Actually, chocolate DOES contain caffeine. It also contains theobromine, a closely related compound. Both are also found in most regular (non-herbal) teas. I'm assuming that milk chocolate, with its lower chocolate content, has less caffeine, theobromine, etc.--I know I get less of a caffeine, etc. kick from milk chocolate than dark chocolate.
Things I found by doing various Google searches:
The cacao tree's scientific name is Theobroma Cacao.
Theobromine is the reason chocolate is dangerous to dogs--they can't metabolize it fast enough. Here's a paraphrase from ask.yahoo.com: "If a dog eats a lot of chocolate, the theobromine can build up and reach a toxic level of concentration, leading to cardiac arrest. The effects will vary depending on the size and weight of the dog. Signs of chocolate poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, excessive urination, a quick heart rate, and rapid breathing. Take him to a vet immediately. Theobromine isn't poisonous to humans because we can break down and excrete it much more efficiently than dogs, rendering it effectively harmless."
Chocolate also contains small amounts of phenylethlyamine, an amphetamine-like substance, as well as cannabinoids, the active chemicals in marijuana. Studies have proven that chocolate stimulates the brain to release natural painkillers; specifically, phenylethlyamine makes the brain release b-endorphin, an opioid peptide, which is partially involved in the high one feels when falling in love (I say partially, having fallen in love, and also having eaten chocolate--falling in love, as you might expect, gives a much stronger feeling, but hey, a little bit is good too). Phenylethlyamine also appears to be generated inside the body, from what I was able to read. Giving it to depressed people has been found to lift their mood substantially. As far as the cannabanoid content in chocolate, a study by Christian Felder of the National Institute of Mental Health, found that a 25 pound piece was needed to attain a cannabanoid "high" for a 130 pound individual. This study doesn't refer to the other stuff (phenylethlyamine, caffeine, theobromine, etc.) that also makes you feel good, which chocolate contains in higher amounts, as well as the fat and the overall feel in your mouth of a good, melting chocolate. Phenylethlyamine also raises blood pressure and blood glucose levels. The result of all this is that chocolate can make us feel more alert and increase our sense of well being and contentment.
What I'd also like to know, is if white chocolate contains phenylethlyamine. If it did, you could eat white chocolate without getting too jazzed up from caffeine, theobromine, etc. But phenylethlyamine is probably only in dark chocolate, judging from the other substances that are only in dark chocolate--the best I've been able to tell, the only part of the cocoa bean that white chocolate contains, is fat. However, chocolate fat (cocoa butter) is supposed to be one of the most stable forms of fat, which takes a lot longer to go rancid than most other fats, sometimes having a 2-5 year shelf life. Chocolate also contains some antioxidants which probably contribute to the fat's long shelf life.
Check this out for a phenylethlyamine supplement: http://www.cris.com/~nubrain/chocolate.html
But wait, there's more:
British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2001 Oct;35(5):342-3:
Phenylethylamine, a possible link to the antidepressant effects of exercise?
Department of Life Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK.
OBJECTIVES:To determine in this pilot study whether aerobic exercise affects phenylacetic acid concentration in the urine [which reflects phenylethylamine level].
METHODS:Twenty healthy men provided 24 hour urine samples on two consecutive days for the determination of phenylacetic acid levels. Before and during day 1, subjects refrained from physical activity; on day 2 subjects ran on a treadmill at 70% of their maximal heart rate reserve (MHRR) for 30 minutes.
RESULTS:The 24 hour mean urinary concentration of phenylacetic acid was increased by 77% after exercise.
CONCLUSION:As phenylacetic acid concentration in urine reflects phenylethylamine level, which is known to have antidepressant effects, phenylethylamine may be linked to the therapeutic effects of physical exercise on depression.
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