Dark chocolate may improve mood and gut microbiome

Many will agree that eating chocolate improves your mood.  But if it's only a sugar hit, it's short-lived and frankly not healthy at all.  The health benefits of chocolate are influenced by how much cocoa is in it.  The more the better.  

Researchers have found daily consumption of just 30g of dark chocolate with a cocoa content of 85% can have a positive impact on gut microbiome.  Specifically they found it led to significant elevation of a gut microbe called Blautia obeum which is positively correlated with improved mood.

Original article: https://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Article/2021/09/24/Dark-chocolate-may-alter-gut-microbiome-improve-mood-RCT/

Published research: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955286321002746