Chocolate is popular with those with a sweet tooth. Many also claim it improves mood or even acts as an aphrodisiac, and we've all heard someone say it's addictive. The compounds in chocolate that are said to have positive effects come from the cocoa bean, so the darker the chocolate, the more of these compounds it contains. Milk chocolate has less than dark chocolate and white chocolate has almost none as it contains no cocoa solids, just cocoa butter.
Does science back up the common claims about chocolate? To find the answers, let's look at the chemistry behind this treat.
Theobromine and caffeine:chocolate as a boost
Theobromine is an alkaloid, a family of compounds that many plants produce, including the cocoa plant. Chocolate is the richest natural source of theobromine, but coffee and tea also contain some of it. Theobromine is chemically similar to caffeine and has a similar stimulative effect on our brains. The combination of theobromine and caffeine in chocolate is believed to create the little lift we feel after eating. While they generally have minor beneficial effects on humans, these compounds make chocolate toxic to dogs and cats, so remember to keep chocolate out of reach of your pets.
Antioxidants:Chocolate as a health food
Claims about chocolate's beneficial properties are not limited to effects on our brains. It's also common to hear some chocolate aficionados say it's packed with antioxidants, which help prevent damage to cells. Raw cocoa beans contain significant amounts of antioxidants such as epicatechin and gallic acid. Unfortunately, the process cocoa beans go through to become chocolate bars strips many of these compounds. A small amount of antioxidants remains, but it is unclear whether this amount is enough to have any benefits. Some studies have suggested correlations between chocolate consumption and a lower risk of high blood pressure and insulin resistance. However, other more rigorously controlled studies have not shown that eating chocolate has these benefits.
Phenethylamine:Chocolate as an aphrodisiac
Some people say that chocolate acts as an aphrodisiac. Chocolate has significant amounts of a substance called phenethylamine, which causes brain cells to release dopamine, a neurotransmitter with good effect. However, when we take phenethylamine, our bodies break it down before it can reach our brains, so it doesn't affect our mood.
Why do we crave chocolate?
If these touted compounds don't have strong effects on us, why do we crave chocolate? Most likely it's a very common substance, which is sugar - specifically the combination of sugar with the high fat content of chocolate. This combination activates the reward centers in our brains. But regardless of its chemical properties, chocolate is something we can enjoy in moderation.
