Which dark chocolate is best for stress relief?

Additionally, the higher the cocoa content, the better it is for your health, so aim for a dark chocolate with 80% cocoa or higher.

verywellmind.com - Dark Chocolate, Health, and Stress Relief - Verywell Mind

Is pineapple good for testosterone?

Bromelain, an enzyme found in pineapple, triggers testosterone production which can elevate a man's sex drive. High levels of vitamin C and...

Last updated Nov 28, 2020

Should diaper tabs overlap?

No, diaper tabs should not overlap. Jul 15, 2022

Last updated Mar 22, 2019

Promotion

Dark chocolate has been connected with some positive physical health benefits. This sweet treat has been linked with better cardiovascular health, for instance, thanks to the way it improves blood pressure and helps protect blood vessels. Yet, there is additional good news for chocolate lovers everywhere, as dark chocolate has also been found to help relieve stress. One of the ways in which it works to lower our stress levels is by affecting our body's release of cortisol.

Dark Chocolate and Cortisol Levels

Cortisol is the body's primary stress hormone. Among its many functions, it prepares you to respond when faced with a stressful situation. Although this is good, if your cortisol levels stay high due to chronic stress, it can actually harm your health. Dark chocolate might help blunt some of those effects. For example, one study involving dark chocolate and stress looked at 65 healthy men. Thirty-one of them consumed 50 grams of dark chocolate and 34 consumed the same amount of white chocolate that was colored to look like dark chocolate but without the flavonoids. Flavonoids are compounds found in plants that have been associated with a number of health benefits, such as a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases (like Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's), type 2 diabetes, and cancer. Two hours after eating the dark or "fake" dark chocolate, the men engaged in two stressful situations: a mock job interview and completing a math problem in front of an audience. Their stress hormones were measured before and after these stressors to see if the chocolate had an effect. While all of the men's bodies reacted to the stress, the ones eating dark chocolate released less cortisol. They also released smaller amounts of epinephrine (adrenaline), another stress hormone. In simple terms, this means that their body reacted less severely to the stress.

Do Other Types of Chocolate Help Reduce Stress Too?

The study mentioned above suggests that dark chocolate is better than white chocolate for relieving stress. But what about other types of chocolate? Can they also help the body better respond to stress? According to one study, the answer may be yes. This one involved 60 people—both men and women—who ate either 40 grams of dark, white, or milk chocolate every day for two weeks. Again, eating white chocolate did not appear to positively impact stress. However, milk chocolate seemed to help. This study noted that the people eating either dark or milk chocolate lowered the stress they felt by two to three points. Researchers also found that the stress-relieving effects of these two chocolates was greater for females than males.

What relaxes the urethra?

When the bladder is full, stretch receptors in its muscular wall stimulate a parasympathetic nervous system response. This results in contraction...

Last updated Aug 17, 2021

Can I pass urine before ultrasound?

In the same way, your bladder acts as a reservoir of fluid, which helps the sound waves bounce back for better visibility and more detailed images....

Last updated Jun 13, 2019

Promotion

The thing to remember when choosing a chocolate type for lower stress is that dark chocolate tends to offer more health benefits than other types because it is the least processed. It is also often lower in fat and sugar. How Much Should You Eat? If you want to try dark chocolate as a stress reliever, the studies above used a daily "dose" of about 1.5 ounces. Note that even dark chocolate delivers a lot of calories—about 160 for this daily serving—so don't overdo it if you're watching your weight.

Eating Dark Chocolate To Decrease Stress Without Increasing Weight

It's reassuring news that dark chocolate can be so beneficial, especially since the body's normal stress response may make us crave more sweets. Yet, if we give in too often and engage in emotional eating, we can gain a lot of weight if we're not careful. To enjoy dark chocolate without fear of what it will do to your waistline, eat it mindfully. Do nothing else while eating the chocolate piece so you can fully savor its taste and the feel in your mouth. The more you are engaged in this process, the less inclined you are to overeat. Some refer to this mindful eating practice as a chocolate meditation. This is a form of meditation in which you pay complete attention to how the dark chocolate tastes, smells, and feels while performing deep breathing exercises. Additionally, the higher the cocoa content, the better it is for your health, so aim for a dark chocolate with 80% cocoa or higher. Though, the more cocoa, the more bitter the chocolate. So, try a few and see how high you can go without sacrificing taste.

verywellmind.com - Dark Chocolate, Health, and Stress Relief - Verywell Mind

Are vegetables good for prostate?

Eating more vegetables can help lower your risk of BPH. Green leafy vegetables are especially important because they are rich in antioxidants....

Last updated Sep 9, 2019

What does urinary tract infection pee look like?

The most common symptoms of UTIs include changes in urination such as frequency, pain, or burning; urine looks dark, cloudy, or red and smells bad;...

Last updated Jan 2, 2018

Promotion

Does pumpkin seeds cause diabetes?

Pumpkin seeds Studies have suggested that some of the macromolecules in pumpkin seeds may help manage blood sugar. Low magnesium levels are common...

Last updated Apr 14, 2019

Promotion

Do Down syndrome people have kids?

Yes. A woman with Down's syndrome can have children. If her partner does not have Down's syndrome, the theoretical chance of the child having...

Last updated Jun 16, 2021