Chocolate And Depression: What Is The Link?

By Amer Kaissi

It is often said that "Chocolate is cheaper than therapy and you don't need an appointment." Popular claims suggest that chocolate can act as a stimulant, relaxant, euphoriant, aphrodisiac, tonic, and antidepressant. Many people believe that eating chocolate raises their spirits, creates highs, and makes them feel good. A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine examined the relationship between chocolate consumption and depressed mood in adult men and women.

Chocolate is the one of the most commonly craved foods. Since it is not a natural product, its appeal depends on its individual constituents and their specific combination. Chocolate is made from cocoa mass (the base product made from the processing cocoa beans), cocoa butter (the natural fat from cocoa beans) and sugar. Because cocoa butter melts at room temperature, it provides the creamy "melt in your mouth" sensation. When chocolate was introduced from America, Europeans added sugar to it. Dark chocolate contains all three elements (cocoa mass, cocoa butter and sugar), milk chocolate contains additional milk solids and fats, while white chocolate is similar to milk chocolate but with no cocoa base.

Source : http://healthcarehacks.com