Health

The surprising scientific link between sweet treats and romance

Fact: Chocolate is a feel good food, which is now said to have an effect on how we perceive our significant other or potential love interests.
Couple with chocolate

In a study published by the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships the authors tested the effect of sweet foods on romantic perception, concluding that we are likely to feel more amorous toward their partner (real or imagined).

Participants in the study were given either Oreo biscuits or salt & vinegar chips and then asked to evaluate their relationship (if they were in one) or to think about a potential romantic entanglements.

A second experiment was then conducted with the same method but using soft drink on one group and distilled water on the other. Finally the group were plied with more soft drink or water and then asked to spill their thoughts on some online dating profiles that they were shown.

The research ties in nicely with previous studies into how chocolate makes us feel good, releasing the pleasure chemical dopamine to our brain, which is a similar to feeling to falling head over heels in love.

So really, it sounds like we all have an exceedingly excellent excuse to hit the pick & mix aisle to us.

Ain’t love sweet indeed.

(Just don’t think about that pesky chocolate shortage that might be on the horizon).

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