Recent study has shown that eating chocolates or drinking water can have same effect as painkillers in easing pain. Earlier studies have shown that eating chocolate can help in easing pain by activating a part of the brain that reduces pain but makes it difficult to stop eating chocolates.

In the recent study, researchers used animal models to show that even drinking water induces same effect on pain. Eating or drinking can only reduce pain if it is done as pleasurable activity.

Research team led by University of Chicago neurology professor Peggy Mason and neurobiology research associate Hayley Foo found that rates reacted less intensely to pain if they were eating a chocolate chip or drinking water.

During the study a lightbulb was lit underneath under cages of mice. Due to heat mice lift their paws. It was found that when mice were given either chocolate of sugar water they were much slower in raising their feet as compared to when they were not given anything to eat.

Dr Mason said: "This really shows it has nothing to do with calories. Water has no calories, saccharine has no sugar, but both have the same effect as a chocolate chip. It's really shocking."