Chocolates.... Not all sweet after all

What is this thing about chocolates?

What is about chocolates that the sight of it makes many of us just forget all our diet and even forget our selves. Why do lovers send chocolate hearts for Valentine's Day instead of say vanilla cookies or strings of licorice?

Chocolates contains approximately 380 known chemicals, so it's no wonder its so difficult to find out why is chocolate such a favorite treat. It may be a unique chemical combination that other food does not have that gives chocolate the edge over other foods. Although chocolates are said to improve moods, it contains saturated fat and sugar so do not overindulge, it is not the healthiest food. And keep chocolate away from dogs as it cannot digest one compound in chocolate called theobromine. Chocolate also can make some children fall sick for the same reason.

 

What is the latest about choco-chemistry?

Those sweet desires are not just imagined. Now researchers have found that eating chocolates have caused the brain to release endorphins. Chemicals that makes us feel good. We eat chocolate so we release and experience pleasure, so as a result we crave chocolates. we want chocolates in times of anxiety, pain, stress and so on. Chocolate is a natural analgesic or pain killer.

Other researchers have also said chocolates contains substances that might mimic the effects of marijuana. The ingredients might make the texture, smell and flavour of chocolate much more enjoyable and combine with other ingredients like caffeine to make a person feel good. We are talking about something much, much, mcuh milder than a high

But researcher who studies the brain chemistry of marijuana said that chocolate contains much low levels of ingredients that he doubts has any effect. Founded that chocolate contains anandamide, which is also produced naturally in the brain and which activates the same targets that marijuana does.

Other researchers believe chocolate cravings has something to do with serotonin, a brain chemical that makes us feel relaxed. " It's Mother Nature's solution via food cravings to try to elevate those chemicals and try to make us feel better and to function more efficiently," said Deborah Waterhouse, the auther of "Why Women Need Chocolate." "We will crave chocolate or some other food that has sugar and fat to bring those chemicals back into balance."