Chocolate has become a popular snack, enjoyed by many, thanks to its flavour and texture. This has made it an area of interest in the research world as a result of its mood-enhancing properties.

 

Chocolate contains several psychoactive ingredients which produce a feeling of euphoria similar to that of cannabinoid, found in cannabis. It also contains phenylethylamine, a neuromodulator which, they believe, is important for regulating people’s moods.

 

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Aside from chocolate being a pleasant snack, eating chocolates also has other hidden benefits.

 

Dark chocolate has a high concentration of flavonoids and antioxidant chemicals. These improve inflammatory profiles and plays a role in the onset of depression.

 

According to the World Health Organization, depression affects more than 300 million people worldwide and is the leading global cause of disability.

 

A study was carried out to examine the relationship between dark chocolate and depression. It found that people who eat dark chocolate have a reduced chance of reporting depression symptoms.

 

Researchers from University College London (UCL) in the United Kingdom researched alongside scientists from the University of Calgary and Alberta Health Services Canada.

 

The study, published in the journal, ‘Depression and Anxiety‘, is the first to examine the relationship between depression and the type of chocolate consumed.

 

In their study, the scientists assessed data from the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 13,626 adults. The participants’ were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire, which is the standard for assessing depressive symptoms.

 

Also, they noted variables including height, weight, marital status, income, level of education, ethnicity, physical activity, and other health conditions. To ensure the study only measured chocolate’s effect on depressive symptoms.

 

It found that:

“Individuals who reported eating any dark chocolate in two 24-hour periods had 70% lower odds of reporting clinically relevant depressive symptoms than those who reported not eating chocolate at all”

 

They also discovered that individuals who ate the most chocolate were less likely to report depressive symptoms than those who didn’t eat chocolate at all.

 

However, the researchers found no significant link between any non‐dark chocolate consumption and clinically relevant depressive symptoms.

 

The study provides some evidence associating the consumption of dark chocolate with reduced odds of clinically relevant depressive symptoms. However, it is not conclusive.

 

As outlined by the Lead author, Dr Sarah Jackson (UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care):

“However further research is required to clarify the direction of causation. It could be the case that depression causes people to lose their interest in eating chocolate, or there could be other factors that make people both less likely to eat dark chocolate and to be depressed.”

 

This further states that even if they establish a causal relationship of the effect of chocolate consumption on depressive symptoms, they need to understand the biological mechanism. It will “determine the type and amount of chocolate consumption for optimal depression prevention and management.”

 

Altogether, it is not a concluding fact that dark chocolate relieves depressive symptoms. Despite the good findings, it is best to consume in moderation until further research has been concluded.