Chocolate: A Solution to End of the School Semester Stress?

It's the turn of a new season, Graduation (for some) is just around the corner, but students rarely get to enjoy the end of their semester. For most, it's a time of ten page papers, final projects, exams, and job searches. However, there are a few easy ways to release stress during these trying times. And, no, they don't necessarily involve an addiction.

During the stressful final weeks of the college semester, it might be a good idea to have a small quantity of chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, on hand. Here's why:

• Pick your poison-or your stimulant. Now, chocolate doesn't appear to be a very health-conscious choice in the land of natural stimulants but looks can be deceiving. Students consume numerous cups of coffee, sodas, and energy drinks during the final weeks each semester in an attempt to stay up late or simply keep themselves conscious throughout the day. Sugar and caffeine gets a bad reputation, but both are consumed regularly as stimulants. Chocolate comes with sugar and caffeine in tow but is also packed full of Theobromine, one of the chemicals that helps to elevate your mood. Chocolate not only works as a stimulant, but it may have some benefits not found in your basic, highly-artificial energy drink.

• Antioxidants in dark chocolate are linked to brain stimulation, cancer prevention, and overall healthcare. You can also find antioxidants in green tea and some types of fish, but, come on, tea over chocolate?

• Blood to the brain is a good thing last time I checked. Chocolate increases blood circulations, which is probably where those rumors of its powers as an aphrodisiac came from, and increased circulation can be beneficial to a student who needs to spend several hours studying in the library. Also, a very small daily dose of chocolate is recommended to reduce the risk of heart attack. See, a block of Dove Dark isn't going to kill you after all.

• Chocolate is fun. Go back in time: you're child on your school bus, trading candy after a class party. Or you're dressed up as a clown for Halloween, seeing if Old Lady Binns finally forked out the cash to buy the good stuff this year. The taste of chocolate can take a student back to less-stressful times, to sticky fingers and candy mustaches. So, take the journey. Then get cracking on that paper!

This semester take care of yourself and relieve your stress. Take a walk, plan a schedule for tough weeks, and add a bite of chocolate to your life. A tiny cube won't break your Ramen noodle diet, and it might just give you the boost you need to score an A.