If your chocolate cravings become particularly intense when your period arrives, you might be pleased to discover that reaching for a few squares of dark chocolate could have some benefits beyond making you feel a little happier.
Researchers have investigated whether this favourite comfort food can help ease menstrual cramps, with one small study finding encouraging results. The research involved 45 women who were divided into three groups and given either 35g of 70 per cent dark chocolate, 330ml of green coconut water or 400mg of ibuprofen. Their pain levels were measured before eating or taking their allocated treatment and again two hours later. In the dark chocolate group, 33 per cent of participants reported being completely free of pain. Suddenly, your monthly chocolate craving looks a little more interesting.
The study, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health in August 2023, was conducted by researchers Kaifar Nuha, Kusnandi Rusmil, Ahmad Rizal Ganiem, Wiryawan Permadi and Dewi Marhaeni Diah Herawati. Their findings suggested that dark chocolate could help reduce primary dysmenorrhoea, the medical term for painful menstrual cramps. However, there is an important detail worth knowing before you start treating your chocolate cupboard as a medicine cabinet. The study included just 15 women in each treatment group, and although dark chocolate helped reduce pain, ibuprofen was the most effective treatment overall. The researchers also found that the chocolate group had an average improvement in pain scores, but the results do not prove that chocolate will eliminate cramps for everyone. Still, five women out of 15 reporting no pain after two hours is an interesting finding.
So, what makes dark chocolate worth investigating? One possible explanation is its nutritional content. Dark chocolate contains magnesium, a mineral involved in normal muscle and nerve function, as well as flavanols and other plant compounds with antioxidant properties. Magnesium plays a role in muscle relaxation, which has led researchers to investigate whether it could be useful for menstrual discomfort. However, the trial did not establish that magnesium was responsible for the improvement, nor did it prove that chocolate’s anti-inflammatory compounds directly reduced uterine cramping.
If you want to try it, choosing a variety with at least 70 per cent cocoa is a reasonable way to enjoy more cocoa and generally less sugar than milk chocolate. Just remember that a 35g serving is a modest portion, not an invitation to demolish an entire family-sized bar in the name of science.
Of course, dark chocolate is not a replacement for established period pain treatments, particularly if your cramps are severe. The NHS recommends options including a warm bath, a heat pad, gentle exercise and painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol where suitable. It also advises speaking to your GP if period pain becomes more severe, affects your daily activities or does not improve with treatment, as conditions such as endometriosis and fibroids can sometimes be responsible. The sensible approach is to treat dark chocolate as a potentially enjoyable addition to your comfort routine rather than a miracle cure.
After all, if a few squares can make a difficult day feel slightly sweeter, that is already a rather welcome bonus. And if future research confirms its pain relieving benefits, you will have an excellent scientific excuse for keeping a good bar of dark chocolate within reach.