Is Chocolate Physiologically or Psychologically Addictive? Essay

Is Chocolate Physiologically or Psychologically addictive? Chocolate is made from the seeds of the tropical tree, Theobroma cacao. Theobroma is the Greek full term for food of the gods. In Aztec society burnt umber was a food of the gods, reserved for priests, warriors and nobility. The Aztecs utilize cacao beans to make a hot, frothy and bitter beverage called chocolatl. Chocolatl was a sacred concoction that was associated with fertility and wisdom. It was also thought to mother stimulating and restorative properties. The bitter drink was first introduced to Europe in 1528. However, it was not until 1876 that milk, cocoa powder and cocoa scarcelyter were combined to form what we right off know as chocolate (1). Today, production and consumption of chocolate is a global affair. People crave chocolate more than any new(prenominal) food. In the United States, the typical person eats 11.5 pounds of chocolate yearly (2). What makes chocolate the food that is craved more often than any oppo commit food? Yes, chocolate tastes good, has a beautiful texture and melts in your mouth, but there must be more to chocolate than what meets the lips. In fact, chocolate is made up of chemicals associated with mood, emotion and addiction. Many people eat chocolate as a comfort food when they are depressed or stressed. The question is, do people crave chocolate because their bodies and brains are accustomed to the chemicals in it or do people crave chocolate because they have a psychological attachment to it? Substances found in chocolate, such as phenylethylamine, theobromine, anandamide and tryptophan trigger mood enhancing chemicals and neurotransmitters to be released in the brain. Phenylethylamine is a chemical found in the body that is similar to amphetamine. It he... ...es1)CHOCOLATE, on the Chocolate sack site http//www.chocolate.org/2)Prescription-strength chocolate, on the Science News Online-Food for Thought weathervane site http//www.science.org/sn_a rch/10_12_96/food.htm3)Chocolate and Anxiety, on the About the Human Internet web site http//panicdisorder.about.com/cs/shfitness/a/chocolate.htm4)Theobromine Chocolates Caffeine Cousin, on the About the Human Internet web site http//chemistry.about.com/library/weekly/?once=true&5)Chocolate addiction A Fiction?, on the Personal MC web site http//www.personalmd.com/ intelligence activity/a1998121611.shtml6)Health and Happiness-does chocolate have it all wrapped up?, on the IFIS acerb Topic web site http//www.ifis.co.uk/index.html7)Chocolate A heart-healthy confection?, on the CNN web site http//archives.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/diet.fitness/02/02/chocolate.wmd/