Cultivation of the cacao plant began nearly 3,000 years ago. Therapeutic uses of chocolate predate its introduction to Western society in the 1500s. Modern research finds new medical applications for this cacao-containing food each year. Yet, the mechanisms causing these effects remain unknown. Changes in the levels of critical hormones may explain some of the health benefits associated with chocolate intake.
Cortisol
The adrenal gland secretes cortisol in response to stress. Short-term release allows the body to maintain a healthy balance, but excessive amounts can damage cells. A 2009 paper in the "Journal of Proteome Research" looked at the impact of chocolate on cortisol. Healthy adults received daily portions of dark chocolate for two weeks. The amount used, 40 grams, was comparable to a single bar of pure chocolate. The cacao-containing food reduced cortisol compared to baseline. It also normalized metabolism and digestion. Subjects did not experience any negative reactions.
Insulin
The pancreas manufactures insulin to help regulate the breakdown of sugar and fat. Failing to balance levels of this hormone properly may lead to diabetes. Foods that help control insulin remain in great demand due to the high incidence of this disorder. A 2003 report in the "Journal of Nutrition" tested the effects of cacao powder on hormone responses. Healthy subjects consumed pairs of food from different categories. One item in each pair contained chocolate while the other did not. Relative to chocolate-free foods, cacao-containing items immediately enhanced insulin production. No adverse events were reported.
Ghrelin
The pancreas also produces ghrelin, a hormone controlling appetite. High levels of ghrelin make a person feel hungry whereas low levels cause satiety. A 2010 article in the periodical "Regulatory Peptides" evaluated the impact of dark chocolate on appetite and hormones. Female students tasted or smelled chocolate during single testing sessions. Both eating and smelling chocolate decreased appetite, but only smelling decreased ghrelin. The students completed the study without experiencing side effects.
Female Reproductive Hormones
Chocolate craving and addiction affects many women. Some females associate these cravings with the onset of their menses. The latter finding suggests that female reproductive hormones like estrogen and progesterone may play a role in chocolate craving. A 2009 experiment described in the journal "Appetite" tested that hypothesis. The authors of this study surveyed perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. Estrogen and progesterone dramatically decrease during menopause, but the data showed only a small decrease in chocolate craving. Thus, female reproductive hormones do not appear to regulate the cravings for chocolate in women.
References
- Penn Museum: The Earliest Chocolate Drink of the New World
- "Journal of Proteome Research"; Metabolic Effects of Dark Chocolate Consumption on Energy, Gut Microbiota, and Stress-Related Metabolism in Free-Living Subjects; Francois-Pierre Martin, et al.; December 2009 (PDF)
- "Journal of Nutrition"; Cocoa Powder Increases Postprandial Insulinemia in Lean Young Adults; Jennie Brand-Miller, et al.; Oct. 1, 2003
- "Regulatory Peptides"; Appetite Suppression Through Smelling of Dark Chocolate Correlates With Changes in Ghrelin in Young Women; Elske T. Masolt, et al.; April 9, 2010 (PDF)
- "Appetite"; Perimenstrual Chocolate Craving. What Happens After Menopause?; Julia M. Hormes and Paul Horzin; October 2009
