New Evidence That Dark Chocolate Helps Ease Emotional Stress

[steven johnson]

When the going gets tough, the tough eat chocolate.

ScienceDaily (Nov. 12, 2009) — The "chocolate cure" for emotional stress is getting new support from a clinical trial published online in ACS' Journal of Proteome Research. It found that eating about an ounce and a half of dark chocolate a day for two weeks reduced levels of stress hormones in the bodies of people feeling highly stressed. Everyone's favorite treat also partially corrected other stress-related biochemical imbalances.

Sunil Kochhar and colleagues note growing scientific evidence that antioxidants and other beneficial substances in dark chocolate may reduce risk factors for heart disease and other physical conditions. Studies also suggest that chocolate may ease emotional stress. Until now, however, there was little evidence from research in humans on exactly how chocolate might have those stress-busting effects.

In the study, scientists identified reductions in stress hormones 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 say.


New Evidence That Dark Chocolate Helps Ease Emotional Stress


Dark chocolate reduced the urinary excretion of the stress hormone cortisol and catecholamines and partially normalized stress-related differences in energy metabolism... The study provides strong evidence that a daily consumption of 40 g of dark chocolate during a period of 2 weeks is sufficient to modify the metabolism of free living and healthy human subjects, as per variation of both host and gut microbial metabolism.

http://pubs.acs.org/stoken/presspac/presspac/full/10.1021/pr900607v?cookieSet=1

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. I hate chocolate

But I don't feel too stressed. Go figure. :shrug:

[MoJoWorkin]

2. MMMMM, dark chocolate---my absolute favorite! MUST HAVE!

I knew this all along. No study necessary.

:evilgrin:

[LeftishBrit]

22. +1000! Mmmmmmmm!!!

[peace frog]

3. A friend told me about this back in the 70s

She was a medical student at the time and had learned about the effect of chocolate on stress. Thanks for the tip that has worked for decades, Nora!

[mucifer]

4. fair trade dark chocolate. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

eating some now with my morning coffee.

[LynzM]

14. Yes, inDEED.

NOM! :bounce:

[MannyGoldstein]

5. Both Links Seem To Be Broken

But thanks for the info.

[steven johnson]

19. Link 1

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-11/acs-net111109.php

[steven johnson]

20. Link 2

http://pubs.acs.org/stoken/presspac/presspac/full/10.1021/pr900607v

[ananda]

6. Love it.

I eat two squares of rainforest Extreme Dark Chocolate
every day. It's sweetened a little with natural beet
juice, not sugar. Good in every way!

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. Where do you get it? Sounds wonderful.

[wildflower]

16. Here's one place to get it:

http://www.chocolatebar.com/shop/p-21-extreme-dark-chocolate.aspx

Yum.

[supernova]

18. Any organic/health food store

Whole Paycheck, Trader Joe's for two has organic and fair trade chocolate.

Some other brands to look for:

Green & Blacks,

Divine

Dagoba

Equal Exchange

Newman's Own (Paul Newman's charity brand)

Chocolove

Endangered Species (Every flavor has a difference ES on the wrapper. I don't know how much of the profits goes to helping said animals though)

[niyad]

24. dagoba is owned by hershey--that lovely untion-busting company that recently

exported 1500 jobs to mexico. they also, alas, now own scharffenberger, which used to be one of my favourites. I do not touch any hershey product.
....

In December 2004, Hershey acquired the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corp. from The Shansby Group.<22>

In July 2005, Hershey acquired the Berkeley, California-based boutique chocolate-maker Scharffen Berger.<23>

In November 2005, Hershey acquired Joseph Schmidt Confections, the San Francisco-based chocolatier.

In November 2006, Hershey acquired Dagoba Organic Chocolate, a boutique chocolate maker based in Ashland, Oregon.

Hershey's chocolate is available across the United States, due to their wide network of distribution.<24> They have three mega distribution centers, with modern technology and labor management systems.<25>
......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hershey_Company

[seafan]

8. Now, THIS is good news.

New Evidence That Dark Chocolate Helps Ease Emotional Stress, November 12, 2009

ScienceDaily (Nov. 12, 2009) — The "chocolate cure" for emotional stress is getting new support from a clinical trial published online in ACS' Journal of Proteome Research. It found that eating about an ounce and a half of dark chocolate a day for two weeks reduced levels of stress hormones in the bodies of people feeling highly stressed. Everyone's favorite treat also partially corrected other stress-related biochemical imbalances.

.....

[Myrina]

9. Linky no worky :(

n/t

[HuckleB]

10. Now that's news I can use!

[WePurrsevere]

11. Try this link...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091111123612.htm
If that acts the same try backing the url up to htm... for some reason in the OP there's a bit of code being adding that makes it go wonky.

[Bitwit1234]

12. As icky as it tastes

you are so concentrated on it, you forget anything else. I used to love chocolate but since I do not eat much any more a candy bar is so sickening sweet I can't do more than take a bite.

[HuckleB]

13. Here's another link.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170829.php

Funding by Nestle. Hmmmmmmmm.

:)

[supernova]

15. 70% and above chocolate tastes more like food

rather than candy. So, for me it's more satisfying.

Now, about those leftover halloween fun-sized paks in my car.... :}( :eyes: :crazy:

[mopinko]

17. somebody find me a study to enroll in, wouldja?

i am so there.

[vixengrl]

21. Neat. I've been joking about my "medicinal chocolate"

for years.

[niyad]

23. so nice of science to confirm what we have known for decades