Three out of four Americans claim to regularly consume chocolate (with women and young people under 34 being among the most avid consumers): after all, it has always been one of the world’s favorite comfort foods, especially in colder months, to indulge in a treat when the weather becomes sharper or – for the more weather-sensitive – to lift the mood lowered by the shortening days.
And they are right: according to research conducted by Deliveroo in collaboration with SWG, more habitual consumers have more hope and are happier. Meanwhile, those who do not consume it feel more anger and disgust.
How Does Chocolate Benefit Mood and Health?
Dr. Michelangelo Giampietro – Specialist in Food Science – commented: “The sense of gratification and fulfillment, and therefore psychological well-being, that one experiences when regularly, but always in moderation, indulging in good chocolate, is partly due to some compounds found in cocoa (such as theobromine, phenylethylamine, anandamide, etc.).
These components are attributed to the ability to improve the subjective perception of well-being and pleasure, mood, and cognitive functions, precisely because of their effect on neurotransmitters such as serotonin and endorphins.
Moreover, the sweet component, in general, generates a sense of well-being, bringing us back to childhood memories.”
And not only that: cocoa is also rich in flavanols, plant chemicals excellent for health due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-free radical properties.
The darker the chocolate, the more cocoa it contains, and the greater the benefits for the body.
Various studies have shown that dark chocolate offers a range of benefits that, when combined, help protect the body from cardiovascular diseases, have a positive effect on reducing blood pressure, improve sleep, and somewhat surprisingly, contribute to having beautiful skin.
Vitamins and minerals such as copper, iron, magnesium, and manganese, in fact, are a boon for our skin. Luckily, dark chocolate is rich in them.
Manganese, for example, supports the production of collagen, a protein that helps keep the skin young and healthy. Not bad, right?
If you needed an excuse to bite into a piece of chocolate, we’ve given it to you!
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