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Eating chocolate produces feelings similar to “being in love.”
The taste of chocolate melting in the mouth makes the brain produce endorphins that give the body a feeling of well-being, stimulating joy and happiness. The caveat is that the chocolate is good and contains 70% cocoa.
Eating chocolate produces feelings similar to being in love
Chocolate is a delicious food originating in America that our ancestors considered “the food of the gods”. And although doctors, especially gastroenterologists, discourage it, many studies indicate that it can positively affect health.
Chocolate contains mainly fat and sugar, but it has been observed that a large part of that fat, although saturated, does not raise cholesterol as other saturated fats do.
Have you ever had a chocolate craving? This happens because it contains a substance called phenylethylamine, which triggers feelings similar to “being in love.” In addition, another component of chocolate stimulates some receptors in the brain in a similar way that addictive drugs do. The chocolate craving is also believed to be caused when the sensory buds, which detect the taste of chocolate melting in your mouth, cause the brain to produce endorphins. Endorphins are the natural drugs the body releases to feel good and create joy and happiness.
Women often state that the desire to eat chocolate is related to hormones and the menstrual cycle.
Chocolate is believed to have the following qualities:
Increases libido (desire) in women. A study in Italy found that women who like and consume chocolate have the highest libido. But it is only for women, not men. Chocolate has always been considered an aphrodisiac.
Drive away depression. Chocolate helps us feel better; other studies have shown that it lifts our spirits, especially during pre-menstrual syndrome. After a bar of chocolate, life changes.
Helps the heart. We are talking about the vital organ, not romantic matters. Chocolate has flavonoids that help prevent clogging of the arteries and thus help prevent heart attacks and strokes.
They are rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are precious vitamins for our health. Cocoa is the ingredient that has the highest levels of magnesium. Chocolate contains powerful antioxidants called phenols (substances that help fight problems such as the accumulation of cholesterol in the arteries). However, not all chocolates are the same. The darker and more refined the chocolate, the more phenols it contains.
It is good to clarify that not all chocolates are good. If you eat a lot of chocolate sold everywhere, you are ingesting many empty calories in the form of sugar and fat, and we do not recommend it. What makes chocolate valuable is cocoa; for the above results to be consumed, dark chocolate with at least 70% concentration of cocoa.
The dark side of chocolate. It has been linked to acne, allergies, gallstones, headaches, and cavities. However, once again, science shows us evidence that lacks adequate support. As always, moderation is the key, so enjoy a few bites of chocolate cake or a few bites of your favourite chocolate, but avoid excess. That is why the recommendation is to consume chocolate in moderation. And enjoy it.
Chocolate also can affect our dopamine levels, a neurotransmitter that helps control the brain. For example, the increase in dopamine in the brain tells people to try to discover more about the cause of the rise; this affects how we behave. So in a sense, we always go back to where we feel good, in this case, chocolate.
Chocolate also contains an essential compound called tryptamine, derived from the amino acid tyrosine. Tyrosine is the amino acid and one of the dopamine’s precursors. As the level of tyrosine increases, dopamine also increases, leading to the activation of the reward centre in the brain. This dopamine pathway may also help explain the pleasure and joy that people perceive when eating chocolate,
when should you eat chocolate?
Nowadays, we incorporate chocolate into snacks, and this is not something exclusive to children. A 10g bar doesn’t do us any harm. And above all, stop blaming yourself since you will deny yourself the right to taste and enjoy an ounce of chocolate.
Let’s not forget that 30 years ago, chocolate was not snacked food since it was costly and was not sold in wide varieties. Instead, chocolate was eaten mainly as a snack and with bread.
