You might be doing yourself a favour.

A study in Switzerland (where else?) gave either dark chocolate or placebos to some extremely stressed people.

The test subjects were then put into a mock job interview and asked complete a complex math problem in front of a large audience.

From the study, the people who had eaten a few pieces of delicious dark chocolate had significantly lower levels of cortisol and epinephrine and didn’t feel as nearly stressed.

It has been suggested that eating chocolate during pregnancy may sweeten the newborns temperament.  For seniors, dark chocolate can create a reduction in memory loss and lower a risk of Alzheimer’s. Dark chocolate has also been known to boost oxygen levels in the brain during exercise.

The chemicals naturally found in dark chocolate can cause the brain to release neurotransmitters which are responsible for your emotions and can activate pleasure sensors in the brain to cause a blissful sensation.

But wait, it gets better;

Both short term and long-term consumption may be beneficial, so you may experience improved memory function from two hours to three months after that square of Lindt.

But, before you switch to an all-chocolate diet, it is important to remember that not all chocolate is the same. Many types of chocolate are high in sugar and fats and can cause other health complications such as weight gain and migraines.

While eating chocolate can have both health benefits and risks, this Easter enjoy some guilt free dark chocolate (in moderation of course).