Dark chocolate is one of the favorite foods of the French. Beyond its taste assets, it contains many benefits. According to a Korean study, consuming 10 grams of 85% dark chocolate three times a day improves mood.
- People who consumed 30 grams of 85% dark chocolate per day had fewer negative thoughts than those who ate 70% dark chocolate.
- 85% dark chocolate is said to have prebiotic effects.
Many foods can impact mood. One of the best known is dark chocolate. In a study published in the journal The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistryscientists have revealed the ideal cocoa content of dark chocolate and how much to consume to increase feelings of happiness and well-being.
Researchers from the Department of Food and Nutrition at the College of Human Ecology, Seoul University, South Korea, found that “evidence regarding the emotional effects of daily consumption of dark chocolate was limited”. They studied the effects of dark chocolate consumption on daily mood, with a focus on “the gut-brain axis.”
The cocoa content is important
To carry out their study, the scientists recruited 48 people. The participants were divided into three groups. The researchers asked the first group to eat 30 grams of 85% cocoa dark chocolate. As for the second, he had to consume the same quantity of dark chocolate but with 70% cocoa. The third group was instructed not to eat chocolate.
The researchers assessed the participants’ state of mind using a self-report questionnaire, called the “Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS).” According to the work, consuming 30 grams of 85% dark chocolate daily helped chase away the negative thoughts of the participants in the first group.
85% dark chocolate is said to have prebiotic effects
To assess the association between the effects of dark chocolate on mood and the gut microbiota, the scientists analyzed the participants’ stools. They observed that microbial diversity in the intestines was higher for consumers of 85% dark chocolate.
“Levels of Blautia obeum (a bacteria found in the gut) were significantly higher and levels of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (one of the most abundant bacteria in the human microbiota) were reduced,” can we read in the works.
According to the study authors, these results indicate that 85% dark chocolate may “prebiotic effects, as evidenced by its ability to restructure the diversity and abundance of gut bacteria.” They concluded that this food could improve emotional states. Although this work has revealed good news, chocolate should not be abused and consumed in moderation because it is a food rich in sugars.
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