healthy chocolate P.E.A.Phenylethylamine or P.E.A. has (according to wikipedia) been shown at least indirectly to satisfy the fourmain criteria required to demonstrate that a neuroamine sustains mood and that its deficit can be responsible for depression. In fact, antidepressant drug therapy is an indirect (pharmacological) "replacement" of brain phenylethylamine.

In Michael Liebowitz's popular book The Chemistry of Love, from the early 80's he reported that dark chocolate was loaded with P.E.A. It has been said to be the reason that people associate chocolate with love. The bliss chemical. The amounts in regular chocolate are small, but still have anecdotal evidence that it affects mood positively.

Is that why women crave chocolate at certain times?

P.E.A. is also associated with a drug that have a certain negative stigma attached to it: Amphetamines.

There are many lesser know benefits with amphetamine type drugs that are known bronchodilators. They help  kids with ADD or ADHD or people with narcolepsy or even asthmatics. All of them have probably used drugs in the same amphetamine family.

Phenylethylamine, related to amphetamines, and it raises blood pressure and blood glucose levels. The results is that we feel more alert and gives us a sense of well being and contentment. It is believed to work by making the brain release b-endorphin, an opioid peptide which is the driving force behind the pleasurable effects. It is a chemical that mimics the brain chemistry of a person in love, so when levels of phenylethylamine are high in the body it relieves depression from unrequited love.

So is chocolate the next prozac? Or?

Placebo-controlled trials also suggest chocolate consumption may subtly enhance cognitive performance. As reported by Dr Bryan Raudenbush (2006), scores for verbal and visual memory are raised by eating chocolate. Impulse-control and reaction-time are also improved. This study needs replicating.