, cocoa powder is entirely legal.
Although addictive behavior is generally associated with drug and alcohol abuse or compulsive sexual activity, chocolate may evoke similar psychopharmacologic and behavioral reactions in susceptible persons.
Chocolate is used as a flavouring product in many desserts, such as chocolate cakes, chocolate brownies, chocolate mousse and chocolate chip cookies. Numerous types of candy and snacks contain chocolate, either as a filling (e.g., M&M’s) or as a coating (e.g., chocolate-coated raisins or chocolate-coated peanuts).
1 ANANDAMIDE. Chocolate contains small quantities of anandamide, an endogenous cannabinoid found in the brain. 2 THEOBROMINE. Theobromine is a stimulant frequently confused with caffeine. 3 PHENYLETHYLAMINE. 4 TETRAHYDRO-BETA-CARBOLINE.
According to Canadian Food and Drug Regulations, a “chocolate product” is a food product that is sourced from at least one “cocoa product” and contains at least one of the following: “chocolate, bittersweet chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, dark chocolate, sweet chocolate, milk chocolate, or white chocolate”.
Why do people eat chocolate?
Some persons may use chocolate as a form of self-medication to compensate for insufficient food intake or specific nutrient deficiencies . Scientists have speculated that chocolate consumption may be motivated in some part by magnesium deficiency (10). Chocolate and cocoa powder both contain exceptionally high concentrations of this nutrient (100 mg/100 g and 520 mg/100 g, respectively), and in some cases magnesium supplements may have subdued symptoms of chocolate craving (7). Moreover, magnesium deficiency may contribute to the symptomology of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) (34). Stress stimulates secretion of mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids, which together increase renal excretion and decrease intestinal absorption of magnesium (35), (36). Magnesium deficiency results in selective depletion of CNS levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that transmits signals of euphoria and satisfaction and that may be the master molecule of addiction. Elevated CNS levels of serotonin unopposed by dopamine are believed to play a primary role in several PMS symptoms (37). Therefore, it is possible that stress-induced magnesium deficiency contributes to the increase in chocolate cravings associated with PMS. Nuts contain comparable amounts of this nutrient, however, and should be craved in a similar way (11). Complete energy and nutrient profiles of chocolate and cocoa powder are provided in ( Table 4 ).
Craving is an intense, periodic motivation aimed at gaining the craved substance. Defined in this way, chocolate cravings appear to exist in 40% of females and 15% of males, three fourths of whom claim that no other substance will appease their desire (4), (5).
A typical 1.65-oz milk chocolate bar contains only 10 mg caffeine (22 mg/200 g) and 92 mg theobromine (197 mg/100 g), a minimal amount considering that a cup of coffee usually contains 80 to 100 mg caffeine and no theobromine (10), (28).
A review of the literature on chocolate cravings indicates that the hedonic appeal of chocolate (fat, sugar, texture, and aroma) is likely to be a predominant factor in such cravings. Other characteristics of chocolate, however, may be equally as important contributors to the phenomena of chocolate cravings.
Two brain peptides, galanin and neuropeptide Y , are integrally involved in eating behavior, food preferences, and cyclic food cravings (55), (56).
Several endogenous biogenic amines, which act as sympathomimetic compounds, are found in chocolate, most notably, tyramine and phenylethylamine (PEA) (17). PEA, a neuromodulator of brain synapses, is structurally and pharmacologically similar to catecholamines and amphetamine (12), (18).
Although there are many definitions of addiction, 2 characteristics are consistently included: a compulsion to use a substance that results in excessive and uncontrolled consumption, and existence of withdrawal symptoms when the substance is withheld (8). Download : Download full-size image. FIG 1.
Why do people eat chocolate?
People eat chocolate long before they use alcohol, marijuana, nico tine, or hard drugs. In the past, vilifying marijuana fit with our failed drug policy that sends a message that illicit drugs – and the people who use them – are bad.
Generally, the theory posits, a gateway drug is the first drug a person takes that then leads them on the way to “harsher” drugs and ultimately leads the way to addiction.
So this would indicate that chocolate can be a part of any discussion about legal drugs. If we use the same logic that has been used with determining that marijuana and alcohol are gateway drugs, then chocolate may be the true gateway drug. People eat chocolate long before they use alcohol, marijuana, nicotine, or hard drugs.
Chocolate has a significant amount of sugar. In addition to sugar, chocolate also has two other neuroactive drugs, caffeine and theobromine. Chocolate not only stimulates the opiate receptors in our brains, it also causes a release of neurochemicals in the brain’s pleasure centers.
Specifically, drugs and the people who use them are not inherently good or evil. Thomas Cargiulo. Until June 2013, Dr. Thomas Cargiulo was the program director for OSI-Baltimore’s Tackling Drug Addiction Initiative. Topics. Drug Policy Reform.
The research showing marijuana was a gateway drug was based on correlative data. In other words, since most people who use “hard” drugs had first used marijuana, then marijuana must be the culprit that pushed them on to the next step. But that’s not necessarily true.
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