The Food of the Gods Essay -- Biology Essays Research Papers

The Food of the Gods For over 2000 years, chocolate in its many forms has been enjoyed and its hearts have been exalted. It was believed that the Mexican god Quetzalcoatl left the chocolate tree for the people. The Aztec emperor Montezuma is reported to have consumed 50 goblets of chocolate a day. It is called the food of the gods, literally, as a translation of genus Theobroma Cacao, the cacao bean. (1). such a title must imply that chocolate has some of course occurring superior quality. Why else would we crave it so much more than other foods? For many people, nothing can take the place of chocolate when a craving hits. Chocolate and cocoa have very complex chemical substance properties and many components. Among the most researched components of chocolate which be thought to have an effect on craving and addiction are fat, theobromine, caffeine, and salsolinol. (2). Fat and sugar are substances naturally craved by the body, and thus although they may play a role in the all ure of chocolate, they cannot be responsible for its appeal over other sweets. The caffeine in chocolate is sometimes implicated as part of its addictive properties. However, the amount of caffeine contained in one troy ounce of chocolate is about 5-35 milligrams, compared to the 140 milligrams found in a form of brewed coffee. This does not discount the idea that caffeine plays a role in the appeal of chocolate, more likely it compounds the effect of other components. (3). Theobromine, similar to caffeine but present in larger amounts in chocolate, is less firm than caffeine yet still may retain stimulatory effects in large amounts of chocolate. C erstwhilentrations of theobromine vary in different chocolate products, and its effect on humans through chocolate has not... ...e.com/chocolate.htm3) Does cocoa have caffeine in it?, International Cocoa Organization. http//www.icco.org/questions/caffeine.htm4) Theobromine Chocolates Caffeine Cousin . http//chemistry.about.com/library /weekly/?once=true&5) In vitro pharmacological activity of the tetrahydroisoquinoline salsolinol present in products from Theobroma cacao like cocoa and chocolate.. http//hub.elsevier.com/pii/S03788741000029196) Naloxone, an opiate blocker, reduces the consumption of sweet high-fat foods in fat and lean female binge eaters . http//www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/61/6/1206?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&author1=drewnowski&searchid=QID_NOT_SET&stored_search=&FIRSTINDEX=7) Psychological and Physiological Characteristics of Sweet Food addiction. http//www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/40004278/ABSTRACT