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Chocolate Is The Most Widely Craved Food, But Is It Really Addictive?
Science Daily ^ | 11-12-2007 | University of Bristol.

Posted on 12/11/2007 3:17:47 PM PST by blam

Chocolate Is The Most Widely Craved Food, But Is It Really Addictive?

ScienceDaily (Sep. 12, 2007) — Chocolate is the most widely and frequently craved food. People readily admit to being 'addicted to chocolate' or willingly label themselves as 'chocoholics'. A popular explanation for this is that chocolate contains mood-enhancing (psychoactive) ingredients that give it special appeal.

Polyphenol antioxidant Evidence and logic, however, find little support for this. Substances present in chocolate which have been highlighted as potentially pharmacologically significant include serotonin, tryptophan, phenylethylamine, tyramine and cannabinoids. However, many of these compounds exist in higher concentrations in other foods with less appeal than chocolate.

Professor Peter Rogers, from the University of Bristol, UK, explains: "A more compelling explanation lies in our ambivalent attitudes towards chocolate -- it is highly desired but should be eaten with restraint (nice but naughty). Our unfulfilled desire to eat chocolate, resulting from restraint, is thus experienced as craving, which in turn is attributed to 'addiction'."

A further observation is that the most widely preferred chocolate is milk chocolate and chocolate-covered confectionery. These contain a lower amount of cocoa solids, and therefore a lower concentration of potentially psychoactive compounds, than 'dark' chocolate which is not so widely craved.

It is therefore far more plausible to suggest that a liking for chocolate, and its effects on mood, are due mainly to its principal constituents, sugar and fat, and their related orosensory and nutritional effects.

The evidence as to whether chocolate can really become addictive is examined by Professor Peter Rogers from the Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Bristol, Uk.

Adapted from materials provided by University of Bristol.


TOPICS: Food; Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: addiction; addictive; chocolate; crave; food
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To: Max in Utah
What's the world's best chocolate?

Dove dark chocolate comes pretty close.

21 posted on 12/11/2007 3:50:32 PM PST by mollynme (cogito, ergo freepum)
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To: K4Harty
You can eat it

You can drink it

You can crave it

You can drive it

Seems to be missing one. LJ? Would you be so kind as to supply the graphic?

22 posted on 12/11/2007 3:52:21 PM PST by null and void (No more Bushes/No more Clintons)
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To: mollynme

I agree - Ghirardelli dark is also very good. Hershey’s tastes ghastly by comparison, and deserves a worldwide boycott. ;)


23 posted on 12/11/2007 3:53:51 PM PST by Mr. Jeeves ("Wise men don't need to debate; men who need to debate are not wise." -- Tao Te Ching)
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To: blam
Our unfulfilled desire to eat chocolate, resulting from restraint, is thus experienced as craving, which in turn is attributed to 'addiction'."

This is a useful and insightful comment. Studies have repeatedly demonstrated that no chemical has "addictive" qualities per se.

24 posted on 12/11/2007 3:54:21 PM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: Max in Utah

Here’s a link to what some consider the best

http://money.cnn.com/2003/04/16/pf/saving/q_chocolate/index.htm


25 posted on 12/11/2007 3:54:37 PM PST by mupcat
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To: Max in Utah

If you like almonds or Hazelnuts, try the Ritter Sport Bars. The chocolate is excellent and the Almonds (my favorite) add just the right amount of pop and flavor.


26 posted on 12/11/2007 3:56:21 PM PST by Loud Mime (It's snowing in AZ! Al Gore left on his Gulfstream to warmer places.)
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To: Max in Utah

This is sorta fun also. How about the worlds most expensive chocolate.

http://www.forbes.com/2006/02/07/cx_sy_0208featslide.html?thisSpeed=35000&boxes=custom


27 posted on 12/11/2007 3:58:59 PM PST by mupcat
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To: null and void
Waiting anxiously for graphic...
28 posted on 12/11/2007 4:01:08 PM PST by IllumiNaughtyByNature (Tagline: optional, printed after your name on post)
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To: blam

I thought it was beer.


29 posted on 12/11/2007 4:01:50 PM PST by Doomonyou (Let them eat lead.)
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To: Mr. Jeeves

IMHO, Ghiradelli dark chocolate is probably the best dark chocolate I’ve ever had - it melts so readily, so smooth, and so chocolatey. Lindt dark chocolate is good, but for me only up to their stuff that’s 60% cocoa. Beyond that it’s just too bitter and slow melting for my tastes.


30 posted on 12/11/2007 4:05:50 PM PST by -YYZ- (Strong like bull, smart like ox.)
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To: blam

One of my favorites is “Ice Cubes”. Don’t even know if they’re still being made. They’re the milk chocolate cubes that when you bite into them they melt really quickly all the time giving a little bit of a cool sensation. Strange, but really, really good.


31 posted on 12/11/2007 4:16:59 PM PST by mupcat
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

This thread is for you my FRiend PING!


32 posted on 12/11/2007 4:20:54 PM PST by JustaDumbBlonde
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To: blam

I think its the sugar thats mixed in thats addictive.


33 posted on 12/11/2007 4:43:30 PM PST by proudofthesouth (Liberalism IS a mental illness.)
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To: JustaDumbBlonde; HungarianGypsy; Gabz

I’m not addicted. I can stop any old time I WANT to. ;)

Actually, we were snowed in at work today. Toward the end of the day I told my lone co-worker...I’ll be back in a bit...I’m going to go find us some CHOCOLATE! And by Golly, I did!

And we were both made whole again and we both made it home to our families intact because we had a sugar and caffeine buzz going for the snowy/icy drive home. We were both totally alert and had the reflexes of a cat!

Chocolate. Saves. Lives. I am living proof! :)


34 posted on 12/11/2007 4:44:31 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: -YYZ-

Any Lindt chocolate is great...


35 posted on 12/11/2007 4:45:21 PM PST by toldyou
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To: mollynme; Mr. Jeeves

If you like Dove then you’ll love Lindt Lindor (Swiss chocolate.) I prefer milk chocolate but they have the truffles in dark chocolate too. You can buy them almost anywhere.


36 posted on 12/11/2007 4:46:12 PM PST by MotleyGirl70 (Dear GOP, Conservatism works every time it’s tried. Sincerely, MotleyGirl70~~~Go Packers!~~~)
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To: Max in Utah

Belgian chocolate is generally the best. Trader Joe’s has a 60% cocoa bar that has a great taste and texture and is not very expensive...and it’s made in Belgium.


37 posted on 12/11/2007 4:46:45 PM PST by toothfairy86
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To: mystery-ak

Oh, that is SO cute! I just wish those “Smiley” programmers would quit peaking in my windows, LOL! :)


38 posted on 12/11/2007 4:47:18 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: toldyou

I agree. See my post below yours :)


39 posted on 12/11/2007 4:47:32 PM PST by MotleyGirl70 (Dear GOP, Conservatism works every time it’s tried. Sincerely, MotleyGirl70~~~Go Packers!~~~)
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To: blam

btt


40 posted on 12/11/2007 4:47:51 PM PST by Cacique (quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat ( Islamia Delenda Est ))
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