Chocolate is a psychoactive food (i e , one that’s capable of affecting mood and/or behavior) made from a variety of the cacao tree called the obroma, a Greek word meaning “food of the gods ”. It has been suggested by some that chocolate can be addictive, and, indeed, the fact that it contains an array of complex chemicals might support this claim. For instance,chocolate contains a compound called an andamide, which is a cannabinoid (as is marijuana), as well as chemicals that inhibit the breakdown of cannabinoids—which are, in fact,produced naturally by the body and synthesized in the brain.
Chocolate contains compounds that make this chemical remain in the bloodstream for longer, which some people cite as the reason for any chemical dependency on chocolate. Chocolate also contains caffeine, a stimulant that increases the consumer’s sense of satisfaction and floods the brain with endorphins, which act something like opiates, reducing a person’s sensitivity to pain and producing a similar effect to that of morphine. It also contains quantities of tryptophan, a mood regulator that enhances serotonin function.
Also appearing on the list of chocolate’s ingredients is phenyle thylamine, a chemical that is said to produce a high similar to that produced by taking amphetamines. It occursnaturally in the brain and releases dopamine, which promotes feelings of euphoria, such as those that peak during sexual orgasm. Some claim that eating chocolate produces amilder form of this feeling, although others suggest that the chemical is digested before it reaches the brain.
Chocolate also contains theobromine, a chemical that is toxic to horses, dogs and parrots when consumed in large amounts because they are unable to metabolize it, leading to heart attacks, internal bleeding and death. However,chocolate has been proven to be beneficial to human health as it contains antioxidants, which help to protect the body against cancer and heart problems.
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