The Chemistry of Chocolate – Biomedical Beat Blog – National Institute of General Medical Sciences (2024)

FAQs

Can chocolate change your brain chemistry? ›

When we eat chocolate, our brains make a chemical called serotonin. This chemical helps us feel good and happy. So, when we're feeling sad or anxious, chocolate can actually help us feel better. Chocolate has something called tryptophan, which is like a building block for serotonin.

One element in particular is called tryptophan; this is an amino acid that helps the brain to make serotonin; a neurotransmitter that makes us feel good. Phenylethlalanine and Theobromine are other components in chocolate that can make us feel happy.

By the 15th century, the Aztecs used cocoa beans as currency. They believed that chocolate was a gift from the god Quetzalcoatl, and drank it as a refreshing beverage, an aphrodisiac, and even to prepare for war.

Four chemicals are known to be released by the brain when eating chocolate: endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin. Serotonin is commonly associated with happiness. People with depression or anxiety often have low levels of serotonin.

Eating large amounts might cause caffeine-related side effects such as nervousness, increased urination, sleeplessness, and a fast heartbeat. Cocoa can cause allergic skin reactions and might also trigger migraine headaches. It can also cause nausea, stomach discomfort, constipation, and gas.

However, because chocolate contains tryptophan, the resulting increase in serotonin can help explain why one might feel happier, calmer, or less anxious after eating a piece of their chocolate cake (Serotonin).

Because dark chocolate is a rich source of beneficial plant compounds called flavanols, it's often touted as a heart-healthy treat. However, many popular brands of dark chocolate contain potentially worrisome levels of lead and cadmium, according to a study by Consumer Reports published in December 2022.

One randomized, placebo-controlled trial showed that high-dose cocoa polyphenol treatment (500 mg of polyphenols) significantly enhanced positive mood, while mood remained unaffected under low-dose treatment (250 mg of polyphenols) [32].

Phenylethylamine (PEA)

That could be the effects of phenylethylamine, a chemical which stimulates the brain's pleasure centres and which is released when we fall in love. And the food that contains the highest concentrations of phenylethylamine? Yep—chocolate. No wonder it's so popular on Valentine's Day.

An ancient Toltec myth identifies Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent god, as planter of the cacao trees in the tropics of southern Mexico. He was called "the god of light, the giver of the drink of the gods, chocolate." Both the Mayas and Aztecs regarded chocolate as a potent aphrodisiac.

What compound in chocolate can benefit your brain? ›

According to the scientists, cocoa flavanols might be beneficial to most people for boosting the brain activity.

The Mayans called the drink “chocolhaa” (“bitter water”) and Aztecs called it “Xocolatl.” From those words eventually evolved the word “chocolate.” Cacao was used in special celebrations such as those for funeral rituals, war, or harvests.

Chocolate contains a chemical compound called phenylethylamine (PEA) which is known to increase levels of dopamine in the areas of our brain responsible for pleasure and reward. This is why chocolate can trigger feelings of pleasure and happiness.

Cocoa beans include a compound called theobromine. While it has the anti-inflammatory properties responsible for some of the health benefits of chocolate, it is also a mild brain stimulant that acts in a similar way to caffeine. The mood boost it offers may also be partly responsible for how much we like chocolate.

In addition to endorphins, chocolates can also impact other hormones related to stress and mood. For instance, chocolate contains small amounts of caffeine, a natural stimulant that can increase alertness and stimulate the release of adrenaline, a hormone that triggers the body's "fight or flight" response to stress.

This can lead to mood swings and feelings of irritability or fatigue. For individuals with a history of eating disorders or other mental health conditions, the consumption of chocolate or other high-sugar foods may be especially problematic.

Eating a bar of chocolate, which involves chewing and melting in the mouth is a physical change. During the digestion of chocolate, the materials in it break down in the cell to form carbon dioxide and water with the release of energy. Thus digestion is a chemical change.

Theobromine, a caffeine-related compound found in chocolate, is a stimulant for the central nervous system as well as a vasodilator. It increases mental alertness, improves memory and relieves mental fatigue by naturally lowering blood pressure, as well as increasing blood flow and oxygen supply to the brain and heart.

Regular exercise has been shown to have a positive impact on brain chemistry by increasing the production of neurotransmitters, such as endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin. These neurotransmitters play a key role in regulating mood, motivation, and attention.