Chocoloate Craving A Cause Or Effect of Depression?

It is common knowledge that people crave for chocolate when they feel down. But is there an actual scientific link between depression and consumption of chocolate? That is what Dr. Beatrice Golomb and her colleagues at the University of California at San Diego sought to investigate.

In the study, Golomb and her colleagues surveyed more than 900 people about their weekly chocolate consumption and their overall diet. They also gauged the moods of the participants using a standard questionnaire used to screen for depression. (People who were taking antidepressants were excluded from the study.)

They found that depressed people ate as much as 55 percent more chocolate than those who were not depressed. They also learned that the ones who were more depressed tend to eat more chocolate than those who were only slightly depressed.

The researchers speculate that eating chocolate may either be a form of self-medication, or may actually be a cause that contributes to depression. They are even considering the possibility that chocolate may be similar to alcohol, which brings temporary mood relief, but in the long run may have a negative effect on mood.

The full article gives more details about the study and its findings. Are you one of those people who start to reach for a chocolate bar when they feel down? Does your chocolate consumption increase as your mood goes down? Share your thoughts below!