There are few things in life better than chocolate (OK, maybe wine, cheese and Game of Thrones), but now there’s even more reason to love the cocoa confection.
Sakara Life, the brand behind the buzzy “Beauty Chocolates,” just launched a new chocolate containing a blend of Ashwaghanda and kava kava that can reportedly lower cortisol levels (aka the stress hormone) and leave you feeling as chilled out as a day at the spa. Whoa.
So how exactly does this stuff make you feel like you just got a massage? For starters, Ashwaghanda is an adaptogen, which regulates hormones and controls the body’s response for stress, according to a 2012 study. It’s also known to reduce anxiety and insomnia, and can have lasting benefits on mood. Kava kava, on the other hand, has more short-term stress relief benefits. The root powder contains substances called kavapyrones, which can reduce anxiety and make you feel calm, relaxed and happy, according to a 2009 study. Sign. Us. Up.
Of course, normal chocolate can reportedly lower stress as well. In a study published in the Journal of Proteome Research, the flavonoids found in the cacao of dark chocolate reduced cortisol levels in participants, albeit by small amounts.
