Ronald asks: I've heard that chocolate is addictive - is this true?
Wynnie says: Chocolate is the most frequently craved food. Many of us will admit to being chocoholics, but are we actually addicted to the chemicals in chocolate or do we crave it because we're psychologically attached?
Chocolate does contain substances, such as phenylethylamine, theobromine, anandamide and tryptophan, which trigger mood-enhancing chemicals and neurotransmitters to be released in the brain.
Phenylethylamine causes the brain to release a chemical called dopamine in the pleasure centres of the brain, producing feelings of euphoria. But research has shown that most of the phenylethylamine in chocolate is broken down in the gut before it even reaches the brain.
Theobromine produces an effect similar to caffeine. Although theobromine is a much weaker stimulant, it can quicken the heart rate, and withdrawal of theobromine can cause migraines. However, levels of theobromine are low, particularly in milk chocolate.
Anandamide acts on the same receptors in the brain as marijuana does, causing a person to feel 'high'. But it's likely that most of the anandamide is destroyed by stomach acid long before it reaches the brain.