Dark chocolate eaters ‘less likely’ to be depressed because of ‘euphoria similar to cannabis'  

People who regularly eat dark chocolate are less likely to be depressed, researchers have claimed today.

Scientists quizzed more than 13,000 people about their chocolate consumption and symptoms of depression.

They found volunteers who reported eating any dark chocolate were significantly less likely to report any clinical signs of depression, the Daily Mail reports, citing the study.

However, no such link existed among volunteers who reported eating milk or white chocolate, according to the experts.

University College London researchers admitted they could not prove chocolate combats depression and experts said further trials are needed.

However, they said chocolate contains a number of psychoactive ingredients - including two forms of anandamine, which produce a feeling of euphoria similar to that of cannabis.

Dark chocolate also has more antioxidants, which reduce inflammation in the body – a reaction that some experts believe is linked to depression.