Chocoholism and Chocolate Addiction

Chocoholism is a condition that affects those people who keep eating many chocolates. They call themselves in a light vein as chocoholics but not quite realizing that they are suffering from an addictive problem. The word is a neologism merging the words chocolate with alcoholic. Chocoholism is said to be a psychological or physical addiction to chocolate and its related chemicals.

Sometimes there is a psychosomatic addiction that is had from any kind of food due to the release of endorphins after consuming a chocolate for example. But true addiction is that which has withdrawal symptoms after stopping it. So Chocoholism is still debated upon and there is lot of research going on to find out if the addiction is really as serious or is it just a passing condition.

But chocolate has a lot of compounds that works on the human brain and gives the individual a feel good factor. This euphoria and ecstasy alongwith happiness is what makes a person eat it all the more. Chocolate is even said to arouse sexual feelings. So whether these are all responsible due to the contents of the chocolate or whether it is just a temporary condition is immaterial. What matters is that chocolate is addictive and there are many who are unable to control it.

Theo bromine is the chemical in the chocolate that acts as an alkaloid stimulant and works on the body just like how caffeine works. It is said to be a stimulant, aphrodisiac and a euphoric agent. It is fond in the maximum concentration in chocolates. As it works on the central nervous system, is said to affect the working of the human body if taken in excess.

But Theo bromine as such is a non addictive substance and is very weak and actually less addictive than caffeine. Thus really huge chocolate blocks have to be consumed for one to get affected by it. So if you consume huge blocks on a daily basis only then you would start showing signs of Chocoholism.

Theo bromine does not work singly on the central nervous system. Caffeine is also found in chocolate and has a chemical composition very similar to Theo bromine. This is said to be the most physiologically addictive drug across the world. Caffeine addictions are mild yet there are many who suffer from it. So sometimes this combination of Theo bromine and caffeine is what is seen to affect those suffering from Chocoholism.

Yet it is a known fact that caffeine in chocolates is not harmful so a two ounce semisweet chocolate could have around 44 milligrams of caffeine which comes to equal one third of a daily cup of coffee. So Chocoholism occurs only if you consume some portion of chocolates continuously and without any reason.

Tryptophan is another reason why people turn chocolate addicts. This is found in most of the chocolates. Tryptophan is also found in beans, rice, pork, cheese and eggs and is said to be given as a mood elevator and balances the levels of serotonin in the brain. Low levels of Tryptophan in chocolates also help to change the mood but again large amounts have to be consumed for a person to turn addictive.

So a large amount of chocolate consumption could lead to a temporary mild addictive phase which is curable. There are many foods that have mild stimulants which makes a person have it more and more. But the mood elevating properties of a chocolate are normally balanced and do not normally lead to addictive conditions.

Know all that you wanted to know about chocolate addiction or Chocoholism.