Chocolate University Online Blog
Young couples volunteered to have their hearts and brains monitored and were then asked to melt dark chocolate in their mouths before kissing their partners.
The research was led by Dr David Lewis, formerly of the University of Sussex, and now of the Mind Lab. “These results really surprised and intrigued us,” he said. “While we fully expected chocolate – especially dark chocolate – to increase heart rates due to the fact it contains some highly stimulating substances, both the length of the increase, together with the powerful effects it had on the mind, were something none of us had anticipated.”
The romantically attached volunteers who were all aged in their 20s, had electrodes hooked up to them by scientists as they put a piece of dark chocolate on their tongue and, without chewing, indicated when it started to melt. The couples then had to kiss each other the way they normally would.
The scientist also compared their resting heart rates with those where they had the chocolate and kissing tests. The discovery was that even the most passionate kisses were no match to the buzz chocolate can give. At the point which the chocolate was melting in the mouth, all regions of the brain were stimulated far more intensely and lasted way longer than the mental excitement they got from kissing. The lumps of chocolate also allegedly made the heart beat faster.
And albeit the fact that more women love chocolate, and not to mention, are more romantic, both sexes yielded the same results.
“There is no doubt that chocolate beats kissing hands down when it comes to providing a long-lasting body and brain buzz – a buzz that, in many cases, lasted four times as long as the most passionate kiss,” said Dr Lewis.
Chocolate is known to have several substances that give natural high, namely phenylethylamine, which is elicited when we are in love, theobromine, and caffeine.
The study used a 60% cocoa dark chocolate. “You’d think people would be shy about kissing in a laboratory, but that wasn’t the case at all. We’re not talking about a quick peck here,” said a spokeswoman for the chocolate makers.
Categories: fun chocolate facts
Tags: chocolate facts, chocolate studies, kissing, phenylethylamine, theobromine
Chocolate is a mouthwatering treat that is basically made from the seed of a tropical cacao tree. A lot of people crave for this sweet pleasure. However, most people tend to deprive themselves of chocolate thinking that it would just add up to their waistline and weight.
Better think again! Chocolates have a lot of benefits in store for you. Dietitians, researchers and nutritionist can prove it. Here are 3 essential reasons for you to start munching on those scrumptious sweets…
Mental Attentiveness and Antidepressant
Research has shown that chocolate contains theobromine, a component that is rich in caffeine and anandamide. These properties tend to induce mental alertness and aids in increasing our moods.
Depleted serotonin levels can lead to depression and suicide. In addition, a person who has low dopamine quantities tends to feel apathetic and sad. On the contrary, when a person has increased levels of these chemical properties in his brain, one would feel a blast of euphoria and good mood.
Antidepressant properties were confirmed by researchers when they revealed that both serotonin and dopamine levels increased after munching on chocolate bars.
Carbohydrates and theobromine are substances that stimulate the nervous system of our brain. Furthermore, these chemical mediators provide us with extra energy to utilize in our activities. Research has also demonstrated that chomping on chocolates could help in stimulating women with low libidos.
Antioxidants
Free radicals are one of the culprits in developing certain diseases like infections, cancer, heart disease and more. Antioxidants protect our body by binding to harmful free radicals, alleviating them, repairing the injury and preventing further harm from occurring.
Consuming delightful dishes that are rich in antioxidants not only prevent you from getting sick but they also provide you with a healthy body and a youthful vivacity.
The recommended daily intake is a minimum of 3,000 to 5,000 ORAC units of antioxidants per day. Raw, unprocessed cocoa is known to be the richest antioxidant containing food in the entire universe. That is the reason why chocolates are considered to be one of the most delicious and nutritious sources of antioxidants.
Cardiovascular Advantages
Chocolates can aid in reducing cardiovascular damage by increasing the production of good cholesterol (HDL). This vital enzyme frees the blood vessels from fats.
Moreover, flavonoids found in cocoa can assist in reducing clots from forming. Clots are the major reasons in acquiring a number of heart diseases. Flavonoids permit stronger blood flow to the heart, thus, increasing the pumping mechanism of the heart. This mechanism aids in maintaining a healthy heart.
Now you don’t have to worry about feeling all guilty about eating your favorite indulgence. Chocolate bars tend to bring more benefits than harm. What are you waiting for? Start munching on those luscious treats!
Categories: chocolate education, chocolate in the news
Tags: antioxidants, caffeine, chocolate bars, flavonoids, ORAC, serotonin, theobromine
I enjoy chocolate and tea. I don’t mean hot tea with a chocolate pastry (which I’m not opposed to) but today I mean chocolate covered tea flavored chocolates like dark chocolate Early Grey truffles or Chai milk chocolate bars.
 But this new product by Honest Tea company is innovative and well, a bit strange sounding. Introducing Honest CocoaNova, a product line of brewed cocoa infusion beverages.
Each Honest CocoaNova drink contains 50 mg of theobromine and other antioxidants. The drink is made with USDA Certified Organic and Fair Trade Certified™ cacao beans.
According to the website, www.honesttea.com, Honest CocoaNova “provides a light, satisfying taste for a guilt-free treat with only 50 calories in a 10 fl. oz. bottle. It is cocoa as you’ve never known it.”
The cacao beans are ground into a natural cocoa powder (processed without an alkalizing agent) which is then made with a patent-pending process to create the chocolate brew.
Honest CocoaNova comes in three varieties; Mint Cacao, Mocha Cacao, and Cherry Cacao.
Honest Tea is an organic bottled tea company that started in 1998. The mission of the company is to make truly healthy organic beverages sweetened with less sugar and fewer calories than other bottled drinks.
Categories: chocolate in the news
Tags: chocolate drinks, fair trade, organic chocolate, tea, theobromine
Now here is a research study that will make your day!
According to a study done in the UK, chocolate and kissing stimulate the body in very similar physiological ways.
The researchers studied six couples and measured brain waves during various activities including kissing and letting a piece of chocolate melt in their mouths.
Both kissing and eating chocolate increased the activity in the brain that signals alertness and relaxation.
In some of the participants, chocolate produced an even greater effect which lasted longer than with kissing. Hmmm. Does this surprise you? Nope!
What’s the scientific explanation? Well, researchers think that chocolate’s sugar and cocoa butter components (phenylethylamine (PEA), theobromine, and tryptophan) work to trigger the release of dopamine in our brain bringing on a natural high.
These chemicals also raise blood pressure and heart rate which we interpret as “exciting.” Kissing triggers much the same response from our brain.
The texture of chocolate and the melt-in-your-mouth sensation you get while eating it, makes the experience pleasurable and long lasting. In addition, the slow melt at body temperature stimulates the sense of smell. Kissing, believe it or not, also stimulates your sense of smell and is, well, very pleasurable too!
So, there you have it. Kissing and chocolate; the perfect combination for the lovable chocolate lover.
Categories: chocolate in the news, fun chocolate facts
Tags: kissing, PEA, phenylethylamine, pleasure, theobromine, tryptophan
Theobromine is a predominant chemical found in chocolate and is often the subject of research studies looking into its affect on the body.
One such study has proclaimed that theobromine can be used as a treatment for the hard-to-get-rid-of cough.
Results from this study are promising. Persistent coughing, one that stays around for at least two weeks, is quieted when test subjects consumed chocolate-based cough remedies.
According to the research, theobromine works by preventing the vagus nerve from misfiring and causing one to cough. Since theobromine is not a narcotic like codeine it is considered a safer alternative.
Maybe someday soon you’ll start seeing chocolate ingredients in over-the-counter cough medications. We can all hope!
Categories: chocolate in the news, fun chocolate facts
Tags: chocolate science, medicine, theobromine
 Is chocolate an aphrodisiac? Everything I’ve read about cacao says that chocolate as an aphrodisiac is a myth.
Well, not everything I read says that, just the scientific stuff…
Contrary to modern science, the Maya believed cacao was a powerful love potion that improved stamina. The Aztec emperor, Moctezuma II, supposedly drank 50 goblets of chocolate a day to boost his virility before visiting his harem.
Research has never proven that chocolate is an aphrodisiac, but the chemical Theobromine can cause a physical and mental state of relaxation or sense of well-being. Also, Theobromine causes alertness which I guess could be mistaken for enhancing stamina.
Chocolate also has small quantities of a chemical called phenylethylamine (PEA), which is a weak mood lifter. The brain could interpret this as a feeling of being “in love.” It could also be interpreted as “addicted!”
I think the real heart of the matter is that chocolate is a gift that makes you feel loved. These feelings of love have been associated with chocolate going way back.
Here’s an idea: In the interest of science, I recommend you conduct an independent study involving chocolate, someone special, and romantic moment alone.
Then, you tell me, was the chocolate an aphrodisiac?
Categories: chocolate Q&A, fun chocolate facts
Tags: aphrodisiac, aztecs, chocolate science, mayans, PEA, phenylethylamine, theobromine
If you take a bite of chocolate, you’ll want more because it tastes so good. Your dog will do the same thing. Dogs love the taste of chocolate. But here’s the thing, chocolate doesn’t love dogs. The problem is, if your dog eats too much chocolate, he/she could be ingesting a lethal dose of poison.
Why is chocolate lethal for dogs?
Theobromine is a naturally occurring stimulant, similar to caffeine, found in chocolate. It is the theobromine that is so dangerous. It attacks a dog’s nervous system and heart.
The symptoms will vary for each dog depending on the amount of chocolate, the size of the dog, and the type of chocolate swallowed.
Within a few hours of ingesting chocolate, a dog might vomit or have diarrhea. Later, as more of the theobromine is absorbed, the heart rate increases, causing arrhythmia, muscle twitching, increased urination or excessive panting. If the dose is large enough, the dog may have seizures that lead to coma and perhaps death.
It isn’t easy to say how much chocolate is too much chocolate. If a dog licks chocolate frosting off your finger, it’s not going to cause a serious problem, but if he eats the whole chocolate cake, that’s a different story.
What if your dog eats a candy bar? Chocolate bars have some of the highest levels of theobromine. A Hershey’s Special Dark chocolate bar has 184 mg of theobromine. Compared to a cup of chocolate milk with 35 mg of theobromine and you can see that the chocolate bar packs more of a punch!
Ignore those big, cute, doggy eyes begging for your chocolate treats. Unless, of course, if those eyes belong to your husband, then you should probably share!
For more information go to www.petMD.com.
Categories: chocolate education
Tags: chocolate milk, pets, theobromine
I can’t talk about caffeine without mentioning another similar chemical called theobromine. So, I’ll discuss both and even compare some things between them.
There are two chemicals present in chocolate that qualify as stimulants (alkaloid molecules known as methylxanthines), caffeine and theobromine. Theobromine affects people in a similar way to caffeine but is much weaker. Although there is significantly more theobromine in chocolate than caffeine, it triggers these “caffeine affects” on a much smaller scale.
Both caffeine and theobromine occur naturally in cocoa beans. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and makes us feel less drowsy and more alert. Theobromine has stimulant properties but does not act upon the central nervous system. It produces relaxing effects by lowering blood pressure.
According to the Hershey Chocolate company website, a cup of Hershey’s chocolate milk contains 36-45 milligrams (mg) of theobromine and only 3-4 milligrams (mg) of caffeine.
Caffeine is found in varying quantities in coffee, tea, and chocolate. Compared to coffee, however, chocolate has a very small amount. For example, a brewed cup of coffee has between 60–120 mg of caffeine while a cup of hot chocolate has between 4-5 mg. In fact, a cup of hot chocolate (or even chocolate milk) contains the same amount of caffeine as a cup of DECAFFEINATED coffee (1-5 mg).
Since both caffeine and theobromine are found in the cocoa solids, dark chocolate will contain more of these chemicals than milk chocolate. The amount of theobromine in a Hershey’s Special Dark chocolate bar is 184 mg and caffeine is 31 mg. Compare that to the Hershey’s milk chocolate of 74 and 9 respectively.
Categories: chocolate education, chocolate Q&A
Tags: caffeine, chocolate science, grocery product, theobromine
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