A sweet product that lifts the mood and protects the intestines has been named

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Any avid Potter fan probably knows the scene from “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” in which Professor Lupin gives Harry a piece of chocolate after an encounter with a terrifying Dementor. “Eat this,” he says. “You'll feel better.”

But is there any scientific basis for such a statement? Well, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, eating chocolate to boost your mood is actually smart advice. And it's surprisingly good for your health.

A randomized controlled trial of adults in their 20s and 30s found that dark chocolate with 85 percent cocoa content improved mood and bowel health. The participants were divided into two groups. One group was given dark chocolate with 70 percent cocoa content, and the other group was given dark chocolate with 85 percent cocoa content.

They ate chocolate every day for three weeks. At the end of the experiment, the participants were tested on a scale of positive and negative affect, which allows you to track weekly emotional changes in patients. The group that was given chocolate with an 85 percent cocoa content, the negative affect decreased more than the group that ate chocolate with a 70 percent content.

The scientists went further in their analysis of the effect of dark chocolate on mood and investigated how its consumption affects the intestinal microflora.

To help you understand the situation better, numerous studies have shown a link between mental health and gut health. According to Harvard Health, highly processed foods with chemical additives negatively affect the health of beneficial bacteria in the gut and even increase the risk of disease.

On the other hand, a study published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry has shown a link between a healthy diet and protection against depression. This includes the traditional Mediterranean diet, which is rich in anti-inflammatory elements and gut-healthy foods.

To have a healthy gut, you need to include enough prebiotic and probiotic foods in your diet. Prebiotics are fiber, which serves as food for the “friendly” bacteria in your gut and helps your digestive system stay healthy and functioning well.

Probiotic foods contain live beneficial bacteria, as well as yeast, which are beneficial for your digestive system: they help improve and restore your gut flora (the bacteria that live in your digestive tract).

Dark chocolate serves as a prebiotic for your gut, as it is rich in fiber. According to the USDA, dark chocolate with a 70-85 percent cocoa content has 11 grams of fiber per 100-gram bar.

The higher the cocoa content, the more fiber the chocolate has—and the more prebiotics your gut flora will feed on.

So here's a good tip: If you're in a bad mood and craving something sweet, eat some dark chocolate. You'll really feel better.