Chocolate is a food often considered evil. However, it also has its positive points if consumed in smaller quantities. This applies mainly to dark chocolate, which was even the one that had the greatest relationship with reducing symptoms of depression.
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chocolate and depression
Chocolate can be seen by many as a bad food, but when ingested in the correct amounts, its consumption is not harmful. Thus, there is an association between food and pleasure and happiness for those who enjoy it. This feeling brought by chocolate is a feeling that acts to protect against depression. In this sense, there are some factors that contribute to this result.
The first is that chocolate contains some psychoactive components that give you that feeling of joy. In addition to this, the existence of phenylethylamine in its composition helps in regulating mood.
the dark chocolate
However, dark chocolate is more associated with depression, as it reduces the risk of having 70% depressive symptoms for those who consume it, according to a University College London study (UCL). Meanwhile, other types of chocolate manage to reduce on average only 58% of the chances.
This factor is associated with higher amounts of flavonoids, an antioxidant that reduces inflammation and prevents the body from developing depression. However, it is important to be careful when interpreting the results, as the studies do not establish a causal relationship.
For example, there is a possibility that people with depression prefer sweeter flavors. In addition to this, there is also the possibility that those who consume dark chocolate have a healthier life, and therefore have less depression. Therefore, it cannot be said that consuming dark chocolate will necessarily reduce the chances of depression, despite the relationship identified by the study.
