A lot of people crave chocolate when they are depressed,
 
but have you ever wondered why? Studies have shown that
 
chocolate has mood-enhancing effects. Research has
 
indicated that people who are depressed tend to eat more
 
chocolate than those who aren't.
 
 
Research about chocolate was recently conducted by
 
universities in California. Scientists asked more than
 
900 men and women about their eating habits pertaining
 
to chocolate. None of the participants were on
 
anti-depressants. The questions included, “How much
 
chocolate do you consume on a regular basis? And “How
 
frequently do you consume chocolate?”
 
 
The researchers assessed the participant's mood using a
 
widely accepted depression scale. What they found was a
 
definite link between the feelings of depression in men
 
and women and the consumption of chocolate.
 
 
The scientists found that on average, those who were
 
depressed ate about eight and a half servings of
 
chocolate per month. By contrast, those who were not
 
depressed only ate about five and a half servings of
 
chocolate in the same time period. Moreover,
 
participants that were considered clinically depressed
 
consumed an average of about 12 servings of chocolate
 
per month. However, the researchers noted that none of
 
the participants thought the chocolate they ate aided
 
them in treating their depression. For the study, one
 
serving was defined as one ounce of chocolate.
 
 
The study conducted was not designed to determine why
 
people eat more chocolate when they are depressed.
 
Researchers deduced that depression may stimulate a
 
craving for chocolate, making people consume chocolate
 
to treat their condition. Chocolate helps with
 
depression because it triggers the release of
 
endorphins. However, scientists believe it could also
 
lead to depression because people who consume a lot of
 
it may feel remorseful and depressed afterward.
 
 
Through this study and others like it, scientists have
 
learned a lot about chocolate its relationship to
 
depression. Further research will likely help us gain
 
more useful information.