Why is chocolate and tea so good for you after relaxation?
- Andy Steele
- Jun 6
- 4 min read
I've always recommended to take chocolate and tea after a relaxing activity such as a soundbath, yoga nidra or restorative yoga because I was told several years ago that it was beneficial and explained the reasons but over the years, if I'm honest, I've just lost track of those benefits so I thought I'd refresh my memory and create this article that I can refer people to in future.
Chocolate
When I'm talking about chocolate, I'm talking about Dark Chocolate that has a minimum of 70% cocoa, because it's the cocoa that gives us the health benefits I want folks to experience. When I share chocolate at my soundbath, I always have the packet of ingredients at the side and it's always dairy, gluten and nut free. The last thing I want to give someone after a soundbath is an allergic reaction so it's critically important to be able to protect the health of people that have invested trust in me and to be transparent.
Phenethylamine (PEA aka "The Love Hormone") - PEA stimulates the production of endorphins in the body which gives us that "feel good factor" when we consume chocolate.
Theobromine - At the end of a soundbath or yoga nidra session, I want you to feel awake enough to be able to drive home. Theobromine is a natural stimulant, similar to caffeine but gentler and perfect to help people wake up effectively to feel safe enough to get home and then continue feeling relaxed.
Tryptophan - This is a hormone that is involved in the production of Seratonin which helps regulate our emotions leaving us feeling happy and relaxed. It's also a mild sedative and can be found in foods such as bananas, oats and milk which are natural foods associated with falling sleep.
Anitoxidants - antioxidants found in cocoa have been shown to reduce blood pressure and reduce risk of blood clots by making it "less sticky" in studies like this one.
Flavanoids - These are known to fight oxidative stress within the body and are linked with improving our mood. There has been some research that link them to also improving bloodflow in the brain and cognitive function.
Research* showed how flavanoids found in cacoa beans reduced cortisol levels within participants. Cortisol is a stress hormone; it's useful when we need a moment of clarity in a genuinely stressful situation but too often in life, we experience persistently high cortisol levels which leads to chronic stress.
(25g grams of dark chocolate per day that contain a minimum of 500mg of flavanoids over 4 weeks have been shown to reduce the amount of cortisol found in participants.)
Magnesium - Magnesium is one of the key minerals that the brain uses to send signals between neurons in the nervous system. It's also linked to reducing anxiety and improving relaxation.
Epicatechin - This stimulates production on nitrous oxide (laughing gas) in our bloodstream, which causes our blood vessels to dilaute and improve circulation. It also protects and strengthen cells within our bodies and is involved in processes that improve how insulin is used in the body which combats diabetes.
In summary, chocolate is a natural way to extend the benefits from a relaxation session such as soundbaths, yoga nidra and restorative yoga.
Tea
It's very common to feel thirsty after a soundbath or massage so it's always a good idea to have a glass of water or tea afterwards. But why would these relaxing experiences leave us feeling thirsty in the first place?
There is a distinct lack of research out there on this topic and I can only infer a relationship by indirect studies. The question of getting thirsty in a soundbath is not up for debate- it's the just the cause that needs to be more closely investigated.
Lowering blood pressure - We know that soundbaths lower blood pressure. Multiple peer-reviewed studies back this up and example of one is this, so I feel pretty confident this as a benefit. Lowering blood pressure also has a direct effect on our thirst. It can cause the kidneys to release a chemical called Renin to the brain which then initiates us to drink water to increase the volume of blood in our circulation. Whether or not a soundbath could directly lower blood pressure enough to trigger that reaction needs more research.
Lymphatic system reset - It is also commonly believed within the Sound Therapy community that vibrations occurring within soundbaths can promote the body's lympathic system to reset, flushing toxins out of our body using water, leaving us feeling thirsty afterwards. However, there are no clinical trials that support this. The closest research paper I can find to support this focuses on how low sound waves have been used to drain fluid from lymph nodes is this study. Ultimately, more research is required to verify this.
In summary, although the causes of thirst after a soundbath needs more research, it would seem acceptable to deduce that is a positive side-effect of an intensively relaxing experience. A glass of water is recommended as a minimum after a soundbath in case you're feeling thirsty, but I'd recommend a herbal tea because you'll get additional benefits from the herbs within, three of my favourites in a tea would be:
Lavender - helps prolongs the relaxing effects of a soundbath by activating neural pathways in the brain which promotes sleep and relaxation.
Chamomile - contains apigenin which targets receptors within the brain that are used to reduce anxiety.
Elderflower - as well as being a potent natural anti-depressant and anti-inflammatory it's also great at boost the immune system, aiding with fighting colds and flu.
Another great way to relax after a soundbath is with an actual herbal bath as these can be a great way to get benefits from natural herbs into your body after relaxation.
I hope that you found this article interesting and gives you more information on why tea and chocolate can be so beneficial to you after a soundbath.
AI has only been used in image creation and research so that I retain a deeper understanding of the content so I can better remember it when talking to other people.
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