I’m sure you’ve heard it before: “Eating chocolate can make people feel happier, more excited, and even a little euphoric.” 

It’s true!  This happens because chocolate affects the brain's "feel-good" chemicals—dopamine and opioids—which are linked to pleasure and reward. 

Studies on both people and animals show that chocolate (cacao) can boost mood, provide comfort, and make us want to continue eating it!  No wonder we get so addicted to it!

But that’s old news.  And I’m not here to dig up old bones.  

What I want to talk about is a recent study that found there is something else besides chocolate that makes eating chocolate even more addictive than the chocolate itself!

Wait…what?  

When we eat chocolate, we know the cacao makes us feel good and makes us want more, but there is another part of the chocolate that is actually more addictive!   

What Lurks Behind The Chocolate

In the study by Casperson et al., 2019, they made people eat different types of chocolate (90% dark, 85% dark, 70% dark, and milk chocolate).  They found that as the sugar content in chocolate increased, its effects on the brain became stronger! [1] 

In other words, more sugar = stronger mood-related effects! So, sweeter chocolates (with less cocoa and fat) had a bigger impact on the brain than darker, more bitter chocolates.

This study, like a previous one, found that milk chocolate made people feel the most positive compared to other types of chocolate. People reported more good feelings overall, especially on a scale that measures mood-boosting and enjoyable effects.[1]

These people were told they could eat as much chocolate of each type as they wanted.  On average, people in the study ate much more milk chocolate (about 21 grams) compared to dark chocolate—only about 6 grams of 70% cocoa chocolate and just 2 grams of 85% cocoa chocolate. This suggests that milk chocolate is more appealing and easier to overeat. The results support the idea that chocolate, especially milk chocolate, can trigger cravings and "addictive-like" behavior, making people want to eat more of it. This matches the fact that they also reported more positive feelings after eating it.[1]

This study confirmed what we already knew: that people report feeling happier and more satisfied after eating chocolate, supporting the idea that chocolate can be comforting and mood-boosting.  BUT, the study also found that the sweeter the chocolate (with more added sugar), the stronger these effects were! [1]

So that is why chocolate is a double edged sword!  The cacao will make your brain feel euphoric and happy; and the added sugar will boost it even more, making it extra addictive!  

If you’re someone who is already struggling with food addiction, chocolate will act like heroin on steroids in your body and will kick your addiction into high gear.  

Does this mean you can’t eat chocolate?  Of course not!  

It just means you might want to stick to the darker versions of chocolate so it is not as powerful a substance for you and so it’s easier to cut back.   

I don’t know about you, but I’ve heard time and time again that dark chocolate was the better choice just because milk chocolate is not as “healthy” and has more “calories”.  But it was a surprise for me to learn that milk chocolate especially is very very addictive.  

Maybe we should put warning labels on candy bars, I don't know. 

Food Addiction and Weight Loss

Now I understand why I have a hard time controlling myself when chocolate is around.  

Although I’ve managed to recover from my food addiction and can now maintain my ideal weight, chocolate is still a weak point for me.  It is one of those things I just can’t keep in the house.  

If you happen to be struggling with food addiction and can’t seem to lose weight because of it, I suggest you watch my training.  But first you can start with my 5-Minute Blueprint to STOP Snacking at Night!   Click here to Grab Your FREE Copy!

With Love,

Julie Richard

Occupational Therapist| Certified Health Coach| Founder of Ulikeyou Weight Loss| Creator of the Evolve Method

REFERENCE:

1. Casperson SL, Lanza L, Albajri E, Nasser JA. Increasing Chocolate's Sugar Content Enhances Its Psychoactive Effects and Intake. Nutrients. 2019 Mar 12;11(3):596. doi: 10.3390/nu11030596. PMID: 30870996; PMCID: PMC6471517.