The holidays are traditionally a high-stress time of year for many. Coupled with this year’s recession and increasing unemployment rate, more people than usual are bound to feel a bit overwhelmed. But relief from this and other emotional stress may be as simple as a trip to the candy aisle in your local store, as a new study confirms what many have suspected for a long time: eating dark chocolate can help ease stress.

The study published in the Journal of Proteome Research found that eating about an ounce and a half of dark chocolate a day for two weeks reduced levels of stress hormones in the bodies of people feeling highly stressed.

It also partially corrected other stress-related biochemical imbalances, according to researchers involved with experiment.

While previous studies have suggested that chocolate may ease emotional stress, this is the first study that provides evidence from research in humans on exactly how chocolate might have those stress-busting effects.

In addition, growing scientific evidence suggests that antioxidants and other beneficial substances in dark chocolate may reduce risk factors for heart disease and other physical conditions.