You’ve heard that chocolate makes you happy. But why? Baking chocolate into cakes, cookies, and brownies is a sweet way to make a house full of delicious smells and tastes. But chocolate also makes you feel good because it’s rich in nutrients such as magnesium and antioxidants. In addition, the substances in chocolate stimulate brain chemicals like serotonin which can help improve moods. So what are some other reasons why chocolate makes us happy? Let’s take a look at eight of them below.
Why does chocolate make you happy
The reason why chocolate makes us feel good is because of its taste. Chocolate contains a number of components that are responsible for the flavor, including caffeine, phenylethylamine, phenylacetic acid, and vanillin. When we eat chocolate, these chemicals bind to receptors on our tongue which produces a sensation of flavor. This sensation leads to our brain’s interpretation of a desire for more of this particular food item, causing our happiness levels to rise.
How To Make Chocolate?
Making chocolate is not as hard as it sounds. If you have the right ingredients, you can make your own chocolate at home. Here are five steps on how to make chocolate:
- The first step to making chocolate is to buy all the necessary ingredients such as cocoa powder, melted butter, and sugar.
- Next, melt the butter in a pan over medium heat until it starts foaming and starts to turn brown (you can see a slight change in color). You can add vanilla extract if you want a little flavor or flavorless cocoa powder if you don’t have any vanilla extract.
- Add in the sugar and stir until it’s completely dissolved (the mixture will start to bubble). Add in the two main ingredients of cocoa powder and melted butter one by one until everything is mixed well together into a smooth mixture.
- Pour this mixture into molds that you’ve previously prepared beforehand or just pour into molds with no bottom that are made of silicone or plastic.
- Chill the molds for about an hour in the refrigerator so that it sets completely. After that, you can remove them from the molds and enjoy your homemade chocolates!
Chocolate’s Health Benefits
- Chocolate contains phenylethylamine, which is a natural appetite suppressant. This can be beneficial for weight loss and weight maintenance.
- Chocolate contains phenylacetic acid, which is a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants help to neutralize free radicals that cause oxidative stress in our bodies and our cells, which can lead to disease and illness.
- Chocolate contains caffeine, which has been shown to improve endurance, reduce fatigue and increase mental alertness and focus in athletes.
- Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which have been shown to increase energy in people who are not getting enough sleep or are sleep deprived (elderly people).
- Cocoa powder provides a rich source of flavonoids (natural plant pigments) that have been shown to reduce blood pressure by 10-20%. Cocoa also has high levels of magnesium that can help maintain healthy bones and teeth as well as reduce the risk of stroke, heart disease, and diabetes.
- Chocolate has been shown to contain a variety of polyphenols that have been shown to help improve blood flow and lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of certain cancers, and may help prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Cocoa has antioxidant properties that can help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Cocoa is also a good source of iron, which helps maintain healthy red blood cells.
- Cocoa has been shown to reduce inflammation in people who are at risk for heart disease, stroke, or type 2 diabetes due to its flavanol content.
Chocolate And Brain Chemicals
Theobromine
Theobromine is a naturally occurring alkaloid found in the cacao plant. It’s well known for its effect on dopamine production and it’s the most abundant methylxanthine in the world.
Phenylethylamine
Phenylethylamine (PEA) has a stimulant effect on dopamine-releasing neurons, which are involved in feelings of pleasure and euphoria. PEA is also produced from amino acids that occur naturally in foods such as turkey and milk, but also from caffeine and other foods such as chocolate treats, beer, wine, and some prescription drugs.
Serotonin
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter in the brain that contributes to feelings of well-being. It affects moods and sleep patterns and can also help with pain relief, appetite control, and memory. Chocolate contains tryptophan which is converted into serotonin in the body. It also contains other substances such as magnesium which increases the amount of serotonin produced by the body.
Endorphins
Endorphins are substances that help reduce pain and make us feel good when we’re happy or relaxed. They’re also known as ‘the morphine of the immune system’. Chocolate contains endorphins such as anandamide (which is found in milk chocolate) and phenylethylamine (found in dark chocolate).
Chocolate And Moods
Studies have found that chocolate can help improve moods in people who are stressed or experiencing a lack of motivation. It also seems to reduce anxiety and depression symptoms for some people. So when you’re feeling bummed out, try grabbing a bar of chocolate from the fridge and see if it can help perk you up.
Chocolate is better for your brain
The substances in chocolate stimulate brain chemicals like serotonin which can help improve moods. This might be why it’s been shown to reduce depression symptoms and maybe why it’s been linked with improved memory retention.
Chocolate is good for your heart
In addition to being a rich source of nutrients like magnesium, antioxidants, and flavonoids, chocolate is also a great source of fiber which helps keep blood sugar levels under control. Additionally, studies have shown that regular consumption of cocoa products such as dark chocolate has been linked with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease and stroke.
Chocolate is good for your skin
A lot of the antioxidants in dark chocolate are used to increase the healthiness and beauty of your skin because they slow the aging process by fighting free radicals that cause wrinkles and other signs of aging. Dark chocolate also contains l-theanine which can be absorbed through your skin into your bloodstream where it helps release endorphins which have relaxing effects on our nervous system. In fact, one study found that women who ate more dark chocolate had lower levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) than those who didn’t.
Chocolate is good for your bones
The calcium in dark chocolate has been found to be beneficial for bone health. So when you’re craving chocolate but don’t want to eat a whole bar, reach for a glass of milk instead. The calcium in milk helps absorb the magnesium and other minerals that are present in dark chocolate and can help improve bone strength and density.
Chocolate is good for your heart
Dark chocolate has been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, and improve metabolism. In addition, research has shown that women who consume more dark chocolate seem to have lower levels of insulin which is associated with better cardiovascular health. And if you’re a woman who’s trying to get pregnant, you might want to consider adding dark chocolate into your daily diet as it’s been associated with a reduced risk of pre-term labor and low birth weight babies in pregnant women.
Conclusion
Chocolate is a common food that has a variety of health benefits and its taste is a major reason why we eat it.
If you love chocolate, you’re not alone. Chocolate is one of the most popular foods in the world. The color, aroma, and taste make it appealing to many people. What’s more, chocolate has a number of health benefits that make it an important part of a healthy diet.