Does chocolate make you happy?

A 1996 study showed that chocolate caused the release of endorphins in the brains of women, making them feel happy.

Chocolate contains a number of compounds linked to mood-elevating chemistry in the brain. It's often mentioned a natural antidepressant and one of the chemicals your brain produces while you're in love. Tryptophan, an amino acid found in small amounts in chocolate, is associated with the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that produces feelings of happiness. Some other substances also add to the purported effects of chocolate - for example theobromine can increase heart rate, and caffeine is well known as a "wake-up" drug.

But most of these compounds are only found in small amounts in chocolate, and now some scientists say they may have been completely digested before they reached the brain. It may instead be the experience of eating chocolate, satisfying a craving for food, that more endorphins and "happy feelings" are released than the content of the chocolate itself.