This article needs more reliable medical references for verification or relies too heavily on primary sources. (August 2024) |
Chocolate addiction is a compulsive desire to eat chocolate despite negative consequences.
There is medical evidence to support the existence of addiction to chocolate.[1] Psychoactive constituents of chocolate that trigger a ‘feel-good’ reaction for the consumer include tryptophan and phenylethylamine, which may contribute to cravings and addiction-like responses, particularly in people with specific genetic alleles.[2] The quantity of sugars used in chocolate confections also impacts the psychoactive effects of chocolate.[3]
Although the concept of a chocolate addiction is still controversial in the medical literature, chocolate (especially dark chocolate) is considered to have effects on mood,[4] and chocolate confectioneries almost always top the list of foods people say they crave.[5] The craving can be so strong in some cases that chocoholics may experience withdrawal symptoms if the craving is not fulfilled.[6]
The word chocoholic is used humorously to describe a person who is inordinately fond of chocolate.[citation needed] The term was first used in 1961, according to Merriam-Webster. It is a portmanteau of "chocolate" and "alcoholic".[7]
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