Have you ever had sugar cravings?
Have you ever felt like you could die without the chocolate bar?
Sometimes people call chocolate ‘happiness drug.’ No wonder. It looks good, smells fantastic and tastes awesome. However, there is something in the chocolate you have never heard about before.
There is a combination of individual chemicals that can make you feel better. More than that, it will make you want more every day.
The sugar addiction doesn’t look like the healthiest thing through. Let’s not forget that a large amount of chocolate may cause a lot of health problems.
So why do people keep on storing chocolate in the house?
Let’s find out what can trigger sugar or chocolate craving and answer one important question. To eat chocolate or not to eat?
Sugar
Let’s start with the basics.
Sugar in the chocolate is essential. It helps to reduce bitterness. For instance, there are about 33 grams of sugar in the Mars bar.
According to the American Heart Association, the recommended amount of sugar is 47.5g for adults. One chocolate bar should be just fine but let’s not forget about your morning coffee with two spoons of sugar, flavored yogurt you ate at work and smoothies you drunk on your way back home. It is a daily intake of sugar, and a lot of people just can’t fight it off.
Products with added sugar hit your taste buds, and it gives your brain a boost. According to the study by the Oregon Research Institute, sugar and cocaine activate the same regions of the brain. This, in turn, helps to release chemicals called endorphins that can generate a feeling of pleasure. No wonder, eating a chocolate truffle improves your mood so fast!
The funny thing here is that physical exercise, laughter, sex, and spicy food can trigger the same effect.
Anandamide
It is cannabinoid that sometimes is also called ‘the body’s antidepressant.’ Since chocolate stimulates the endocannabinoid receptors, it boosts anandamide. More than that, anandamide also reduces anxiety in some clinical trials.
Theobromine
It can be easily found in tea leaves and cacao plants. There are a lot of health benefits when it comes to theobromine. For example, it can lower your blood pressure. It can also improve short-term cognitive function and reduce mental fatigue. That’s why eating chocolate bars before the exam might be a good idea.
Another essential thing to keep in mind is that dark chocolate bar contains more theobromine than a milk chocolate bar.
You can actually get high after eating 25 pounds of chocolate in one sitting. However, it might be even fatal, so it’s better not to try.
Phenylethylamine
Chocolate bars contain the highest concentrations of phenylethylamine. It is another chemical that can stimulate the brain’s pleasure centers. No wonder, you get this lovey-dovey feeling. If you don’t feel like eating chocolate today, you can eat other foods that contain mild alkaloid stimulant (phenylethylamine). Such as beans, nuts, seafood, and lentils.
Tryptophan
It is a chemical in the brain that produces serotonin. This kind of natural neurotransmitter controls our behavior and mood. So, when you have a high level of serotonin, you can feel instant elation. Some people take ecstasy in order to increase serotonin levels in the brain and feel better. You can eat a chocolate bar instead.
What’s about side effects?
Even though it can make you feel better and it stimulates your brain power, it also has a lot of side effects.
Have you ever heard the term “chocoholic” before?
Being a sweet tooth is not funny at all. According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, chocolate has a drug-like effect. No wonder so many people are addicted to it.
You are one of the sugar-addicted people if you crave it every day and not able to understand when it is actually enough for you. Have you ever eaten the whole chocolate in one sitting without actually realizing it?
Losing control is one of the symptoms of sugar addiction.
Chocolate as a legal ‘drug’ can cause a lot of health problems. Since chocolate contains a lot of fat and sugar, it causes weight gain. Obese people have a higher risk of strokes, heart attacks, and diabetes. The last study found that an average kid has eaten 18 years’ worth of sugar. Chocoholics might also have chronic heartburn.
Let’s not forget about dental issues. The chocolate itself has nothing to do with it. It’s all about the amount of sugar that leads to gum disease and cavities. Doctors encourage parents to stop giving lots of sugar to their kids.
The study reveals that there is also a connection between depression and sugar consumption. On the one hand, chocolate contains elements that stimulate the brain and activate happiness (at least for the short term). On another hand, a diet that includes a lot of sugar can worsen anxiety symptoms. Excess sugar consumption causes blurry vision, tension and shaking.
Depressed people may use chocolate like self-treatment and hope it will alleviate their bad feelings. However, eating chocolate bars was never a solution to depression.
Another side effect is acne. Sugar causes spike insulin levels, and it increases oil production. That’s why teens who eat a lot of chocolate are more likely to have acne.
To eat chocolate or not to eat?
The chocolate itself has a lot of pros and cons. It contains some chemicals that can also be found in drugs. Indeed, eating chocolate can make you feel good.
However, you need to understand that type of chocolate really matters. If you are up to eating something sweet, the best option would be dark chocolate. It is the lowest in sugar and can provide health benefits. For example, it can lower inflammation and improve your mood. People who are used to eating milk chocolate will need to make an effort to switch to a bar of dark chocolate. It tastes differently since it doesn’t have a lot of sugar in it.
Another essential thing to consider is the quantity of chocolate that you eat. Keep in mind, there are a lot of sugary products in your daily diet. So, eating chocolate on a regular basis can’t be a good idea.
Control your cravings and take care of your health. Get satisfaction without unpleasant consequences.
