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Wishing everyone a Happy Easter, and a restful break. Be sure to take a walk, get some fresh air, and unplug from the world, to appreciate and be thankful for what you have in your life.
And, for a bit of fun... If you have the option of 70% or 85% cocoa content chocolate this Easter, then go for the 85%! Research indicates the higher the cocoa content of chocolate, the greater the mood-altering properties (polyphenols), such as feelings of pleasure and enjoyment. It has also been discovered that high cocoa content chocolate creates gut microbial diversity. Gut microbial diversity is important for immunity, as well as associations with emotional well-being.
Evidence has been found that dark chocolate consumption in everyday life influences physiological and psychological states. Dark chocolate also has prebiotic effects by restructuring the diversity and composition of the gut microbiome, which may in turn improve mood via the gut-brain axis.
Happy Easter all!
Hee-Shin, J., et al. (2022). Consumption of 85% cocoa dark chocolate improves mood in association with gut microbial changes in healthy adults: a randomised controlled trial. 99: 108854.