Serotonin? Anandamide? Xanthines? Are we talking about a mad scientist’s evil experiment here or perhaps some ancient Greek myth you haven’t heard of? Nope, these hoity-toity-sounding words are some of the chemicals found in chocolate. But don’t head for the hills, we’re not talking artificial additives or nutrient-sucking preservatives. These chemicals may affect you, but not necessarily for the worse. Let’s take a closer look at some of the chemicals that make up our beloved cocoa treat and learn a little about what effects they have on our bodies.
Serotonin
Perhaps one of the most commonly known chemicals found in chocolate, serotonin is that stuff that makes you feel good. Well, to put it a little more scientifically, serotonin is a chemical naturally found in our bodies, a neurotransmitter that helps us to feel relaxed and happy. When our serotonin levels our low, we may crave foods our bodies associate with serotonin, such as chocolate and starchy foods. The effect that serotonin has on our bodies is similar to those of an anti-depressant.
Phenethylamine
Like serotonin, phenethylamine can release "feel-good" endorphins, but phenethylamine also raises blood pressure and glucose levels in our bodies (generally to safe levels), causing an increased feeling of alertness and awareness. This alert, pleasurable mood is similar to sexual arousal and is the reason why many have long thought that chocolate is an aphrodisiac!
Anandamide
Anandamide is a naturally-occurring chemical in our brains that appears in excess in the marijuana plant. (Too much will definitely give you a high, but the levels in chocolate are nowhere near the level you’d need to worry about.) It bonds to protein receptors and can decrease the awareness of pain, increase your ability to enjoy your cravings, and generally make you feel happy and calm.
Phenolics
"Phenolics" is a fancier term for something you might recognize: anti-oxidants. Found in substances such as chocolate and wine, phenolics help decrease your risk of heart disease. Oxidants in your blood stream can cause otherwise healthy lipoproteins to become damaged, leading to plaque (fatty buildup) in your arteries, which can in turn lead to heart attack or stroke. Anti-oxidants help prevent lipoprotein damage.
Xanthines
Xanthines are nervous-system stimulants and the two main ones you’ll find in chocolate are caffeine and theobromine. Caffeine levels in chocolate are actually not as high as most people think (a cup of coffee can have up to eighteen times more than a bar of chocolate), but it can still increase mental awareness and general alertness for a small period of time—possibly with a "crash" later, during which time you will feel more awful than you did before the caffeine. Theobromine is more common in chocolate (and it’s what makes chocolate poisonous to animals—they can become over-stimulated). It has the same effect as and is milder than caffeine and it also will be removed from your body’s system within a few hours.
Besides the fat content, xanthines are the other reason why it’s important to eat chocolate in moderation. The "crash" sensation is unpleasant and it may lead to mild headaches, diarrhea, nausea, and restlessness if eaten or drunk in excess. Children especially should eat only small amounts daily.
Sugars and Fats
That’s all the bad stuff, right? Well, yes and no. Again, moderation is key! A kind of saturated fat in chocolate may lower cholesterol levels and sugar (glucose) is responsible for producing healthy energy in your body—but you need a lot less of either than you might hope, so don’t justify eating too much chocolate! Having more sugar in your body than needed to produce energy means that the sugar has to go somewhere. It’s converted into that extra bit on your thighs, belly, butt, arms… Wherever you’ve been putting on some pounds lately! A surefire way to ensure you don’t consume more sugar than you need? Make yourself need more energy! That means working out regularly. If you do, you can afford to eat a little more chocolate than people who never hit the gym!
Chocolate is made up of many more chemicals, including some vitamins and minerals. (Still not as nutrient-rich as healthier foods, of course!) Carbs and proteins both are found in chocolate and, like most of the chocolate chemicals, can really help increase your body’s health in moderation or can damage your body’s health in excess. A balanced diet and a healthy amount of activity will afford you the most chance to savor your chocolate!
