Dissertation: Dark Chocolate's Effects on Stress, Immunity, and Mood

This dissertation investigates the impact of dark chocolate consumption on various aspects of health and well-being. It begins with an introduction to the topic, followed by clearly defined research questions and hypotheses. The rationale for the study emphasizes the potential of dark chocolate to reduce stress and inflammation, while also improving memory, immunity, and mood. A comprehensive literature review examines existing knowledge about dark chocolate consumption, its health benefits, potential drawbacks, and its effects on mental health problems. The study employs a PICO framework to refine the research focus and outlines aims, objectives, and a proposed methodology including research methods, a timeline, and feasibility considerations. Data analysis and interpretation will be conducted using questionnaires. The discussion section will analyze the findings and their implications, followed by a reflection, conclusion, and recommendations. The dissertation concludes with a list of references and appendices.

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

iron, copper, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus and flavanols. However, it is beneficial for helping in
prevention of heart disease and low risk of stroke and improve cognition, prevent memory loss
and boost up mood of people. It may enhance the blood sugar levels along with decreasing the
risk of developing problem of diabetes. Meanwhile, dark chocolate is good for gut of human
being and provide support in terms of weight loss. It is helpful in fighting free radicals and may
play a role in cancer prevention. The most important benefit of dark chocolate is to improve the
regular developed stress and depression among people. It is helpful to relieved the symptoms of
stress and depression at the initial state which will provide support to eliminate the risk of
acquiring severe condition. It is beneficial in terms of solving mood disorders due to which
patient feel stable which is favourable for care professionals to provide desired treatment
effectively. People should intake dark chocolate in specific amount for improving health
condition. Away with this, largest cocoa bean producing country in the world is Côte d'Ivoire,
which produced 1.2 million tons of cocoa in 2006–2007, which is also appropriate based on the
quality conditions. With the help of this, stress level has been reduced in much effective and in
efficient manner.
As contrary, Katherine Marengo (2019) examined the that Inflammation is main part of
natural immune response of body to the germs and also other harmful substances. The chronic
inflammation can be damage the tissues and cells and this may enhance risk of the health
conditions consisting type 2 diabetes, arthritis and certain kind of the cancer. Dark chocolate has
number of benefits which are mentioned here. Initially, it is considered as highly nutritious
product which has fibre, iron, magnesium and copper for maintaining proper body condition.
Secondly, it includes the benefits that it is known as powerful source of antioxidants which
improve the antioxidants activities favourable for human body. Thirdly, it consists the benefit of
boosting up the blood flow along with lowering the blood pressure, hence, it is beneficial for
patients of high B.P. to make it normal. As mentioned by Kennedy and et. al. (2016), it is also
suitable because of having ability for raising the HDL as well as protecting the LDL from
oxidation which facilitates to reduce risk of occurring heart related problems among individuals.
Meanwhile, it is favourable because it is capable to decrease the risk of heart disease by
maintaining blood pressure and cholesterol level in body as it is highly protective against
oxidation of LDL. It involves the benefit of protecting the skin from sunlight and improves the
appearance in proper manner. However, the dark chocolate is important in daily life for

improving moods and cheer up to stay active and spends life in comfortable manner. Many of
people face stress on daily basis then they should eat dark chocolate in order to improve their
condition. Moreover, it is suitable for people as it is responsible for enhancing the functioning of
brain which most important benefit of dark chocolate. It is beneficial to eat dark chocolate as it
has many of health benefits for people.
The health issues in which dark chocolate should be avoided by individuals.
Joseph, Edirisinghe and Burton-Freeman (2016) states that the dark chocolate has some
of disadvantages as it contains much more caffeine as an 8 ounce of black coffee jar does. This
substance is harmful for human body if consumes in high amount which is responsible for
developing problem of dehydration. Basically, it may also enhance the risk of creating health
issue of kidney stone and other relevant issue. People who are having kidney related disease
should strictly avoid intake of dark chocolate. It is observed that various kinds of health issues
require to avoid intake of dark chocolate in order to maintain stable health condition. However, it
has been analysed that dark chocolate is responsible for containing more amount of caffeine as
compared to sweet & white chocolate due to which it is responsible for causing several health
problems like diarrhoea, anxiety, irritability, nervousness, dehydration and increased heart rate. It
is necessary for people to not intake dark chocolate in excess amount is harmful for health due to
which it should be eaten in proper manner. Moreover, the caffeine substance has potential to
cause high blood pressure, difficulty to focus, insomnia etc. The people having problem of high
B.P. should strictly avoid use of dark chocolate to maintain normal blood pressure levels in
human body.
As contrary to this, Kriti Malik (2020), Dark chocolate has the high concentration of
alkaloid called theobromine that mainly found in the coffee. Theobromine has the relaxing
impacts and also properties. This can be dilate blood vessels and also minimum blood pressure.
Sit has the high in calories and fat but this is not that kind of fat that will be steer people towards
obesity but better kind of the fat that help body. In addition to this, some of people have allergy
from the caffeine substance due to which they should not eat dark chocolate ever or relevant
product. Bakhtiari and et. al. (2017) states that it includes the patients suffering from the
problems of diabetes should also require to avoid dark chocolate as it consumes more sugar
which can enhance sugar level in body which facilitate to develop complications for them.
Basically, the dark chocolate should be avoided for people having problem of kid stones and

relevant disease related to kidneys. It is so because dark chocolate oxalates urinary excretion
which is accountable to increase the risk of forming kidney stones due to which people who has
problem of kidney stones in past then they should not eat dark chocolate much. However, it has
been identified that migraine is a critical problem in which dark chocolate must be avoided by
people whether they have low, moderate and high level of migraine condition. It is so because
dark chocolate has a substance named tyramine which has tendency to increase blood sugar
levels which is responsible for developing migraine headaches so that people with this problem
must ignore this food. Moreover, dark chocolate is rich in sugar which increase fat in body which
are responsible to cause cardiovascular diseases in which it should be avoided properly. A 100-
kcal portion of dark chocolate (70%–85% cacao) contains 1.7 g of fiber, whereas semisweet
chocolate and milk chocolate contain 1.2 g and 0.6 g per 100 kcal, respectively. Based on the
critical analysis, it has been found that consuming this much of kcal, may lead an individual to
go through a range of health problems like anxiety, diarrhoea, nervousness, irritability, increased
heart rate and dehydration.
The impact of consuming dark chocolate for reducing stress and inflammation, while improving
memory, immunity and mood in common people.
According to the opinion of Natsume (2018), the impact of consumption dark chocolate
among common people is favourable to reduce stress and inflammation due to its nutritive value.
It is beneficial for skin in several ways and dark chocolate is also suitable to make good
cholesterol up as well as bad cholesterol down. Basically, the intake of dark chocolate impact
positively in order to regulate mood conditions and reduce stress level among people. It is
required for people having regular work stress to eat dark chocolate bites every evening for
reducing their stress levels. The main ingredient of dark chocolate is cocoa powder which is rich
in flavonoids that helps to reducing stress level as well as inflammation among individuals.
Clara Moskowitz (2020) stated that people who are rated themselves with the high stress
to start with the minimum stress hormones after eating the chocolate each days for the two
weeks. Daily consumption of the dark chocolate has been resulted in main modification of
metabolism of the free living volunteers and the healthy with long term consequences on human
healthy with 2 weeks treatment. It was observable by minimize of the stress level related to the
hormones as well as normalisation of systematic stress metabolic signatures. Meanwhile, it is
observed that flavonoid can be considered as potential antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agent

which impact positively on brain as well as cardiovascular health (Shahidan and et. al., 2017).
Dark chocolate consumption effect on neurological functions by sugar substance which has the
fact that; the more sugar a person intake, and then they will happier. It is observed that it is an
effective as well as efficient substance in terms of reducing the inflammation among individuals
due to its anti-inflammatory property. The small bites of dark chocolate impact positively to
manage the stress and inflammation for improving condition of individuals.
According to the opinion given by Babb, (2016), it has potential in respect of regulating
neural signalling, sensory perception and cellular immune response. On the other hand, it has
been evaluated that dark chocolate has an efficient capability of affecting the gene expression of
human beings. Basically, it includes the fact that cocoa is an important material of dark chocolate
because it is helpful to cellular immune response, genes involved in neural signalling & sensory
perception and regulate multiple intracellular signalling pathways that are engaged in T-cell
activation. However, this product is responsible for potentially linked with the brain phenomenon
of hyper plasticity. It involves impact of cocoa powder which is positive in context of memory,
mood, immunity, cognition and other favourable effects for human body. Meanwhile, it consists
the beneficial impact of dark chocolate among people for managing their increased stress level
and inflammation. It is observed that many of people suffer from regular stress of working which
may lead to a complicated condition but this can be avoided by intake of small bites of dark
chocolate. It is beneficial to avoid complications related to stress among individuals respectively.
The effects of consuming dark chocolate in mental health problems.
According to Tim Newman (2019) Eating the dark chocolate can be helpful in minimize
the anxiety and also make improvement in symptoms of the clinical depression. Those people
who ate the dark cochlear in the 24 hour period had been 72% minimized odds of the reports
depressive symptoms than those who did not eat the chocolate. The mental health problems like
stress, depression and anxiety can be reduced by intake of dark chocolate because it is helpful to
maintain moods of people. It includes the use of dark chocolate for managing several problems
like stress and inflammation which may acquire complicated stage. It is observed that dark
chocolate effects positively to avoid complicated stages related to several psychological
problems like stress, depression and other mood disorders for maintain stable condition of an
individual. Meanwhile, it has been analysed that consumption of dark chocolate has adverse
effects among diabetic people because it has higher amount of sugar that increase blood sugar