Dark Chocolate Consumption: Reducing Stress and Inflammation

Dissertation

Table of Contents
Proposed title...................................................................................................................................4
Introduction......................................................................................................................................4
Research questions...........................................................................................................................4
Hypothesis if applicable...................................................................................................................4
Rationale..........................................................................................................................................5
Literature of review..........................................................................................................................6
The knowledge about dark chocolate consumption among people........................................6
The health benefits of dark chocolate for common people....................................................8
The health issues in which dark chocolate should be avoided by individuals.......................9
The impact of consuming dark chocolate for reducing stress and inflammation, while
improving memory, immunity and mood in common people..............................................10
The effects of consuming dark chocolate in mental health problems..................................11
PICO FRAMEWORK..........................................................................................................12
Aims and objectives.......................................................................................................................12
Research aim........................................................................................................................12
Research objectives..............................................................................................................12
Possible methodology....................................................................................................................12
Timeline................................................................................................................................12
Research methods.................................................................................................................15
Feasibility.............................................................................................................................17
Data analysis and interpretation.....................................................................................................17
Questionnaire........................................................................................................................17
Data interpretation................................................................................................................23
Discussion......................................................................................................................................36
REFLECTION...............................................................................................................................39
Conclusion and recommendations.................................................................................................47
References......................................................................................................................................48
Appendices.....................................................................................................................................50

Proposed title
“Dark chocolate consumption reduces stress and inflammation, while improving
memory, immunity and mood in common people”.
Introduction
Stress and inflammation are said to be the two crucial subjects, that are required to be
analysed appropriately because they lead an individual to go through different range of health
related issues. It has been observed that consumption of dark chocolate would effectively reduce
inflammation and stress at the same time. Also, many investigations that took place, where
researchers have found that eating the equivalent of one average-sized dark chocolate candy bar
(1.4 ounces) each day for two weeks reduced levels of the stress hormone cortisol as well as the
“fight-or-flight” hormones known as catecholamines in highly stressed people. Also, dark
chocolate specifically helps in improving immunity, mood and memory as well. At international
level, chocolate consumption, which was identified was approximately 0.12 kg per person per
year in China to 11.85 kg in Ireland. On the other hand, if it is talked about the United States then
it falls down with per capita annual consumption of 5.18 kg. Including this, 64% of worldwide
consumption of chocolate has been identified among developed nations.
Creativity is phenomenon where by the something new as well as valuable is mainly
formed. This is explained as tendency to be identify and also recognise the ideas, possibilities
and alternatives which may be useful in solving the issues, interacting with the other and also
entertaining others effectively. On the other hand, innovation is development, creation and
execution of new process, services and products. Its main is to make improvement in the
effectiveness and efficiency. The dark chocolate remains favourite of consumer. There is a new
innovation that mainly designed to provide the customers daily fix of the dark chocolate that
fortified with the omega 3 fatty acids.
Research questions
 How to examine the knowledge about dark chocolate consumption among people?
 What are the health benefits of dark chocolate for common people?
 How to analyse the health issues in which dark chocolate should be avoided by
individuals?

 What are the ways to identify the impact of consuming dark chocolate for reducing stress
and inflammation, while improving memory, immunity and mood in common people?
 How to determine the effects of consuming dark chocolate in mental health problems?
Hypothesis if applicable
Hypothesis 1:
 Null hypothesis: μ = There is an actual knowledge about dark chocolate consumption
among people. Alternative hypothesis: μ ≠ There is an actual knowledge about dark chocolate
consumption among people.
Hypothesis 2:
 Null hypothesis: μ = The health benefits of dark chocolate exist for common people by
proper consumption. Alternative hypothesis: μ ≠ The health benefits of dark chocolate exist for common
people by proper consumption.
Hypothesis 3:
 Null hypothesis: μ = There are some of the health issues in which dark chocolate should
be avoided by individuals. Alternative hypothesis: μ ≠ There are some of the health issues in which dark chocolate
should be avoided by individuals.
Hypothesis 4:
 Null hypothesis: μ = There is an impact of consuming dark chocolate for reducing stress
and inflammation, while improving memory, immunity and mood in common people. Alternative hypothesis: μ ≠ There is an impact of consuming dark chocolate for reducing
stress and inflammation, while improving memory, immunity and mood in common
people.
Hypothesis 5:
 Null hypothesis: μ = The consumption of dark chocolate has positive effects in terms of
mental health problems.
 Alternative hypothesis: μ ≠ The consumption of dark chocolate has positive effects in
terms of mental health problems.

Rationale
Consumption of dark chocolate is helpful in terms of improving health among common
people. It includes the management of moods, depressive condition and stress among common
people. However, it has been analysed that intake of dark chocolate in appropriate amount
provide support to a patient in order to overcome with their anxiety and clinical depressive
symptoms (Zięba, Makarewicz-Wujec and Kozłowska-Wojciechowska, 2019). It involves the
fact that individuals who intake dark chocolate in two 24 hours’ periods has around 70%
decreased odds of reporting signs of depression as compared to group of citizens who did not eat
dark chocolate. Meanwhile, dark chocolate is effective and beneficial because it contains
phenylethylamine, a neuromodulator implicated in mood regulation due to which it is favourable
in reduction of stress. It has been analysed that dark chocolate consumption is very effective for
improving the mood among people. It is observed that dark chocolate can be intake in specific
amount in order to enhance the mood disorders and inflammation. In addition to this, this
product is considered as beneficial in terms of improving stressed condition so that a person
having work stress then they can eat some bites of dark chocolates to improve their condition it
will provide support to make them feel easy and light to spend happy time with family after
working hours.
In context of this study, it is based on the consumption of dark chocolate has potential in
aspect of reducing stress as well as inflammation at the time of improving memory, immunity
and mood in common people. It includes the investigation of impact of dark chocolate on human
body which is responsible for boosting up immune strength and memory level among people.
However, it is an important fact to investigate about effects of eating dark chocolate for reducing
the stress level because it may become a significant product for improving lives of people. It is
observed that every third person has the problems of stress then they improve their quality of life
by eating dark chocolate consumption (Całkosiński and et. al., 2019). It is beneficial to gain
knowledge about use of dark chocolate for improving health condition and moods of citizens.
This investigation will focus on the knowledge about dark chocolate consumption among
common people and the relevant health problems in which dark chocolate should be avoided by
individuals. It will also include the impact of consuming dark chocolate for reducing stress and
inflammation during the improvement of memory, immunity as well as mood in common people.

The effects of consuming dark chocolate in mental health problems including several disorders
and relevant symptoms are given below:
Literature of review
It is one of the main part of dissertation. Under this, secondary sources has been used for
collection of information such as books, articles, journals, internet sources and others. The main
aim of literature review is to attain the objectives in detailed manner. There has been critical
analysis among the different authors on particular area.
The knowledge about dark chocolate consumption among people
According to Noom (2020) Dark chocolate is fully loaded with the nutrients that provide
the positive affect on health. This is made from seed of cocoa tree and one of best source of the
antioxidants on planet. It can make improvement in the health and low risk to the heart disease.
Dark chocolate is one of the effective source that is rich in minerals including magnesium, iron
and zinc. It is also responsible for consisting anti-oxidants like flavonoids that impact positively
on health of people due to use of cocoa in manufacturing the same. However, it has been
analysed that dark chocolate is not liked much but it is beneficial for common people for
reducing their stress and depression level. It includes the important element of cocoa which has
antioxidants that are known as polyphenols which impact positively to regulate the levels of
cholesterol in human body. It has been analysed that dark chocolate consumption is limited
among people whereas sweet chocolate is mostly liked by people. However, it is observed that
dark chocolate is liked by few of individuals and those people eat the same who known its
benefits related to health condition. It includes the ability and potential for reliving the stressed
condition so that people should eat a single bite of chocolate per day. Additionally, the dark
chocolate has antioxidants which are helpful for neutralising free radicals and preventing the
oxidative stress. It is favourable in terms of avoiding risk of developing several severe health
problems including heart disease, diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer
and eye disease. If it is critically analysed, then it can be said that cocoa contains caffeine and
related chemicals. Eating large amounts might cause caffeine-related side effects such as
nervousness, increased urination, sleeplessness, and a fast heartbeat. Cocoa can cause allergic
skin reactions, constipation, and might trigger migraine headaches.

As contrary to this, Anna Brooks (2020) stated that Dark chocolate mainly contains the
phytonutrients called the flavonoids which are the planet chemicals that mainly act as the
antioxidants and play important role in the prevention of cancer, weight loss and the heart health.
Its recommended dose is around 1 to 2 ounces or 30 to 60g. Indulge in the anything is more than
that and may be mainly consuming many calories. The milk chocolates & sweet chocolates are
mostly used for people due their highly delicious taste whereas dark chocolate has limited likes
among them. It is beneficial for reliving some of symptoms related to health problems which
make an individual feel easy as well as comfortable. Basically, it is observed that dark chocolate
intake is limited due to lack of knowledge about its benefits for health whereas some of people
who intake it knows about its actual value. According to Gvozdjakova and et. al. (2019), the
knowledge about dark chocolate should provide to people by efforts of medical practitioners
which impact positively on their health condition. It will encourage people suffering from regular
work stress to intake one or two bites of dark chocolate for improving their condition relieved.
However, it involves the way of carrying out promotional activities with proper efforts of
medical practitioners to increase awareness among citizens about appropriate utilisation of dark
chocolate for managing the common disorders which occurs among citizens like depression and
stress or mood condition. Meanwhile, it has been evaluated that people can consume dark
chocolate for improving blood pressure, cholesterol, anti-inflammatory effects, insulin
resistance, and brain function and so on. It is beneficial for people to consume dark chocolate
which improve working stress of people on daily basis for improving quality of life. It is being
critically analysed that, dark chocolate consumption among people carries both negative and
positive manner over the health conditions in much efficient ways.
The health benefits of dark chocolate for common people.
On the basis of Kris Gunnars (2018), dark chocolate is main source of the antioxidants.
This is loaded with the organic compounds which active biologically and also function as the
antioxidants. These mainly consists the flavanols, polyphenols and the catechins. It may make
improvement in the cognition, boost mood and also prevent the memory loss. This makes
improvement in the brain health because of the high level flavonoids in the dark chocolate .
Other than this, dark chocolate has various health benefits in regards to common people (Kuebler
and et. al. 2016). It includes the benefit of containing antioxidants due to cocoa which is rich in