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Chocolate's Effects On The Brain
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Published: September 11, 2006
Delicious, sweet, bitter, creamy, addictive.
These are words generally associated with chocolate.
Chocolate is perhaps the most craved comfort food. People are always eager to eat it, and some cannot seem to get enough. What causes this fervent reaction to chocolate? Why are most people who suffer from chocolate cravings constantly in need of a chocolate fix?
Yes, chocolate is an appetizing treat, but taste alone does not account for its effect on most people.
Perhaps answers can be found elsewhere.
Recent studies have found that chocolate affects the brain.
Chocolate has been found to manipulate moods and feelings. Chocolate contains certain ingredients known to directly affect these areas of the brain. These ingredients largely impact the brain's neurotransmitters.
Neurotransmitters function as the brain's chemical messengers. They deliver electrical signals responsible for changes in moods, feelings and emotions. Chocolate has been found to contain at least four such chemicals.
One of chocolate's desired effects on the brain is an increased feeling of happiness and enjoyment. Three chemicals are largely responsible for this: tryptophan, phenylethylamine and anandamide.
Tryptophan is responsible for causing the brain to create a neurotransmitter called serotonin, which in turn creates feelings of happiness. The chemical phenylethylamine also creates a well-documented effect on the brain. This chemical has been dubbed chocolate's amphetamine because it affects the areas in the brain responsible for creating excitement, attraction and giddiness.
A third chemical responsible for chocolate's effects on the brain is anandamide. It affects the same areas of the brain as the drug marijuana. However, chocolate's effects on the brain are relatively low compared to marijuana. This is mainly because chocolate does not contain enough anandamide to create levels high enough to significantly a strong impact.
Chocolate's effects on the brain also include feelings of alertness. This is due to the chemical theobromine, which is a relative of caffeine and contains about one-tenth of caffeine's stimulating effects. This accounts for the way some people develop headaches when they suffer from chocolate withdrawal.
Although many of these chemical have been found to be responsible for chocolate's effects on the brain, they do not fully explain chocolate cravings or addictions. This is mainly due to the fact that chocolate contains low quantities of these chemicals. Also, studies have shown women tend to be fonder of chocolate then men. Studies have also shown Western cultures are fonder of chocolate than non-Western cultures.
Perhaps the answer to chocolate cravings can be found within a combination of things: chemicals, taste, packaging, cultural values and memory associations. All these things combine to make chocolate an enjoyable experience.
The Science of Chocolate. Science & Nature: Hot Topics. Nov. 17, 2004. BBC. 6 September 2006. .
Slaughter, Gwen. Is Chocolate Physiological of Psychologically Addictive? Serendip. 7 January 2002. 6 September 2006. .
These are words generally associated with chocolate.
Chocolate is perhaps the most craved comfort food. People are always eager to eat it, and some cannot seem to get enough. What causes this fervent reaction to chocolate? Why are most people who suffer from chocolate cravings constantly in need of a chocolate fix?
Yes, chocolate is an appetizing treat, but taste alone does not account for its effect on most people.
Related Articles
Recent studies have found that chocolate affects the brain.
Chocolate has been found to manipulate moods and feelings. Chocolate contains certain ingredients known to directly affect these areas of the brain. These ingredients largely impact the brain's neurotransmitters.
Neurotransmitters function as the brain's chemical messengers. They deliver electrical signals responsible for changes in moods, feelings and emotions. Chocolate has been found to contain at least four such chemicals.
One of chocolate's desired effects on the brain is an increased feeling of happiness and enjoyment. Three chemicals are largely responsible for this: tryptophan, phenylethylamine and anandamide.
Tryptophan is responsible for causing the brain to create a neurotransmitter called serotonin, which in turn creates feelings of happiness. The chemical phenylethylamine also creates a well-documented effect on the brain. This chemical has been dubbed chocolate's amphetamine because it affects the areas in the brain responsible for creating excitement, attraction and giddiness.
A third chemical responsible for chocolate's effects on the brain is anandamide. It affects the same areas of the brain as the drug marijuana. However, chocolate's effects on the brain are relatively low compared to marijuana. This is mainly because chocolate does not contain enough anandamide to create levels high enough to significantly a strong impact.
Chocolate's effects on the brain also include feelings of alertness. This is due to the chemical theobromine, which is a relative of caffeine and contains about one-tenth of caffeine's stimulating effects. This accounts for the way some people develop headaches when they suffer from chocolate withdrawal.
Although many of these chemical have been found to be responsible for chocolate's effects on the brain, they do not fully explain chocolate cravings or addictions. This is mainly due to the fact that chocolate contains low quantities of these chemicals. Also, studies have shown women tend to be fonder of chocolate then men. Studies have also shown Western cultures are fonder of chocolate than non-Western cultures.
Perhaps the answer to chocolate cravings can be found within a combination of things: chemicals, taste, packaging, cultural values and memory associations. All these things combine to make chocolate an enjoyable experience.
The Science of Chocolate. Science & Nature: Hot Topics. Nov. 17, 2004. BBC. 6 September 2006. .
Slaughter, Gwen. Is Chocolate Physiological of Psychologically Addictive? Serendip. 7 January 2002. 6 September 2006. .
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