At the risk of being “a day late and a dollar short,” since Valentine’s Day has passed. I offer this study on the beneficial effects of chocolate.
University of Alabama at Birmingham nutrition expert is providing information on some of the health benefits of the decadent dessert and insight as to why it has become so popular during the holiday.
Lizzy Davis, Ph.D., an assistant professor with UAB’s Department of Nutrition Sciences, says chocolate can be synonymous with Valentine’s Day because cocoa beans contain tryptophan and phenylethylamine — chemicals that are connected with improved mood and happiness and make you feel energized.
“In fact, these are even coined the ‘love drug’ because they mimic the emotions a person feels when experiencing love,” Davis said.
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