Easter egg joy
Expectant Mums-to-be can take heart this Easter….according to new research from Finland eating chocolate during pregnancy can make happier, livelier babies. Researchers at the University of Helsinki questioned 305 women before and after they gave birth. The women were asked to rate their stress levels and their chocolate consumption before they gave birth. Six months after the babies were born they were asked to rate their babies’ happiness. They found that women who ate chocolate regularly during pregnancy were more likely to say they had happy, active babies who smiled and laughed more. Furthermore, babies of stressed women who had regularly consumed chocolate showed less fear of new situations than babies of stressed women who abstained. The researchers speculate that the effects could result from chemicals in chocolate associated with positive mood being passed on to the baby in the womb.
If you want to avoid unhealthy saturated animal fat and cholesterol look out for vegan chocolate here: https://vivashop.org.uk/food-wine/chocolates
Raikkonen K, Pesonen AK, Jarvenpaa AL, Strandberg TE. 2004. Sweet babies: chocolate consumption during pregnancy and infant temperament at six months. Early Human Development. 76 (2) 139-145.
About the author
Dr. Justine Butler
Justine joined Viva! in 2005 after graduating from Bristol University with a PhD in molecular biology. After working as a campaigner, then researcher and writer, she is now Viva!’s head of research and her work focuses on animals, the environment and health. Justine’s scientific training helps her research and write both in-depth scientific reports, such as White Lies and the Meat Report, as well as easy-to-read factsheets and myth-busting articles for consumer magazines and updates on the latest research. Justine also recently wrote the Vegan for the Planet guide for Viva!’s Vegan Now campaign.
View author page | View staff profile
