From cakes to ice creams, chocolate is the most popular flavor that everyone opts for. Be it period cramps or a heart break, chocolates have always come to our rescue.
Being rich in calories, we are told to stay away from chocolates but having a small nibble of a bar, then and now, never did anyone harm.
Even a small bite of chocolate is enough to boost up our mental health, our worries tend to melt away while the chocolate melts into our mouth.
Ever wondered why? Chocolates affect the functioning of our brain by releasing certain happy neurotransmitters that are responsible for sending happy signals and releasing feel good hormones.
Here is what happens inside your brain, while you let that chocolate melt away into your mouth.
1. Phenylethylamine
Phenylethylamine or the love drug is found in chocolate that triggers the release of dopamine. Dopamine, or the feel-good hormone is responsible for all the pleasurable sensations inside our body. Phenylethylamine in chocolates is known to produce positive effects on the human brain. It is said that phenylethylamine increases our pulse rate, causing a similar effect that people feel, when they fall in love.
2. Endorphins
This is another feel good hormone, that is released by our nervous system to give us relief from pain and stress. Consuming chocolates can lift up the endorphin level in our brain, making it a comfort food for the human brain. Dark chocolates trigger the stimulation of these hormones to the max as the cocoa present in dark chocolates maximizes endorphin release.
3. Theobromine
Caffeine stimulates the functioning of the central nervous system. Theobromine is found in chocolates and cocoa which lowers blood pressure and keeps your heart happy. Dark chocolates have higher concentration of theobromine than white chocolates as cacao beans are full of it.
4. Anandamide
Anandamide comes from the Sanskrit word for joy- ‘Ananda’. Anandamide is similar to the THC compound found in Marijuana. Both anandamide and THC are responsible for the production of high level of dopamine in the body. Anandamide, found in chocolates creates a joyous feeling in your brain and elevates your mood.
5. Serotonin
Dark chocolates with high cocoa content have serotonin in them. Having dark chocolates can increase the serotonin level in our system that boosts up our mental health. Serotonin makes a good anti-depressant and releases all the tension going on inside the body.
Consuming chocolates is thus good for your mental health, but before gorging on this sweet treat, remember moderation is the key. Getting a bite of chocolate every day will keep both our heart and brain happy and health.
