Chocolate Cravings

Do you crave chocolate? Many people describe their desire for chocolate as a "craving." Chocolate is the single most craved food in the country.

Experts are conducting research to determine causes of cravings. They have focused on chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters that might affect one’s mood and desire for different types of foods. Serotonin and endorphins are two of the more understood neurotransmitters.

Serotonin is thought to help people feel calm and relaxed. If you have low levels of serotonin, this leads to craving starches and for sweet foods like chocolate. Foods high in carbohydrates may help boost the amount of serotonin in the brain. The feeling of well-being is said to return with a raise in serotonin levels.

Endorphins are believed to be "feel good" neurotransmitters. In contrast to serotonin, endorphin levels appear to be affected by dietary fat----thus, it has been suggested that eating fat-containing foods like chocolate might increase endorphins and lift a person’s mood.

Do you crave chocolate? Most people do! The experts only say good things about it. So how can it be bad, go ahead and indulge--eat chocolate–it will lift your mood and keep you calm and relaxed. You can’t say that about broccoli.

November 7th National Bittersweet Chocolate Day