Eating chocolate is often associated with happiness and celebrations,
and a 2013 study in British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology found that
that consuming chocolate may help improve your mood, making you feel
calmer and more content. Dark chocolate stimulates the production of
endorphins, chemicals in the brain that create feelings of pleasure.
“Dark chocolate also contains serotonin, an antidepressant that can
elevate mood,” says Scritchfield. Flavanols are believed to play a role
in chocolate’s mood-enhancing effects, but don’t fall into the habit of
finding comfort from food or turning to it in emotional times.