Drug addicted? Of course not, similarly to other sweet food, chocolate stimulates the release of endorphins, natural body hormones that generate feelings of pleasure and well-being. General sweetness aside, there are various chemical elements specific to chocolate that may help to stimulate cravings. In fact, chocolate contains over 300 chemicals and it is not known how all of these affect humans. Research showed that many women report particular chocolate cravings when pre-menstrual. This is possibly because chocolate contains magnesium, a shortage of which can exacerbate pre-menstrual tension. Similar cravings during pregnancy could indicate mild anemia, which chocolate's iron content may help to cure.
Central nervous stimulants such as caffeine are also present in small amounts, and this has a mild effect on alertness as we know from drinking coffee. Another mild stimulant present in chocolate is theobromine, which also serves to relax the smooth muscles in the linings of the lung. The combination of these two chemicals (caffeine and theobromine) may provide the "lift" that chocolate eater’s experience. Phenylethylamine is also found in chocolate. It's related to amphetamines, which are strong stimulants. All of these stimulants increase the activity of neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) in parts of the brain that control our ability to pay attention and stay alert. Next time I will tell you about why chocolate strongly interconnected with drug.
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