ETAP-Applied Ethology, Centre de Recherche en Pharmacologie, Canc�rologie & Pathologies Humaines et Nutrition-Sant�, Vandoeuvre-l�s-Nancy, France.
Depression is a major public health problem affecting about 12% of the world population. Drugs exist but they have many side effects. In the last few years, natural substances (e.g. flavonoids) have been tested to cure such disorders.
Cocoa polyphenolic extract is a complex compound prepared from non-roasted cocoa beans containing high levels of flavonoids. The antidepressant-like effect of cocoa polyphenolic extract was evaluated using the forced swimming test in rats.
Cocoa polyphenolic extract significantly reduced the duration of immobility at both doses of 24 mg/kg/14 days and 48 mg/kg/14 days, although no change of motor dysfunction was observed with the two doses tested in the open field.
The results of the forced swimming test after a subchronic treatment and after an additional locomotor activity test confirm the assumption that the antidepressant-like effect of cocoa polyphenolic extract in the forced swimming test model is specific. Further, it can be speculated that this effect might be related to its content of active polyphenols.
gosh, all they had to do was ask the 18 million women that use chocolate for this effect, usually just at a certain point in their cycle.
imo, women have been using it for ages as self medication for PMS. works like a charm.
ST,
The thing I wonder about is why most women seem to prefer milk chocolate, over dark chocolate. The darker the chocolate, the higher the level of polyphenols (generally speaking).
Taste-wise, I prefer milk chocolate. Always have. These days, I go with the darkest possible chocolate - as a middleground between taste and health-benefits. So, I can relate to wanting to have the milk chocolate - for the taste and for the taste-related mood elevation. But, then again, milk chocolate is generally pretty low in polyphenols. And therein lies the mystery.
The thing I wonder about is why most women seem to prefer milk chocolate, over dark chocolate. The darker the chocolate, the higher the level of polyphenols (generally speaking).
Taste-wise, I prefer milk chocolate. Always have. These days, I go with the darkest possible chocolate - as a middleground between taste and health-benefits. So, I can relate to wanting to have the milk chocolate - for the taste and for the taste-related mood elevation. But, then again, milk chocolate is generally pretty low in polyphenols. And therein lies the mystery.
I prefer dark chocolate.. always have. So, I don't know about most women.
but, I'm sure the sugar gives a bit of a lift (talking about PMS), as well as the chocolate. And, maybe the milk chocolate does the trick, but perhaps not as well as dark chocolate.
Also.. I know women that can go through a box of chocolates.. which are usually mostly milk chocolate. You probably wouldn't go through a pound of dark chocolate, because a little goes a long way.. and maybe the fact that there is more of this factor in dark chocolate means that you don't have to eat as much.
heck, I don't know... just guessing. but.. I do know there is magic in chocolate for a lot of women.
Hey, maybe it is the aphrodisiac part that is the magic...
I think you're probably right about the quantities of milk vs. dark chocolate that would likely be consumed. The dark is more intense and would therefore be used with more moderation by most.
I think the reason some women prefer milk chocolate over the dark ones is because of its sweet taste. Usually, some of us crave for sweets before and during PMS
Funny that they think they can measure depression in mice by a swimming test??? Do we swim less when depressed? Seems like there are better measures...
Omega-3 fatty acids in depression: A review of three studies – Source: CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics, Summer 2009
by Yamima Osher, RH Belmaker
June 22, 2009
We review three studies of omega-3 fatty acids in the treatment of depression that were carried out by our research group at the Beer Sheva Mental Health Center.
The first study examined eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) versus placebo as an adjunct to antidepressant treatment in 20 unipolar patients with recurrent major depression.
The second study used omega-3 fatty acids in childhood major depression; 28 children aged 6-12 were randomized to omega-3 fatty acids or placebo as pharmacologic monotherapy.
The third study was an open-label add-on trial of EPA in bipolar depression. Twelve bipolar outpatients with depressive symptoms were treated with 1.5-2.0 g/day of EPA for up to 6 months.
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One more comment on chocolate-
It's not well publicized that chocolate is fairly high in lead. THis was in Science News before they pulled that section. They revealed some very good info but big pharma got them to pull all that news. Now is is all how something can be made into a new drug. Their power is amazing. Anyway the article discussed the processing and they cannot figure how it gets in the chocolate. It is in the shell but somehow ends up in the chocolate. THey still use leaded gas down there and that could be one source.
Dark choc is highest of course. Also milk reduces the benefits of the anti oxidants. Same if you have blueberries and dairy. Not sure why.
Another factor is carbohydrate and serotonin. Milk chocolate has more carbohydrate (in the forms of milk and sugar) than dark chocolate. Carbohydrate consumption increases seratonin production, which tends to help folks feel better.
Serotonin: Neurotransmitter that relays impulses between nerve cells (neurons) in the central nervous system. Functions thought to be regulated by nerve cells that utilize serotonin include mood and behavior, physical coordination, appetite, body temperature, and sleep. Sometimes referred to as the "feel good" hormone.
Cheers,
BB
P.S. Before you go pigging out on chocolate or have a carb-fest when you feel blah, remember that exercise is also productive of seratonin, so taking a nice brisk walk with a hunk of chocolate might benefit your health more in the long run!
The thing I wonder about is why most women seem to prefer milk chocolate, over dark chocolate. The darker the chocolate, the higher the level of polyphenols (generally speaking).
Maybe it's the phenylethylamine, that feel-good in-love chemical chocolate has, which is also a chemical cousin of amphetamine.
and did you know that much of our serotonin is produced in the gut , not the brain? So this makes me think that gut health has everything to do with depression.
I had a patient with an irritable bowel type syndrome and the doctors prescribe paxil for her. It of course did not cure, but it did help her extreme bowel irregularity. So this may have something to do with why depression goes away for many people when they restore a living foods diet which of course heals the gut. Diet change should be the first treatment done in depression cases.
__________________ "The nurse should be cheerful, orderly, punctual, patient, full of faith, - receptive to Truth and Love" Mary Baker Eddy
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In case anybody is wondering there has been a scientific study done on which type of chocolate, milk or dark, gives the most happiness to people.
The "Chocolate Happiness Undergoing More Pleasantness" or CHUMP study as it was called,ended in chaos but everybody got their fill of choc, except the control group who were thoroughly fed up by the end of the study.
Cocoa vs. Depression
Linear Mode
