Did you know that being happy about your past might be the reason you reach for jelly beans instead of green beans? According to Karen Page Winterich of Pennsylvania State University and Kelly Haws of Texas A&M, studies have revealed that happy people tend to reach for candies more often than hopeful people who pick fruit.
These findings show that people that are nostalgic and focused on the good things of the past tend to crave candy more than those people focused on the future.
In the first of four studies done participants were asked to think about the past, present or future and then seeing whether they picked candy or fruit. The result was that participants "in the future" would eat less M&M's than those thinking of present/past happiness and would be more likely to choose the healthier option.
This unconventional experiment has concluded that the next time your candy cravings are out of control, try switching your stream of thoughts from the positive past to the hopeful glow of the future.
These findings show that people that are nostalgic and focused on the good things of the past tend to crave candy more than those people focused on the future.
In the first of four studies done participants were asked to think about the past, present or future and then seeing whether they picked candy or fruit. The result was that participants "in the future" would eat less M&M's than those thinking of present/past happiness and would be more likely to choose the healthier option.
This unconventional experiment has concluded that the next time your candy cravings are out of control, try switching your stream of thoughts from the positive past to the hopeful glow of the future.
On the other side of this coin there’s a long history of people using chocolate to make themselves happier, but the question still remains: is there a scientific basis behind it, or is the mood boosting ability of chocolate just an old wives’ tale?
The richness and sweetness tasted in chocolate accounts for the satisfaction we feel when eating it. These qualities stimulate the part of the brain responsible for pleasing sensations (called the hypothalamus). When you eat chocolate, even dark chocolate, because it has a high percentage of fat and sugar, improves your mood due to the pleasure sensors in your brain being activated.
In addition, chocolate can affect the amount of serotonin in the brain. This chemical is known for having an effect on mood, and is regulated by many anti-depressants. While the effect of chocolate is far less than that of medical remedies for depression, it does have a noticeable effect on the way serotonin is released.
Chemically, chocolate doesn't have the ability to boost mood for extended periods of time. To get a noticeable effect from these compounds you’d have to eat a lot of chocolate. But although the fat and sugar content isn't ready to be used to fight depression, a little bit might just help you cure the blues.
But science aside - I think most would say they are pretty happy while eating chocolate and after for a bit. Some things in life you don’t need a scientific test for. Eating chocolate is one of those times, so if it tastes good and makes you feel good then by all means enjoy your chocolate!
- iCandy
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