This week, I wanted to explore some of the biological and chemical reasons as to why both chocolate and mindfulness are such an important and positive thing for us all to enjoy. In the first part of The Science of Chocolat Philippe, I’m looking at the chocolate itself, and exactly what partaking in it does to our bodies and our minds.
The world is buzzing with stories of the benefits of chocolate. Chocolate is both a luxury indulgence, and a superfood helping our brain and body. As a result, a lot of people eat chocolate around the world. It is the purest form of cocoa, and the cacao bean from which it is made is the most nutrient-dense food in the world.
The problem is that most of the chocolate on the market is not made from the purest, most nutritious, and most beneficial ingredients. For this reason, I only buy high-quality beans directly from farmers. Those beans burst with flavour, and don’t need additives to enhance or preserve these flavours.
Neuroscientists at the University of California have found that chocolate can affect the brain in a similar way to cocaine (yes, really), but without the addictive side effects (good news), and can also improve memory, alertness, and happiness. Chocolate contains a number of chemicals that are good for your brain, including serotonin, a mood-boosting brain chemical, as well as theobromine, which dilates blood vessels, and phenethylamine, which stimulates the central nervous system.
At the same time, quality chocolate is a bit of a luxury indulgence, so it’s important to enjoy it in moderation. The key to enjoying chocolate and its benefits is to have a mindful experience, rather than a mindless one. This is because your senses provide the most pleasure and enjoyment from that perfectly sized bar of Chocolat Philippe chocolate.
To get the most out of your chocolate experience, start by taking in the smell of the chocolate. No matter how simple, the smell of chocolate will be more effective than eating it. Next, close your eyes and pay attention to the texture of the chocolate. Put a small piece of chocolate in your mouth, chew two to three times and finally allow it to slowly melt on your tongue. Enjoy the smooth feeling of the melted chocolate in your mouth and let the different flavours develop before you take a deep mindful breath and repeat the process.
While there are a thousand microscopic molecular moments that reinforce our love of chocolate, the above information has hopefully shed at least a little light on why it makes us feel the way that it does. Next time, we’re going to be looking at mindfulness, and how the effects that can have on us as well (especially when you combine it with more chocolate!).
