By Give yourself a boost throughout the day
Does science need to tell you that chocolate is fantastic and instantly elevates your mood? I hope not because I don’t believe anyone on this planet hasn’t tried chocolate during a particular stage of their life. Whether in cake, block or powder form — it’s incredible stuff. Although I cannot have the milk variety, I’m happily committed to the vegan slice of chocolate life. Usually made with cashews and a few other goodies — it hits the spot without too many additives. The type of chocolate you eat matters a lot. So many dark chocolate varieties contain endless amounts of sugar, which doesn’t add to cacao’s health benefits. So it’s crucial to look at the label before you part with your money and a small portion of your health. Researchers at UCLA wanted to determine just how much difference chocolate made to their depressive symptoms. Researchers assessed those findings against a questionnaire given to every participant. Factors included in this study were height, weight, marital status, ethnicity, education, household income, physical activity, smoking and any chronic health problems. These factors were essential to measure the chocolate’s effects on depressive symptoms. Once researchers adjusted all of that information, evidence uncovered that individuals who ate dark chocolate within two 24-hour periods had about 70 per cent lower odds of reporting clinical depressive symptoms than those who reported not eating chocolate at all. Those who ate chocolate (25 per cent) were also less likely to report depressive symptoms than those who didn’t eat any chocolate! However, there is no significant link (according to researchers) between any non-dark chocolate consumption and clinically relevant depressive symptoms. Depression is a severe condition, and with all this talk of chocolate aside, it affects more than 300 million people worldwide. Moreover, according to the World Health Organisation, it’s one of the leading causes of disability. This study is a tiny glimmer showing that dark chocolate consumption may be associated with reduced odds of clinically proven depressive symptoms. If anything, guys, chocolate is known to help alter moods and give us a sense of satisfaction & comfort. Of course, we also experience joy, and chocolate doesn’t taste too bad! Dark chocolate is known for its antioxidant properties and therefore is very beneficial for our health — in small doses and conjunction with a healthy diet. Further research is needed to clarify chocolate’s direction in altering moods. So, don’t feel too guilty if you resort to a bit of chocolate when feeling blue. It can help you increase those feel-good chemicals and help lift you out of your current state. Who eats dark chocolate every single day?
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