And you thought that it was just the psychological effect of having something pleasurable and decadent as a sinful serving of dark chocolate brownie that gave you that much-needed picker-upper. It turns out there's an actual good chemistry that happens in your, umm, tummy after you lick the last of that devilish goodness from your lips.
A study conducted on (some obviously happy) volunteers showed lower levels of stress hormones in their urine and blood plasma samples after ingesting less than one and a half pounds of dark chocolate. These volunteers were selected for their high stress levels prior to the two-week experiment.
This development is the latest among recent findings about chocolate's benefits like helping prevent blood from clumping up, keeping your heart healthy. Dark chocolate is even reported to provide some anti-cancer benefits.
But hold it! Before you go and splurge on wanton sweetness, the same experts warn about forgetting the word "moderation." Don't forget about the excess fat and sugar that goes with each heavenly bite.
