Posted on 01/16/2018 11:47:11 AM PST by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at emaxhealth.com ...
Whenever I do my mom’s taxes, I find it is easier just to salt the rim of the blender I mix the margaritas in.
Don’t be mean
She was a beautiful woman in her time
That’s fantastic advice.
I eat chocolate because it is nice.
I strangle people who ask silly questions for stress management. :)
Diane; a thread of chocolate for you!
On second thought...don’t bother blending the margarita, it just makes it weaker. On the rocks is the way to go. And make it a perfect margarita: Patron and Grand Marnier.
Sometimes you just have to splurge.
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