for emotional stress.
It found that eating about an ounce and a half of dark chocolate a dayfor two weeks reduced levels of stress hormones in the bodies of peoplefeeling highly stressed. Everyone's favorite treat also partiallycorrected other stress-related biochemical imbalances.
Sunil Kochhar and colleagues note growing scientific evidence thatantioxidants and other beneficial substances in dark chocolate mayreduce risk factors for heart disease and other physical conditions.Studies also suggest that chocolate may ease emotional stress. Untilnow, however, there was little evidence from research in humans onexactly how chocolate might have those stress-busting effects.
In the study, scientists identified reductions in stress hormonesand other stress-related biochemical changes in volunteers who ratedthemselves as highly stressed and ate dark chocolate for two weeks."The study provides strong evidence that a daily consumption of 40grams [1.4 ounces] during a period of 2 weeks is sufficient to modifythe metabolism of healthy human volunteers," the scientists say.
Is it the antioxidants in dark chocolate? Or is it the flavanoids? Perhaps. We don't know yet. We just know chocolate helps.
