Yes! Dark Chocolate Can *Actually* Lower Our Stress Levels—Here's Why

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! Yay!

Dark Chocolate Takes the Gold Medal When It Comes to Reducing Stress—This Is Why

One of the ways eating chocolate works to lower our stress levels is by affecting our body's release of cortisol.

Cortisol is the body's primary stress hormone. Among its many functions, it prepares your body to respond when faced you're with a stressful situation. Although this is good if your cortisol levels stay high due to chronic stress because it allows you to remain alert and energetic, too much can actually harm your health. Fortunately, chocolate can come in and save the day—and our taste buds!

Dark Chocolate and White Chocolate Affect Stress Levels Differently

Not only do dark and white chocolate taste completely different, but they impact us differently too.

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.

Two hours after eating the dark or "fake" dark chocolate (aka the white 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.

How Do Other Types of Chocolate Compare?

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 particular involved 60 people—both men and women—who ate either 40 grams of dark, white, or milk chocolate every day for two weeks. Again (like the previous study we talked about, you remember, the one with the fake dark chocolate), eating white chocolate did not appear to alleviate stress. However, milk chocolate seemed to help.

Milk Chocolate Is a Good Choice Too

This study noted that 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 were greater for females than males.

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.

But, How Much Chocolate Can I Eat?

If you want to try dark chocolate as a stress reliever, the studies above used a daily "dose" of about 1.5 ounces.

Additionally, the higher the cocoa content, the better it is for your health, so aim for dark chocolate with 80% cocoa or higher. However, the more cocoa, the more bitter the chocolate. So, try a few and see how high you can go without sacrificing taste.

Try a Chocolate Meditation (Yes, That's a Thing)

Try eating chocolate mindfully. So, when you grab a piece of dark chocolate or something that contains dark chocolate, really enjoy the experience of eating it. Don't do anything else when you're consuming the chocolate. Don't scroll social media and don't try and talk with your mouth full either!

Instead, really savor the taste of it in your mouth. Relish the flavor and the texture. Take stock of what it smells like and immerse yourself in the experience. This is what some people refer to as a chocolate meditation. While you're examining each aspect of the chocolate-tasting experience, practice deep breathing exercises.