So, I learned a Most Important Thing today. It made my day. My week. Heck, my month. I learned this:
Chocolate DOESN'T have caffeine in it!
First, before you say "So? Caffeine isn't bad for you!" I must stop you. Caffeine is an alkaloid that naturally occurs in coffee and tea (as in black, green, and white). Alkaloids have a low therapeutic margin, which means that the amount you can take that won't poison you between the amount you can take that will poison you is very small. Apparently, caffeine is very powerful, and can poison you if you take it excessively (caffeine headaches, anyone?), though I'm not sure what exactly the symptoms of poisoning from it are. I do know that it is basically legal speed, and is highly addictive. Coffee and tea themselves suck a lot of nutrients from your body. (If you want more details on that, let me know, I will find it in my notes and tell you.)
ANYWAY . . . .
I know a lot of people who think that there is caffeine in chocolate, because of how it makes you feel good. I know there are a few who don't eat it (or drink it, as in hot chocolate) because they think that caffeine is the reason we don't drink coffee and tea (it's never actually be specified why). So, for those out there that think this, here is The Totally Awesome Truth I learned today:
*That feel goodness comes from an alkaloid called theobromine. It is the primary alkaloid in cocoa and chocolate. It is frequently confused with caffeine, but has very different effects on the body. It is a mild, lasting stimulant with a mood improving affect. In medicine, it is used as a diuretic, vasodilator, and a myocardial stimulant (theobromine, not chocolate. Too bad for that). It has antitussive effect superior to codeine by suppressing vagus nerve activity (I'm not sure what that means, except that it's a fantastic pain reliever).
SO . . . .
That means, if you are in pain
EAT CHOCOLATE!
If you are sad,
EAT CHOCOLATE!
If you are tired,
EAT CHOCOLATE!
If you are angry,
EAT CHOCOLATE!
If you are depressed,
EAT CHOCOLATE!
If you are happy,
EAT CHOCOLATE!!!!!
Yep, it's the answer to all our problems, just like we always knew, deep down inside.
* taken in entirety (except for those parentheses) from my notes from my lesson today.
I'm pretty sure there actually is caffeine in chocolate, though it is a very small amount. These sources talk about around how much caffeine there is:
ReplyDeletehttp://ask.yahoo.com/20001018.html
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119585119/abstract
http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=csTsQr-v0d0C&oi=fnd&pg=PR13&dq=%22caffeine+in+chocolate%22&ots=vGmxLWzuW8&sig=ms5qdUKjq5V2tAE4zGOie_057hs#PPA7,M1
I'd be interested in reading any more recent studies that show there isn't caffeine in chocolate, though, since it is something assumed as understood.
Antitussive usually refers to dry coughs mainly... also caffeine is a metabolite of theobromine, meaning that when your body breaks down theobromine caffeine is released ...soooo, I guess, technically speaking, there isn't any caffeine in chocolate.....just like I didn't shoot you, my gun did :)
ReplyDeletemakes more sense now that i've read BOTH posts on this. nevertheless. i will still eat chocolate:)
ReplyDelete