I recently read an article about chocolate consumption and depression. The article was based on a study that noted a correlation between depression and chocolate consumption. Now maybe I'm better versed in chocolate than the average person, or maybe my exposure to scientific studies helps me in this case but I was struck dumb that this was news worthy.
We have been programed to reach for sweets when we're feeling blue and, especially with dark chocolate, there are some "happy" chemicals that make this potentially unhealthy habit worth it. The article didn't even broach that part of the argument, rather it focused on an anecdote about a particular woman who felt guilt over the amount of chocolate she had consumed. Citing that she would feel immediate relief but later regret the thousands of calories she had consumed. It seemed as if there was an attempt to fault chocolate for her depression.
In all honesty I kind of laughed at the attempt. Semantics are a beautiful thing and a chocolate controversy would be a nice way to gain attention for a health web site but toying with people's emotions by using big words isn't fair. Chocolate does not cause depression, and though the article didn't say that was the case it strongly suggested it.
What the study found is that there is an awful lot of people who report being depressed and eating chocolate. That's not any big surprise chocolate, like exercise, releases endorphins and endophins make you feel good. Also chocolate is (mostly) cheaper than antidepressants so for those people who don't need a medical intervention why not have a chocolate bar, just don't over do it an end up like the subject of the anecdote feeling worse than when you started.
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