Dark Chocolate, Health, and Stress Relief

Dark Chocolate, Health, and Stress Relief Stress Management Management Techniques Print Dark Chocolate, Health, and Stress Relief By Elizabeth Scott, MS twitter Elizabeth Scott, MS, is a wellness coach specializing in stress management and quality of life, and the author of 8 Keys to Stress Management. Learn about our editorial policy Elizabeth Scott, MS Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on September 08, 2015 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on June 14, 2018 How Stress Impacts Your Health Overview Signs of Burnout Stress and Weight Gain Benefits of Exercise Stress Reduction Tips Self-Care Practices Mindful Living antonios mitsopoulos/Getty Images The good news for chocolate lovers everywhere is that dark chocolate has been shown by research to have real stress relieving properties as well as benefits to health! Heres one of the latest studies that look promising for dark chocolate and stress relief.   Benefits for Stress A clinical trial published online in ACS’ Journal of Proteome Research found that eating about an ounce and a half of dark chocolate a day for two weeks reduced levels of stress hormones in people who felt highly stressed. They found that dark chocolate also partially corrected other stress-related biochemical imbalances. In the study, Francois-Pierre Martin, Sunil Kochhar and colleagues identified reductions in stress hormones like cortisol, 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 said in a press release. As part of the study, the researchers cite growing scientific evidence of more benefits associated with dark chocolate: Antioxidants and other beneficial substances in dark chocolate may reduce risk factors for heart diseaseDark chocolates antioxidants may reduce risk factors for other diseases and physical conditions as wellStudies show that dark chocolate may ease emotional stress This, however, is the first study of its kind that shows, in humans, exactly how dark chocolate may help with stress.   Its reassuring news that dark chocolate can be so beneficial, since the bodys stress response may make us crave more sweets, and emotional eating generally brings weight gain if were not careful. A small amount of dark chocolate, enjoyed mindfully, can be an effective and enjoyable method to relieve stress in those who have no medical reason why they cant enjoy it. Heres more information on the use of dark chocolate as a stress relief tool, as well as other resources that might relate to you: Chocolate Meditation: This is every bit as delicious as it sounds! Heres how scores of people have been using chocolate as a stress relief tool and avoiding binge eating when stressed.What Causes Emotional Eating? Do you find that you automatically reach for a bag of chips or slice of cake when stressed? Heres what might be behind that urge.How to Stop Emotional Eating: If you find yourself mindlessly munching, here are some strategies to help you stop.Diet Tips for the Stressed: Here are some tips that should help when you feel too stressed to diet, but find that you want to lose weight anyway.