Interesting information about the science behind chocolate.
Can chocolate help depression?
One of the largest obstacles to finding the basis for the chemical effects of chocolate and the craving mechanisms is that chocolate contains over three-hundred known chemicals The effects of chocolate may be associated with a single chemical, isolated actions of multiple chemicals, combined actions of multiple chemicals working together, or all three. Scientists who research chocolate have isolated many of the chemicals in chocolate, which may lead to an explanation of the positive effects of consuming chocolate. Chocolate contains three major key substances, caffeine, theobromine and phenethylamine. What do these substances do in chocolate?
1) Caffeine, as we all know, acts as a stimulant. Found in small amounts in chocolate, caffeine belongs to the xanthine chemical group. Chocolate caffeine is a naturally occurring xanthine in the brain that is used as a neurotransmitter at some synapses. One effect of caffeine in chocolate is to interfere with adenosine at multiple sites in the brain. The caffeine in chocolate also acts at other sites in the body to increase heart rate, relax air passages to improve breathing, constrict blood vessels and allow some muscles to contract more easily.
2) Theobromine, in chocolate, stimulates the heart and nervous system. The t heobromine in chocolate affects humans similarly to the caffeine in chocolate, but on a much smaller scale. The theobromine in chocolate is mildly diuretic (increases urine production), is a mild stimulant, and relaxes the smooth muscles of the bronchi in the lungs. In the human body, the theobromine found in chocolate, will become halved between 6-10 hours after consumption. Theobromine has been used as a drug for its diuretic effect. It has been administered with digitalis in order to relieve dilatation. Because of its ability to dilate blood vessels, the theobromine found in chocolate also has been used to treat high blood pressure. Theobromine is the reason you should never give chocolate to a dog or cat. The theobromine in chocolate is too powerful for cats and dogs, especially dogs. Chocolate is poisonous to these animals and can even be lethal. Never give chocolate to a cat or dog!
3) Phenethylamine is reputed to be a mood elevator. The amount of phenethylamine in chocolate is very high compared to other foods. Phenethylamine in chocolate is similar to another substance called amphetamine in its structure and rewarding properties in the brain. The phenethylamine in chocolate may act by increasing one's attention and alertness, by raising blood pressure and blood glucose levels. Some reports by researchers of chocolate, have stated that some antidepressant drugs, with structures similar to the phenethylamine in chocolate, abolishes chocolate craving.
