How Chocolate Helps with Stress Management

We are what we eat is a cliché we all come across every now and then. Whatever we eat affects our mental and physical health directly; every food intake affects your overall well-being. Much to our surprise, one of the most cherished treats, i.e. chocolate, offers surprising health benefits.

There is good news for all the chocolate lovers out there; it can help you with stress management! You heard it right. Besides its delightful taste, chocolate contributes to your mental wellness by letting you cope with stress. Here is everything you need to know about this amazing link between them both.

THE LINK BETWEEN STRESS HORMONE AND DARK CHOCOLATE CONSUMPTION

The body’s stress hormone, aka Cortisol, has many functions; primarily, it prepares the body to respond to stressful situations. Although the secretion of Cortisol is a good sign since it helps us cope with difficult situations, excess of it can lead to many cardiovascular diseases. Many studies have been conducted to find out the link between Cortisol and dark chocolate consumption.

It has been found that the people who had eaten chocolate had a visibly lower level of Cortisol secretion than people who hadn’t. Dark chocolate is rich in minerals and antioxidants that are beneficial for our mental and physical health. It contains flavonoids and polyphenols that contribute to the prevention of type 2 diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.

Since dark chocolate is the least processed among others, it is low in fats and sugar.

DO OTHER CHOCOLATES HELP IN RELIEVING THE STRESS?

After knowing the link between dark chocolate consumption and stress, the next question pops up can other chocolates be beneficial? Research has been done in that domain, and it has come to the conclusion that white chocolate is not found to be as effective in reducing levels of stress hormones.

ENJOY YOUR FAVORITE TREAT AND GET BENEFITED!

You won’t easily find someone who does not like chocolates. No matter what age group a person belongs to, chocolate is a constant favorite eatable to satisfy our sweet cravings! Even the dark chocolates come in variations, and you can choose the one that is wholesome for your taste buds. Whether you have dark chocolate with hazelnuts, coconut, or coffee, the stress management will be done aptly by them all! Whether you are using recipes from Kathy’s vegan kitchen or munching on snacks, chocolate is always a good idea.