What is it that makes so many people love chocolate?
The sweet aroma, the smooth texture, and the feeling of happiness the moment you eat it.
It has been discovered that these are not simply a matter of taste, but that psychological factors are in fact deeply involved.
Chocolate’s impact on our minds goes beyond being merely a luxury item.
Various studies have shown that chocolate has the power to reduce anxiety and stress and increase happiness.
In particular, studies have shown that savoring chocolate slowly increases positive emotions and decreases negative emotions.
However, what is interesting is the different biphasic nature of it.
This means that chocolate may have different effects in different situations.
For example, it has been shown that eating a small amount of food can improve work efficiency when you need to concentrate, and has a calming effect when you want to relax.
The effects of chocolate go beyond just its nutritional content and cocoa content; its aroma and taste also affect our brains and are important factors in influencing our mood.
As part of a joint research project, Meiji Seika Kaisha and Komazawa University are conducting experiments and evaluations of the effects of these chocolates from the perspective of biphasic action.
The psychological effects of chocolate
A lot of research has been done on the effects of eating chocolate on the body and mind.
In a study by Benton et al ., they surveyed 330 college students and found that chocolate affects three aspects: strong desire, guilt, and nutritional value .
In particular, it was thought that the strong desire to eat chocolate was driven by the hope of relieving anxiety and stress and improving one’s mood.
Chocolate has actually been shown to have some effect in reducing mood and anxiety.
Studies have shown that eating chocolate can reduce depression and anxiety, increase feelings of happiness, and decrease negative feelings.
We also found that chocolate had a stronger mood-improving effect than apples, and that eating chocolate slowly, savoring it, increased positive emotions.
This effect was not seen with crackers.
However, it has also been shown that even though they are nutritionally the same, unpleasant chocolate has no effect on easing unpleasant feelings.
In addition, a study was conducted on 34 college students who had a craving for chocolate at least once a week to find out which components of chocolate are involved in the strong desire to eat it.
The results showed that cocoa powder and white chocolate in capsules left people feeling less satisfied after eating them.
In particular, adding cocoa powder to white chocolate did not provide nearly the same satisfaction as eating regular chocolate.
These results suggest that the desire to eat chocolate is influenced not only by its nutritional value and ingredients, but also by other psychological factors.
Chocolate has the power to trigger strong cravings when we want to relax or relieve stress.
However, its action is not simple; it has a property called “biphasic action,” which means it has different effects depending on the situation.
First, let me explain biphasic action.
This is the phenomenon where the same substance or action can have completely different effects in different circumstances.
For example, drinking caffeinated coffee in the morning can have an alerting effect and improve your concentration.
However, drinking it late at night can have a relaxing, calming effect.
A similar effect has also been observed with chocolate.
For example, eating a small amount of chocolate while working or studying can help you concentrate, while the same chocolate can have a calming, stress-reducing effect when you want to relax.
Does eating chocolate make you more productive?
Studies have shown that chocolate can help reduce anxiety and stress .
One study found that eating chocolate increases positive emotions and decreases negative emotions.
Additionally, studies have shown that eating chocolate slowly, savoring it, can similarly increase positive mood.
This effect cannot be explained solely by the nutritional value or cocoa content of chocolate.
In fact, it has been shown that nutritionally identical but bad-tasting chocolate does not produce the same psychological benefits.
This means that sensory factors such as the taste and aroma of chocolate have a huge impact on our mood.
So, what effect does chocolate have on work and study?
One study has shown that the aroma compounds in chocolate can affect concentration and reaction times.
In particular, it has been shown that a strong chocolate scent can have an effect on brain activity and improve work efficiency.
However, the ingredients in chocolate, such as caffeine and theobromine , do not directly increase work efficiency.
The amount of caffeine is small and it takes quite some time for the stimulant effect to take effect.
On the other hand, sucrose may have a short-term energy supply effect by increasing blood sugar levels, but this effect is limited.
Based on this, it is believed that the effect of chocolate on improving work efficiency may be due more to the psychological effects of its aroma and taste than to the ingredients themselves.
The effects of chocolate vary depending on your state of mind when you eat it.
Eating chocolate while working or studying has a “cheer-up effect” that energizes you, and conversely, eating chocolate when you want to relax has a “relaxing effect” that calms the mind.
In this study, we conducted an experiment to examine the effects of eating a small amount of chocolate (approximately 4.6 grams), which is not necessarily expected to have any nutritional benefits.
Rather than just investigating how eating chocolate changes mood, we wanted to scientifically prove its effects by observing actual behavior and bodily reactions.
In particular, we used physiological responses, psychological indicators, and behavioral data to investigate whether the cheer-up and relaxing effects after eating chocolate vary depending on the situation.
The results showed that eating chocolate while performing a task that required concentration increased positive emotions and decreased negative emotions.
This proves that eating chocolate reduces stress and gives you a boost of energy.
On the other hand, eating chocolate after work has been found to relax the mind and relieve the tension and stress felt while working.
As such, chocolate has a biphasic effect, and its effects change depending on the timing and situation in which it is eaten.
The effect of chocolate on the brain
The aroma compounds in chocolate also affect our brains.
Research has shown that simply smelling the scent of chocolate can change your brainwaves and improve your ability to concentrate.
The effect is especially noticeable when the chocolate scent is strong.
This shows that strong-smelling chocolate not only has a relaxing effect, but also helps improve concentration while working.
The aromatic compounds in chocolate stimulate specific areas of the brain, improving attention and reaction times.
Chocolate is not only delicious, it also has a profound effect on our minds.
Its biphasic action has the power to both relax you when you are stressed and invigorate you when you need to concentrate.
These psychological effects of chocolate could potentially be utilized in various situations in everyday life.
For example, eating a little chocolate while at work can improve your productivity, or eating it in the evening when you want to relax can reduce stress.
This research has made it clear that chocolate goes beyond being merely a luxury item; it is a powerful food that has a positive effect on our minds and bodies.
You too can improve your work efficiency and maintain your mental health by controlling your chocolate intake and eating moderate amounts.