(ANN/THE DAILY STAR) – Whether it’s celebrating a victory, mending a broken heart, or simply needing a “pick-me-up” after a long, exhausting day, chocolate is the go-to treat that never fails to delight.
From silky smooth milk chocolates to the rich, aromatic depths of dark chocolates, the variety is endless. Regardless of its shape or form, chocolate always seems to make life a little sweeter.
Picture this: you’ve had a tough day at work or are stuck in a seemingly endless traffic jam. The stress is piling up, and you can feel the tension mounting.
At that crucial moment, you reach for your trusty stash of chocolate in your bag or desk drawer. As you peel back the foil and take that first blissful bite, your worries start to dissolve along with the chocolate.
Almost immediately, you begin to feel a sense of relief and comfort. But what is it about chocolate that has this magical effect on our mood?
Why does it seem to make our stress melt away, even if only for a short while?
When you eat chocolate, your brain then proceeds to release dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. It’s the same chemical that corresponds to receiving a compliment or obtaining a goal.
Chocolate also has a chemical called tryptophan, an amino acid that helps regulate mood and high levels of it can help you feel calm and relaxed. Amidst the hectic life that we have most of the time, a bite of delicious chocolate can really help you relax.
For the longest time, chocolate has been associated with love and joy. We can all remember having a heart-shaped chocolate box for our loved ones on Valentine’s Day or even gifting extraordinary amounts of chocolates to our friends and family when we return home from a trip abroad — all these encompass happy feelings and let us indulge in moments of pure bliss.
On the other hand, whenever we are feeling let down or just overwhelmed with life in general, chocolate can give us the comfort we need. A hug in a wrapper, the rich delicious taste can be very soothing and relaxing.
Irrespective of where we come from, our culture or background; no matter how many ups and downs we have had in our lives, one thing always seemed to be constant. Many emotions surround it, from happiness, and melancholy, to nostalgia but chocolate always makes our day that much better.
