How can chocolate reduce stress?

It almost sounds too good to be true :)

Don’t you love it when you learn food like chocolate can be medicine?

And no, this isn’t yet “another granny remedy” - this is actual science proven by research: “Effects of chocolate intake on Perceived Stress; a Controlled Clinical Study”

“Dark chocolate and other cocoa products have received lot of attention all over the world as dietary supplements to improve cardiovascular health. However the scientific evidence those cocoa products may alleviate stress as well is a relatively novel finding.”

The conclusion of this study states:

“Consumption of 40 g of Dark and Milk chocolate daily during a period of 2 weeks appear to be an effective way to reduce perceived stress in females.”

Right now is an incredibly important time to be healthy, decrease stress levels and do things that bring you comfort, nourishment and joy. Amazing to think that chocolate, in moderation :) functions to do all this.

Just a few baking suggestions to make the home smell good, provide a healthy treat, and bring down cortisol levels in this stressful moment in time.

My favourite chocolate recipes

Guinness Brownies

 ½ cup Guinness beer- possibly a leftover from St. Paddy’s Day
1 ½ cup dark chocolate chopped
¾ cup unsalted butter OR coconut oil
¾ cup coconut sugar (can use other sugars)
3 eggs
½ tsp vanilla
¾ cup ground oats- whole oats ground up into flour
¼ cup cocoa powder
pinch of salt

Oven at 350F/180C
Oil/line a 8x8 inch square baking pan.
In a small saucepan, bring the Guinness to a boil for 5 minutes until the liquid volume is halved. The plan is to make a 1/3 cup of reduced syrup. Let cool.
Mix the ground oats (I use a coffee grinder to do this) with the cocoa powder. Add a pinch of salt.
On a double boiler, melt ½ cup of chopped dark chocolate and the ¾ cup of unsalted butter or coconut oil. Let cool.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk ¾ cup coconut sugar with 3 eggs and the ½ tsp vanilla.
Add melted chocolate and the reduced Guinness. Whisk to combine.
Stir in the cocoa and oats until the mixture is smooth.
Pour brownies into a tin and bake for 30-35 minutes.

Oats- are used to build and tonify your qi and to support digestion.

Tahini Chocolate Banana Bread

 2 large overripe bananas mashed (or 3 medium-sized)
1/3 cup tahini
¼ cup maple syrup
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup almond flour/1 cup gluten-free flour (I always use Bob’s Red Mill blend)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp salt
½ cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350F/180C.
Line/oil loaf pan.
In a large bowl mix mashed bananas, tahini, maple syrup, eggs and vanilla.
Stir in almond flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt until combined.
Fold in chocolate chips
Bake for 45-50 minutes.

tahini- ground sesames have been used for thousands of years to boost the yin. Overall, it is a tonic to boost deficient conditions, like a weak constitution or poor immunity.

A more classic recipe version- adapted from Nigella Lawson, the domestic goddess

2 large overripe bananas mashed (or 3 medium-sized)
¼ cup vegetable oil
¼ cup tahini
1 large egg
1/3 cup sugar
¼ cup dark brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ cup rice flour. You can use regular flour if you don’t need a g-f option.
¼ cup cocoa powder
¼ tsp salt
½ baking soda
100 g chocolate chips

Oven to 170C/325F.
Oil/line loaf pan.
Mash the bananas, then beat in the tahini, followed by the oil, egg, sugars and vanilla.
Mix together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt- slowly beat into the batter. Fold in the chocolate chips.
Bake for 45-50 minutes.

The Best, My GO-TO Vegan, Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

1 1/2 cup oats (not instant)
1 cup gluten-free flour (Bob’s Red Mill blend works best)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/c cup oil ( I use safflower or light olive)
1/4 cup brown rice syrup AND 1/4 cup maple syrup
6 TBSP cold water
1 tsp vanilla

Mix wet and dry.
Add 1 cup chocolate chip and 1 cup toasted, chopped walnuts (toasting is the secret here).
Let sit for 15-20 minutes before you scoop them into cookies.

Oven at 350F/180C- bake for 10-12 minutes.

Walnuts are one of the main foods to boost your kidneys in Chinese Medicine. Your kidneys are your vitality and strength. A traditional remedy for coughs is to grind walnuts into a meal and mix with honey, then take 2 TBSP/day until your cough is gone.