Seems that research is confirming what many have suspected for some time: chocolate does help you deal with stress (as long as you aren’t allergic to it).

A clinical trial published in the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Proteome Research show that chocolate can be taken medicinally. Eating about 45 grams of dark chocolate (or an ounce and a half) every day over a two week period reduced stress hormone levels for highly stressed people.

You could be helping your allergies too: recent research shows that people under stress tend to have more severe allergy symptoms.

This wasn’t the only benefit. Antioxidants and other chemical compounds in chocolate may reduce the risk of heart disease.

Maybe that’s why we give chocolates on Valentine’s Day – it’s all about the heart.

Source: The Handiest One