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If your number one source of comfort when times get stressful is to turn to a sweet treat, you’re not alone. There’s actual science behind why we crave sugar when the going gets so unbearable it fills us with anxiety.
“When we’re stressed out, we have a high level of a hormone called cortisol, and we crave sugar because if we eat some sugar, we will actually get another hormone called serotonin, which is calming and relaxing,” registered dietitian Rebecca Scritchfield tells Huffington Post. “It’s just our body’s way of taking a chill pill.”
Sugar may help your body release serotonin, but there’s an actual type of dessert that can do even more for you. According to studies, dark chocolate can relieve stress, improve your mood, and even keep common colds at bay. And, it also gives you a great excuse to indulge your sweet tooth when stress has gotten the best of you.
Long revered for its antioxidant content and heart-healthy flavanols, dark chocolate with 70 percent cacao or higher has been shown in studies to "support cognitive, endocrine and cardiovascular health," reports CNBC.
There's more: A piece of dark chocolate can actually change your body's response to stress, according to Dr. T. Jared Bunch. Citing a study in which two groups of men were either given dark chocolate or given a placebo before undergoing various stressful tasks, Bunch notes that researchers found men who ate dark chocolate had lower levels of cortisol and epinephrine (found during stressful times) after the stress.
Other Benefits Of Eating Dark Chocolate
It's important to remember that white chocolate and milk chocolate do not contain the same high levels of flavanols as dark chocolate with a higher cacao content. Though it's a bit more bitter and may require some getting used to, dark chocolate is deliciously creamy and rich and pairs well with almonds and grapes — talk about off-the-charts antioxidant benefits.
In addition to lowering stress levels, dark chocolate has been found to lower blood pressure and cholesterol and increase artery health to prevent blood clots.
So, go on — eat a sweet treat when you're stressed and, in this case, your body will thank you for it.
For more dessert tips, check out The one dessert that won't slow your weight loss and 4 Desserts you should never cut from your diet on SHEFinds.com.
[Photos: Shutterstock]
