Is Chocoholism Real?

People who eat large amounts of chocolate often identify themselves, jokingly or seriously, as chocoholics. This word, which is a neologism derived by combining the word "chocolate" with the word "alcoholic" refers to a perceived physical or psychological addiction to chocolate or its constituent chemicals.

A mental or psychosomatic "addiction" can be gained from nearly any food, owing to the release of endorphins when any pleasurable activity is engaged. However, a true medical addiction differs in that it creates physiological withdrawal symptoms, as well. Some biologists, nutritionists, and chocolate-lovers have asked themselves if chocoholism is a true addiction or simply a humorous social construct.

There is no doubt that chocolate contains a number of powerful compounds that act on the human brain and body, creating feelings of euphoria, happiness, and even sexual arousal. However, whether they are present in chocolate in amounts large enough to cause physiological addiction is a different question entirely.

The most commonly identified chemical cited in chocolate addiction is theobromine, an alkaloid stimulant that acts on the body in ways similar to caffeine. It is known to have stimulant, euphoric, and aphrodisiac effects and is found in greater concentrations in chocolate than in any other food. Because it acts on the central nervous system, it has been occasionally cited as a source of chocoholism.

However, theobromine is, over all, a relatively non-addictive substance. It is much weaker and significantly less addictive than comparable amounts of caffeine, meaning that extremely large quantities of chocolate would need to be consumed on a daily basis to reach a point of true addiction to theobromine itself.

But theobromine does not act alone on the central nervous system to create chocoholic euphoria. Caffeine, also found in chocolate and chemically similar to theobromine, is known to be one of the most physiologically addictive drugs in the world. Although the symptoms of caffeine addiction are mild, millions of people throughout the world suffer from it.

Still, the caffeine found in chocolate is still found in amounts too low to cause true, physiological addiction, although it may be a contributing factor to chocoholism. In fact, a two-ounce semisweet chocolate bar contains only about 44 milligrams of caffeine, or the equivalent of one-third of a cup of coffee.

The chances of addiction from eating a two-ounce bar every day, then, are only equivalent to the chances of addiction from someone having a few sips of coffee every day. Several chocolate sources would need to be consumed regularly to reach a point of caffeine addiction.

Another factor that may play a role in chocoholism is the tryptophan found in most forms of chocolate. Tryptophan, most famously found in turkey, but also found in egg, beans, rice, pork, and cheese, is known to balance levels of the mood-boosting neurotransmitter serotonin, leading to chocolate's reputation as an antidepressant. Even the relatively low amounts of tryptophan found in chocolate might have some effect on mood, but it has never been shown to be addictive in any way.

While extremely high consumption of chocolate might lead to a partial, mild addiction, chocoholism is most likely a social construct. Many foods contain mildly psychoactive stimulants with the potential to become addictive in massive amounts. However, the mood-elevating effects of chocolate are self-regulating and do not generally lead to physiological addiction except in extreme circumstances.