The GuiltyPleasure Food That Reduces Stress & Inflammation

It's yourlucky day, dark chocolate lovers. According to new findings, chocolate with ahigh concentration of cacao—at least 70 percent—might boost our immunity, mood,and memory.

While we'velong known that dark chocolate is rich in flavonoids—an antioxidant that canhelp regulate digestion, reduce anxiety, and even boost sexualhealth—this is one of the first times that the specific effects of chocolatehave been tested on humans.

"Thisis the first time that we have looked at the impact of large amounts of cacaoin doses as small as a regular-sized chocolate bar in humans over short or longperiods of time, and are encouraged by the findings," says Lee S. Berk,DrPH, a researcher involved in the presentation.

The findings referto pilot trials that found that dark chocolate boosts cellular immune responseand enhances neuroplasticity, which could improve mood and memory. According tothe finding's presenters, the higher the concentration of cacao, the morepositive the impact on cognition, though more research still needs to be doneto back up these claims.

Go forth andbreak yourself off another square.

ArticleSource: https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/how-dark-chocolate-can-reduce-stress-and-inflammation

ImageSource: https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/12/a6/5b/6b/photo1jpg.jpg

Vocabularywords:

1. immunity(n.) - the condition in which an organism can resist disease

2. anxiety(n.) - a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in avariety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behaviouror attacks of panic

3. cellular(adj.) - relating to cells

4. cognition(n.) - perception and learning and reasoning

5. back up(v.) - to give reliable supporting evidence

Questionsfor discussion:

1. What areyour guilty pleasures?

2. Do youthink we can replace our “comfort food” and probably substitute it with healthyalternatives? How so?

3. What areother foods that you tend to consume when you’re feeling depressed or anxious?