Properties of ceremonial cocoa: anandamide, phenylethylamine and theobromine
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The mysterious properties of cocoa
Cocoa has been recognized for centuries as an extremely valuable resource, whose unique flavor appeals to almost every taste. It is an ingredient in many traditional cakes and desserts, but is most often found in the form of paste (cocoa blocks) or powder. However, ceremonial cocoa, i.e. true, neutral cocoa, in addition to its unique taste, boasts great health properties. It's no secret that eating a few pieces of raw cocoa or chocolate noticeably improves mood, but it's also worth knowing that cocoa products are a rich storehouse of nutrients. To what specific substances do they owe their health-promoting properties, and what specifically can consuming real cocoa give us?
Why this magical effect of ceremonial cocoa?
To answer this question, we need to go back to the very beginning of the process of creating ceremonial cacao. Let's now move to the tropical forests of South America. It is here that cocoa trees grow on plantations in a hot and wet climate. The cocoa tree is a tree that can reach up to 15 meters in height, and originally came from here, from countries such as Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela, although it is today also readily grown in African countries (such as Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon) and Asian countries (such as Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Malaysia). The cocoa fruit, which resembles the shape of American footballs, contains between 20 and 60 cocoa beans inside. It is the cocoa beans that are the starting point of the entire cocoa-making process and are responsible for the mysterious, psychoactive and health-promoting effects of cocoa products.
These grains are rich in micro and macronutrients: it is worth noting here right away that 100g of cocoa provides as much as 230 calories, of which nearly 60% are fats. However, this, of course, is not all. Cocoa beans also provide valuable and necessary for the body protein and carbohydrates. Added to this are various vitamins, mainly those of the B group, E and PP. However, when we decide to have a cup of cocoa, we provide ourselves not only with a whole lot of precious nutrients, but also with small amounts of psychoactive substances (it is worth noting, however, that their effect is rather subtle). One of these substances is a fascinating ingredient called anandamide.
Anandamide, a source of spiritual stability
Cocoa beans have an interesting and mysterious substance. It is anandamide. It gets its name from „ananda” 1, a Sanskrit term for happiness, pleasure, joy and delight. Anandamide 2 is one of the most important endocannabinoids, compounds produced in the body that bind to cannabinoid receptors in the brain and other parts of the body. If the word “cannabinoid” tells you anything, your association is probably correct: cannabinoids are psychoactive substances found in high concentration in marijuana.
After the discovery of anandamide, scientists began looking for cannabinoid receptors and discovered that the human body is filled with them! In addition to being found in several areas of the brain, they were found in the central nervous system, heart, liver, spleen, pancreas, skin, white blood cells, reproductive organs, and in the gastrointestinal and urinary tracts.
But does this mean that cocoa has similar effects to marijuana? It certainly induces a state of relaxation, but some (anecdotal) accusations against marijuana certainly don't apply to it! According to recent studies, consumption of cocoa can help improve memory and even inhibit memory deterioration in the elderly. The properties of cocoa have long been appreciated, as evidenced by such a large number of consumers. Nevertheless, we encourage you to reach only for natural cocoa of high quality and thus avoid ready-made instant mixes, which unfortunately often contain a lot of sugar in them.
How does anandamide work?
Returning to anandamide, this substance plays an important role in the control of movement, pain sensation and appetite. It is a regulator that keeps the brain and body in a state of balance, known as homeostasis. The endocannabinoid system, which can be activated by anandamide, provides protection against stress-related mental illnesses, including major depression, generalized anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. So, we can say that anandamide is our natural substance of happiness and mental balance, the deficiencies of which we can replenish ourselves by consuming cocoa bean products. Now the term „food of the gods” - as ancient South American peoples called cocoa - takes on a new meaning!
Cocoa as a free radical slayer, or flavonoids
In addition to anandamide, raw cacao contains a huge amount of vitamins and minerals such as iron, chromium, magnesium, zinc and potassium. Large amounts of magnesium are one of the reasons for the psychoactive effect of cocoa. Magnesium has an antidepressant effect, naturally improving mood and reducing feelings of stress.
However, cocoa is also - and perhaps especially - rich in large amounts of antioxidants, or substances that protect the body's cells from the effects of free radicals. These include flavonoids 3. Their medicinal properties are invaluable. They exhibit anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects, as well as reducing the mutagenic activity of tumors. In addition, there are many indications that flavonoids contribute to lowering the risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease.
Theobromine instead of caffeine
In addition to the already mentioned anandamide, cocoa beans also contain other substances with psychoactive effects. Again, however, it is worth mentioning that this effect is rather subtle: eating even very large amounts of chocolate will not cause an intoxicating effect. However, the content of psychoactive substances - such as caffeine, theobromine, phenylethylamine(PEA), tryptophan or theophylline - can have a positive effect on our mood. Starting with the first of these, i.e. the well-known caffeine, its presence in cocoa makes it act as a stimulant, reduces the sensation of fatigue and, in addition, significantly improves concentration. Thus, cocoa can be a reliable alternative to coffee and can even be used interchangeably with this popular “stimulant”.
In addition to caffeine, however, we also find theobromine in cocoa. While the effects of caffeine are well known, theobromine 4 works slightly differently than this popular coffee ingredient. It stimulates the central nervous system and the cardiovascular system, causing a rapid reduction in blood pressure. Paradoxically, therefore, this substance stimulates us and relaxes us at the same time, while at the same time showing anti-inflammatory effects and contributing to long-lasting, healthy sleep.
Phenylethylamine and tryptophan
We have mentioned at least two more substances, namely phenylethylamine and tryptophan. Despite their exotic-sounding name, these ingredients are known for their positive effects on our cognitive system. Phenylethylamine, by stimulating the release of acetylcholine, improves our cognitive functions, including memory. Another benefit of using this substance is that the compound has a positive effect on improving mood, and is therefore recommended for people suffering from depression. Phenylethylamine is also used to treat Parkinson's disease.
Tryptophan, on the other hand, also affects cognitive function, but in a slightly different way. This substance, also known as L-tryptophan, is an amino acid that acts as a natural mood regulator: it has the ability to help the body naturally produce and balance certain hormones. Supplementing your food with tryptophan-rich products or taking supplements helps achieve natural calming effects - tryptophan induces sleep and effectively combats anxiety.
As you can see, cocoa is not only a fantastic snack, but also a way to improve your health, mood and cognitive function. Cocoa exhibits free radical inhibiting properties, which significantly slows down the aging of the skin, as well as the body itself. In addition, the polyphenols contained in cocoa have an anti-inflammatory effect, which means that regularly choosing to consume cocoa as much as possible can help inhibit many dangerous diseases. In addition, reaching for cocoa makes it possible to replenish magnesium, which is essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system, which can help reduce cramps or pain. Finally, the psychoactive properties of cocoa will effectively improve our mood and make us return energy. Real cocoa, available at our cocoa store, will help us regulate our mood and both soothe and provide energy. And all this with a beautiful taste and aroma in the background!
- Mechoulam R, Fride E (1995). The unpaved road to the endogenous brain cannabinoid ligands, the anandamides. Cannabinoid receptors. Boston: Academic Press. pp. 233–258. ↩︎
- Bradley E. Alger PNAS June 8, 2004 101 (23) 8512-8513; ↩︎
- ptfarm.pl ↩︎
- ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↩︎