What stimulant is in chocolate? Are you a chocoholic who’s wondering what lurks within each morsel? You may have heard that chocolate contains some exciting ingredients, but what type of stimulant is actually in it?
Throughout the ages, chocolate has been thought to bring happiness and pleasure to those who partake in its sweetness.
To many, nothing beats the luscious taste and smell of dark, creamy cocoa.
But did you know that much of chocolate’s popularity stems from its unique ingredient that acts as a natural stimulant?
Chocolate’s stimulating effects come from a chemical compound called theobromine.
This substance is found naturally in cocoa beans giving us that special kick when we eat chocolate.
In this article, we will explore further what makes this powerful stimulant so popular in our diets today.
What Stimulant is in Chocolate?
Chocolate contains a range of stimulants and other compounds that can affect your body.
Understanding what these are and how they interact with your body is an important step to understanding the health benefits (or drawbacks) of eating chocolate.
In this article we’ll explore what stimulants are in chocolate, their effects on the body, and possible precautions when consuming them.
Theobromine: Chocolate’s Stimulant Component
Theobromine is a compound found in cocoa beans and dark chocolates that acts as a mild central nervous system (CNS) stimulant, relaxation inducer, and blood pressure regulator.
It belongs to the xanthine family of chemicals, like caffeine, but it has less stimulating effects than caffeine does.
Theobromine’s CNS-stimulating properties are dependent on its pharmacological action as an adenosine receptor antagonist; meaning it inhibits adenosinergic signaling in the brain and causes excitation.
Phenylethylamines: Mood Boosters?
Phenylethylamines are naturally occurring chemicals found in chocolate which serve many physiological functions including increasing alertness, improving mood, and increasing focus when consumed in small doses.
Phenethylamines produce neurological changes by affecting levels of epinephrine (adrenaline), serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine (noradrenaline).
They increase energy levels by inhibiting both reuptake and metabolism of these neurotransmitters resulting in increased concentrations available for release into synaptic clefts.
Though phenylethylamines have been reported to cause ‘euphoria’ when consumed at higher doses it is debatable whether or not these compounds actually produce psychoactive effects when ingested from chocolate.
Anandamide: The “Bliss Molecule”
Anandamide is a fatty acid neurotransmitter present in cocoa beans which acts upon receptors within the brain associated with pleasure and reward pathways.
This compound has a relaxing effect due to its ability to temporarily increase levels of dopamine – one of our “feel good” hormones – during consumption through hindering the enzyme responsible for breaking down dopamine molecules.
Anandamide is sometimes called the “bliss molecule” because eating something containing this compound tends to make people feel good while they eat it.
For example; some say they experience a state of euphoria after eating dark chocolate since it’s high in anandamide content compared with other forms like milk or white chocolateshazemanamides
Ultimately there are several stimulants contained within chocolate that can affect your body differently depending on the dosage you consume; ranging from mildly stimulating the cerebral cortex to producing feelings of relaxation or pleasure even at lower doses.
As with all substances, moderate consumption levels should be taken into account before indulging too heavily as excessive dosages may cause adverse side effects such as nausea or headaches depending on individual sensitivities towards certain compounds within confectionary products.
Conclusion
In conclusion, chocolate does contain stimulants like caffeine and theobromine.
However, these stimulants are found in small quantities within the sweet treat and have minimal effects on most people.
As long as you don’t overindulge, enjoying chocolate won’t make you hyperactive or cause other adverse effects.
In reality, moderate consumption can actually leave you feeling amazing!
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