It’s February… and that means Chocolate! It’s tradition. It’s love. Giving chocolates on Valentine’s Day has been a tradition for over 100 years. Of course, we would only honor our love for that someone special with something that tastes fabulous. So, it’s our good fortune that chocolate evolved from its original form as a bitter brew. It was in the late 1800’s that a British chocolate maker extracted a smooth paste from the cocoa bean and when the Swiss added milk, the first milk chocolate was created and we’ve been hooked ever since.

Our aristocratic ancestors coveted chocolate as a stimulant and valued it as a supposed aphrodisiac. Casanova, best known for his romantic escapades, reportedly consumed vast quantities of chocolate for its aphrodisiac effects. Chocolate may not actually be an aphrodisiac but most of us agree that, not only does it taste good, it makes us feel good. It contains Theobromine, a mild relative of caffeine, and magnesium, a component of some tranquilizers. Chocolate is also loaded with chemical mood enhancers. The taste of sugar produces a rush of endorphins… chemicals that calm the senses. We also know that sugar triggers the release of serotonin, a chemical that contributes to a sense of well-being.

So what’s the downside to chocolate? Nothing, as long as you’re enjoying it as a treat and not using it as a coping mechanism. If, however, you or someone you know uses chocolate and other foods to provide comfort or solace to handle depression, sadness or other continuing difficult situations, that’s another story altogether. Stephanie Costello, MSW, LSW, ACSW, a consultant with FIRSTCALL Employee Assistance Program, has the following advice for people who are “drowning their sorrows in chocolate”:

  • If you think you have a problem with overindulging in chocolate or some other food, keep records for a week and write down what you’re eating and when.
  • Note what you’re thinking about and feeling when you get the urge to indulge or overeat.
  • Look for a pattern in your overeating.
  • If you think there’s a problem, talk about it with a trusted friend or mentor or consider seeking counseling with a professional.
  • You may simply be stressed or anxious and looking for something pleasant to relieve the anxiety. Some basic stress management techniques may be all you need to get your eating back under control.

For information or assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week call 1.800.383.2377.