One of my most favorite foods on this earth is dark chocolate. The word chocolate is actually a catch all name for a number of raw and processed foods produced using the seed of the cacao tree (theobroma cacao). The seeds have an intensely bitter taste and must be fermented to develop any sort of flavor. “Cocoa” is actually the dried and fully fermented seed of the cacao tree that is used to make chocolate. The word cocoa is simply a derivative of the word cacao. From this state the seed is then cleaned and roasted and the shell is removed to produce cacao nibs. The nibs are then ground and liquefied resulting in chocolate liquor.
Chocolate also contains alkaloids. An alkaloid is a complex naturally occurring chemical compound containing nitrogen atoms which also have a pharmacological effect on both humans and animals. The two most notable alkaloids in chocolate are theobromine and phenylethylamine. The alkaloid I will be talking about today is phenylethylamine (PEA).
So just what the hell is this stuff? PEA is a neurotransmitter and a neuromodulator that is naturally produced in the body and can be found in varying concentrations within chocolate and certain algae. It has a very strong action on the dopamine system of the brain. Dopamine is one of the primary neurotransmitters that is used to communicate between cells in your body. PEA serves to increase the levels of dopamine in your brain and also blocks the action of dopamine transmitters creating a buildup of dopamine within the brain. PEA also has several other benefits including improvements in mood, memory & learning, and libido. To be updated…
The problem with PEA is that it is rapidly metabolized by the enzyme MAO-B preventing any significant concentrations from ever reaching the brain in the first place. Unless of course the individual is taking some sort of MAO inhibitor. Thus, people who are simply munching chocolate down with no regard will derive very little benefit from the PEA that is found in chocolate. However, there is a way around this. If you suck on the chocolate and allow it to dissolve within your mouth, the PEA can be absorbed straight into your brain through the olfactory epithelium at the back of the roof of your mouth.
So there you have it, you now know the secret trick to eating and enjoying chocolate! Enjoy 