What are the psychological effects of chocolate?
Chocolates contain Phenylethylamine, which stimulates the release of dopamine from the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, which creates a feeling of pleasure and motivation. Chocolates are also known to boost the production of feel-good hormones, endorphins, from the brain.
Is chocolate a stimulant or depressant?
It is a stimulant that helps open up blood vessels. It may result in minimizing blood pressure and help battle against edema, angina and other diseases. In some studies it has been shown that theobromine hardens tooth enamel and helps fight tooth decay.
What is the psychoactive ingredient in chocolate?
Theobromine (on the left) is chemically only one methyl group different from caffeine (on the right) and has many of the same stimulant effects on the human brain when given in equal doses. This contributes to that well-known lift you get from eating chocolate.
What are the impacts of chocolate addiction?
For those people who feel “addicted” and regularly “crave” chocolate, giving in to these desires usually results in negative feelings of guilt and self-loathing rather than the anticipated feelings of euphoria and well-being that they supposedly wanted.
Is chocolate a hallucinogen?
By scientific standards, no, chocolate is not a drug. It’s a dessert. But for someone who has been struggling with a binge eating disorder, chocolate might very well act as a drug.
Does chocolate have a sedative effect?
Chocolate contains far more of another stimulant, theobromine. Unlike caffeine there is no evidence that Theobromine will keep you awake – indeed there are studies suggesting that theobromine can help people sleep (see blog for references). Chocolate also contains tryptophan, which stimulates serotonin and melatonin.
What drug is in chocolate that makes it addictive?
The natural brain chemical enkephalin is heightened when chocolate is consumed. Enkephalin triggers opioid receptors similar to those triggered by heroin and morphine use. This chemical leads the brain to desire more after chocolate is initially consumed, which can lead to addiction.
What stimulants are in chocolate?
Theobromine is found along with caffeine in cocoa solids. It gives dark chocolate its bitter taste. Caffeine and theobromine both contain naturally occurring substances that can stimulate the central nervous system. This can elevate your feelings of alertness and positively affect your mood.
Does chocolate cause addiction?
Addictive properties High carbohydrate foods — including chocolate and other sugary sweets — may cause addiction-like cravings. They also alter your blood sugar and hormone levels in ways similar to other addictive substances ( 5 , 11 ). Plus, these changes in blood levels affect dopamine in your body.
Why is chocolate so addictive?
What happens when you eat too much chocolate?
Eating too much chocolate may result in adverse effects on the nervous and cardiovascular systems, stomach problem, palpitations, insomnia or extra systoles. Though the benefits offered by chocolate are no less than its side effects due to its too much consumption, still people should avoid eating it too much.