What is the secret behind our feeling of happiness when eating chocolate?

Weather of Arabia - We love chocolate, so when we start eating a piece, we don't have the option to stop until we finish it, so what does chocolate do to us until we stick to it? What is the secret behind the happiness that we get when we eat a piece of chocolate?!

What is chocolate made of?

Chocolate is made from cocoa beans that have been grown and consumed in the Americas for thousands of years. To obtain the cocoa bean, it takes breaking the thick shell of the cocoa seed in order to reach the pulp, which usually has a strong tropical taste.

The pulp and seeds are then extracted from the cocoa beans, before they go through a fermentation process that lasts a few days, followed by drying and roasting.

The combination of these processes, and the special flavor they bring, give us a distinctive character that our minds adore. The rich flavor that emanates from the chocolate and the happy memories associated with childhood are part of the chocolate's allure.

Chocolate contains a number of psychoactive chemicals. Among the effects associated with joy, pleasure and contentment.

Chocolate is also characterized by its creamy texture, so when you extract it from its packaging and put it in your mouth without chewing it, you will notice that it melts quickly, which makes you feel a distinct sensation of softness.

Chocolate is the happiness-boosting substance

PhiScience cites research conducted at The Center for Human Pharmacology at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne in Australia, with the aim of identifying the substances in chocolate that are responsible for improving mood.

The researchers found many substances responsible for the feeling of happiness when eating chocolate, including tryptophan, which helps the brain to secrete serotonin, the neurotransmitter responsible for our feelings of happiness and satisfaction. Chocolate also contains phenethylamine, a natural substance that acts as an antidepressant, and works to stimulate the happiness centers in the brain.

In addition to theobromine, which is similar to the caffeine found in tea and coffee, it has the same effect on the brain in terms of alertness and activity.

On the other hand, there are Tetrahydro-â-carbolines that work in a different way than previously mentioned, being that they inhibit an enzyme called monoamine oxidase (MAO); It is an enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitters responsible for feeling happy. And if we eat chocolate that contains this substance, it reduces the work of this enzyme, so we feel happy for a longer period.

At certain times, the body produces endorphins, which are natural substances secreted by the body to relieve pain. This substance is also secreted when eating dark chocolate , which stimulates the brain to produce endorphins. In addition to the role of this type of chocolate in relieving symptoms of depression and improving mood.

And don't forget sugar, one of the main components of chocolate, whose association with taste receptors sends chemical signals to the brain that promote feelings of happiness and help release chemicals in the brain responsible for feeling pleasure, such as dopamine.