Re: Dark chocolate and gatorade

 I feel better when I have chocolate or cocao as well.  There is a reason....it is a stimulant. 

It doesn't have to have a lot of caffeine to be a stimulant.  Cocoa is a stimulant by itself

http://www.cftech.com/BrainBank/OTHERREFERENCE/HEALTH/StimulantPlants.html

The stimulant plants are organized here (see the chart below) by their predominant neuro-chemical mechanism: purinergic (coffee, tea, cocoa, mate, guarana, and kola)

http://www.healthblurbs.com/about-dopamine-norepinephrine-epinephrine-catecho...

During periods when I had severe brain fog and even slurred speach, I might have a 1/2 cup of hot chocolate to give myself a boost before a meeting.

 But I would only do it on rare occasions and only when I needed to have a clear.  

However, I don't believe this is part of a recovery plan.  I did it, but I knew it was stimulating my adrenals.   I think you are ultimately adding a stessor that will make the adrenal glands work harder.