![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Klavot on December 31, 2006, at 11:35:01
Hi all
It is my anecdotal experience that *dark* chocolate - i.e. the bitter stuff with no milk, little sugar and lots of cocoa - has a beneficial effect on my mood. Psychoactive ingredients include (courtesy Wikipedia):-
"Theobromine - This is the primary alkaloid found in cocoa and chocolate, and is one of the causes for chocolate's mood-elevating effects. This mild stimulant belongs to the methylxanthine family, which also includes the similar compound caffeine, with which Theobromine is frequently confused.
Anandamide - An endogenous cannabinoid.Tryptophan - An essential amino acid that is a precursor to serotonin, an important neurotransmitter involved in regulating moods.
Phenylethylamine - An endogenous amphetamine. Often described as a 'love chemical'. However, it is quickly metabolized by the enzyme MAO-B, preventing significant concentrations from reaching the brain.
Caffeine - This stimulant is present mainly in coffee and tea. Exists in chocolate in very small amounts."
(see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chocolate )
Well, just something to try if maybe other things don't work.
Klavot
Posted by Phillipa on January 1, 2007, at 12:44:35
In reply to Dark chocolate, posted by Klavot on December 31, 2006, at 11:35:01
I eat it every night. Love Phillipa
Posted by LizinManhattan on January 1, 2007, at 15:54:34
In reply to Dark chocolate, posted by Klavot on December 31, 2006, at 11:35:01
Hi,
How much dark chocolate do you notice has an effect on your mood?
Liz
Posted by Klavot on January 2, 2007, at 4:42:12
In reply to How much dark chocolate?, posted by LizinManhattan on January 1, 2007, at 15:54:34
> Hi,
> How much dark chocolate do you notice has an effect on your mood?
> Liz
A few pieces a day, it varies.Klavot
Posted by blueberry1 on January 3, 2007, at 16:04:30
In reply to Dark chocolate, posted by Klavot on December 31, 2006, at 11:35:01
I don't know if it is true or not, but I saw somewhere that most of the beneficial things in dark chocolate are broken down during digestion and most of it never makes it to the brain.
I love dark chocolate but have never noticed it affected my mood in any way.
I saw somewhere that to get the amount of ingredients in dark chocolate for a significant effect you would need to eat 25 pounds of it.
I saw this stuff on some internet search, so it could be all garbage or it could be true. Dunno.
Posted by madeline on January 4, 2007, at 20:03:31
In reply to Dark chocolate, posted by Klavot on December 31, 2006, at 11:35:01
I've noticed a boost myself from the dark chocolates.
Olives, however, seem to give me a big boost - and sushi.
Posted by dessbee on January 5, 2007, at 6:35:14
In reply to Dark chocolate, posted by Klavot on December 31, 2006, at 11:35:01
I think most of the effect comes from theobromine, since it is found in high quantities in dark chocolate (1000 mg in every 100 gram dark chocolate). Theobromine differs from Caffeine by only one Methyl group but still it has very different effects on the human body. It is a mild, lasting stimulant with a mood improving effect.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theobromine
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Alternative | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.