Sunday, August 22, 2010

Can Chocolate Reduce Stress?

High quality, dark Chocolate can be very beneficial.  Now mind you, as always, I encourage eating very dark, 60% plus chocolate with no milk, soy lecithin, or artificial anything!

Stress causes our bodies to deplete its supplies of magnesium, ultimately leading to a biochemistry that is out of balance. There are 56 mg of magnesium in a 50g, 2oz bar. Magnesium levels in high quality chocolate may help to restore the body's imbalance caused by stress.

Chocolate, also, has a more direct stress-reducing effect. It contains a compound called anandamide. The name is taken from the Sanskrit word ananda, which means "bliss and delight".  It binds to certain receptors in the brain to promote relaxation. More is explained with audios  HERE. It is most interesting.

Till next time ...

Stay happy, & eat chocolate-good, healthy chocolate,
Donna