Why Stress Makes You Crave Chocolate According to Research

eMaxHealth ^ | Jan 15 2018 | Kaitlin Covel

[Armen Hareyan]

Have you ever wondered why you crave chocolate when you get stressed out? Research justifies our cravings and provides healthier ways to get our chocolate fix.

Chocolate Makes Us Happy

It’s not all in your head. Well, actually it is, but in a literal sense. Physically, the consumption of chocolate does make you happy by stimulating the release of dopamine in your brain. This neurotransmitter has been called “the happy hormone”. Chocolate also stimulates the release of serotonin, a hormone that has a calming effect on the mind and body. The limbic system is the part of the brain responsible for processing emotion. The phenylethylamine compound in chocolate combines with the dopamine to trigger feelings of bliss in the limbic system. However, while phenylethylamine does have an anti-depressive effect, in large quantities it can contribute to negative emotions.

Chocolate Lowers Our Stress

Chocolate actually does have the ability to lower the stress hormone called cortisol in our bodies. A Nestle clinical trial was conducted on 30 participants to evaluate the metabolic responses to chocolate. The participants were classified in low and high anxiety traits utilizing psychological questionnaires. Both urine and blood plasma were collected over a three day period. At the conclusion of two weeks, the participants with the highest anxiety levels were shown to have distinct metabolic profiles indicative of a different energy homeostasis. Dark chocolate lowered the urinary excretion of the stress hormone cortisol and catecholamines. It also partially normalized the differences in energy metabolism related to stress. The study’s findings provide strong evidence that the daily consumption of 40 grams of dark chocolate over a two week period is sufficient to restore normal energy metabolism as per variation of both host and microbial metabolism.

Chocolate also comforts us.

[Armen Hareyan]

Do you eat chocolate for stress management?

[Da Coyote]

Stress makes me crave chocolate.
Happiness makes me crave chocolate.
Studying makes me crave chocolate.
Sadness makes me crave chocolate.
Chocolate makes me crave chocolate.
Heck, everything makes me crave chocolate.

[beaversmom]

I eat it when I want. I feel no guilt about it. I try to eat a higher cocoa content. I think it’s a healthy treat.

[libertylover]

What I can never figure out though, is how does eating an 8oz. candy bar make you gain 2 pounds?

[bramps]

My world is all stress these days. Just saw a full bag of Lindt truffles in an office. I asked for a couple and they gave me the unopened bag. I made no mental pretense that I would only have a couple. Minutes later that bag was empty.

I think I feel better but may need some more testing.

[Leep]

You know what makes me crave chocolate..chocolate.

[LiveFreeOrDie2001]

I eat A LOT of chocolate, at least 3-4 Oz a day.

[Nifster]

I eat chocolate because it’s yummy

[MayflowerMadam]

Potato chips for me.

[spel_grammer_an_punct_polise]

They could have saved their money, not have this research and asked me.

Chocolate is loaded with sugar to make it palatable! Otherwise, it is god-awful bitter. The sugar gives one an automatic high!

[Yaelle]

I truly don’t notice. I eat chocolate every day. It isn’t a sweet. I only eat the 85%-91% dark. It’s a great antioxidant and it does make you feel good. So I eat it when stressed and when not stressed. There is nothing bad in it when you eat it at that concentration.

[jerseyman]

I live a pretty stress-free life. In fact, my biggest source of stress is when I don’t have any chocolate in the house.

[wally_bert]

“Choc, choc, chocolate” - Laura Holt.

From one of the really good Remington Steele episodes.

[wardaddy]

Stress makes me crave something else entirely....something along this line...

[central_va]

What kind of wood doesn’t float?

[Cowboy Bob]

Natalie Wood

[Leep]

I did not know there was a good episode of Remmington Steele?

[wally_bert]

Until the final season, I thought the majority were very good.

[Wildbill22]

I don’t crave chocolate.

I cave bacon.

And beer.

So am I stressed?

I think bacon and beer make me profoundly de-stressed.

I also love naked women... Should we go there too?

[NorthstarMom]

I called to check on my son’s passport for the third time today. If there had been chocolate nearby I would have eaten all of it.

The address on his application is wrong-can’t tell me what it is, only that it’s not even close to our address; different town and all. As I told her, I promise that I know where we live. Someone on that end entered the wrong address. And I learned all they can do is send a request to the passport agency (one request every two weeks) And it is up to the agency whether to call me or not to update to the correct address. So far I’ve had three requests sent and no calls. Passport is still on hold and I all I can do is hope they call me.

If they don’t, I can try to get an appointment (must be within two weeks of international travel date) At a passport office, which is only a 2 1/2 hour drive from here, present my case and PAY for expedited processing.

I had tears of frustration during that call. Why it took until the third call to get an explanation is beyond me, but that is the only number available to the public and they have no ability to do anything except send a request to the agency that is under no obligation to honor that request.

Probably a good thing that there’s no chocolate here and it’s too cold to go out for some.