A Good Excuse to Eat Chocolate

A recent study indicated that eating small amounts of chocolate every day can help reduce the symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. But before you run out and stock up on chocolate bars, it’s important to note that the chocolate used in this study was specially formulated. It contained 85 percent cocoa solids and was rich in polyphenol flavonoids.

Participants in the study ate 45g (1.5 oz.) of the specially formulated chocolate for eight weeks. Then, after a two-week rest period, they ate a placebo (simulated dark chocolate, low in polyphenols) for another eight weeks. During the first eight weeks, participants reported feeling less fatigue, but the fatigue returned during the second eight-week period when they were switched to the placebo.

Chocolate is known to increase certain neurotransmitters like serotonin, which could be the reason it may help CFS patients. Earlier studies have shown that because dark chocolate is so rich in flavonoid antioxidants, it can be helpful in reducing the risk of heart disease, cancer and stroke. When it comes to health benefits from chocolate, the rule of thumb is darker is better. Milk chocolate contains less that half the flavonoids of a dark, semisweet chocolate. It also has a lot more sugar, which significantly reduces any health benefits it may have.

This study was conducted by researchers at Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust in the UK. In the press release, Professor Steve Atkin, who conducted the study, said, “No one has examined the effects of chocolate on CFS before and so this is a very exciting and interesting result for us.”

Read more about the nutritional value of chocolate.

Photo: morguefile.com