How chocolate can help relieve stress
In order to fit chocolate into a healthy diet, it is important to take notice of the intake amount. Candy bars such as Snickers and Kit Kat’s contain a high amount of sugar and less amounts of chocolate. A cup of hot chocolate contains more chocolate and less sugar and is the more ideal choice in replacement of the candy bars. Photo courtesy: MCT Photo
As the school year is progressing, more homework is assigned and the amount of tests given out is accumulating. However, chocolate is known to benefit one’s health in many ways.
When eating chocolate, preferably dark chocolate, stress hormone levels are significantly reduced and the metabolic effects of stress are partially reduced.
“When I eat chocolate during a writing assignment or math homework it becomes easier for me to focus on the task and I become less distracted,” said freshman Sarah Abraham.
Chocolate also boosts brainpower and blood flow to key parts of the brain for two to three hours, which could improve performance and alertness.
“I do like chocolate but I don’t necessarily think it helps with focus because a lot of times people get hyper when they have a lot of sugar,” said sophomore Lily Retford.
Chocolate can also improve heart health, lower blood pressure, and improve memory and brain function.
It stimulates the pleasure centers of the brain to make people happy when eating it. However, to get a healthy result, chocolate must be consumed at a small amount.
Dark chocolate is specifically more beneficial because it contains more milligrams of cocoa than in milk or white chocolate.
“In my opinion dark chocolate helps me focus more than milk or white chocolate,” said Abraham.
