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It is well established that certain foods increase the body's natural production of endorphins. Dark chocolate is by far the most popular endorphin-producing food on Earth. Known by the Greeks as the "food of the Gods", dark chocolate is derived from cacao beans that were revered by the Aztecs, who believed that eating chocolate would confer wisdom and vitality.

International readers may not be aware that February 14^th is “Valentines Day” in western cultures. The origins of this celebration are shrouded in legend, but seem to be associated with pre-Christian fertility festivals. A modern aspect of Valentines day is the giving and consuming of chocolate.

Chocolate contains more than 300 different constituent compounds, including anandamide, a chemical that mimics marijuana's effects on the brain. It also contains chemical compounds such as flavanoids, also found in wine, that have antioxidant properties and reduce serum cholesterol. Although the combined psychochemical effects of these compounds on the central nervous system are poorly understood, the production of endorphins are believed to contribute to the renowned "inner glow" experienced by dedicated chocolate lovers.

Naturally produced by the body, endorphins are possibly the best way to achieve a natural high. Chemically speaking, endorphins are polypeptides, which bind to the neuro-receptors in the brain to give relief from pain. First discovered in 1975, endorphins ("endogenous morphine") are one of several morphine-like substances (opioids) discovered within our brains. Opioids are considered stress hormones like corticotrophin, cortisol, and catecholamines (adrenaline, noradrenaline), and are manufactured by the body to reduce stress and relieve pain. Usually produced during periods of extreme stress, endorphins naturally block pain signals produced by the nervous system.

The human body produces at least 20 different endorphins with possible benefits and uses that researchers are investigating Endorphins are believed to produce four key effects on the body/mind: 1) enhance the immune system, 2) relieve pain, 3) reduce stress, 4) postpone the aging process. Scientists also have found that beta-endorphins can activate human NK (Natural Killer) cells and boost the immune system.

Chocolate Health QUIZ (Fill In The Blanks) - From JAMA and Nature

Dark chocolate (not milk chocolate or dark chocolate eaten with milk) is a potent 1) ____. Antioxidants gobble up free 2) ___, destructive molecules that are implicated in 3) ___ disease and other ailments. The findings indicate that 4) ___ may interfere with the absorption of antioxidants from chocolate and may therefore negate the potential health benefits from eating moderate amounts of dark chocolate. In one study, 6 men and 7 women aged 55-64, diagnosed with mild high blood pressure (153/84), ate either a 100-gram dark chocolate or white chocolate bar, daily for 2 weeks. Subjects were asked to balance the 480 calories by not eating other foods similar in nutrients and calories. Those who ate 5) ___ chocolate had a significant drop in blood 6) ____ (by an average of 5 points for systolic and an average of 2 points for diastolic), compared to those who ate white chocolate. In another study, seven healthy women and five healthy men aged 25-35, on different days, ate 100 grams of dark chocolate by itself, 100 grams of dark chocolate with a small glass of whole milk, or 200 grams of milk chocolate. An hour later, those who ate dark chocolate alone had the most total antioxidants in their blood and higher levels of 7) ____, a particularly healthy compound found in chocolate. The milk chocolate eaters had the lowest levels of all. This particular ingredient in chocolate are plant 8) ____ (cocoa phenols, to be exact), which are the compounds known to lower blood pressure. Chocolates made in Europe are generally richer in cocoa phenols than those made in the U.S.

Answers: 1) antioxidant; 2) radicals; 3) heart; 4) milk; 5) dark; 6) pressure; 7) epicatechin; 8) phenols

A Tip of the coneblog hat to Dr. Jules T. Mitchel at Target Health, Inc.

TARGET HEALTH INC. (www.targethealth.com) is a full service e*CRO dedicated to all aspects of drug and device development. Dr. Mitchel writes an informative and entertaining newsletter from which the above chocolate tidbits are taken.