Fact or Fiction: Chocolate as Aphrodisiac

Is chocolate an aphrodisiac?  Everything I’ve read about cacao says that chocolate as an aphrodisiac is a myth.

Well, not everything I read says that, just the scientific stuff...

Contrary to modern science, the Maya believed cacao was a powerful love potion that improved stamina.  The Aztec emperor, Moctezuma II, supposedly drank 50 goblets of chocolate a day to boost his virility before visiting his harem.

Research has never proven that chocolate is an aphrodisiac, but the chemical Theobromine can cause a physical and mental state of relaxation or sense of well-being.  Also, Theobromine causes alertness which I guess could be mistaken for enhancing stamina.

Chocolate also has small quantities of a chemical called phenylethylamine (PEA), which is a weak mood lifter. The brain could interpret this as a feeling of being “in love.”  It could also be interpreted as “addicted!”

I think the real heart of the matter is that chocolate is a gift that makes you feel loved.  These feelings of love have been associated with chocolate going way back. 

Here’s an idea:  In the interest of science, I recommend you conduct an independent study involving chocolate, someone special, and romantic moment alone.

Then, you tell me, was the chocolate an aphrodisiac?

Bryn Kirk

2 thoughts on “Fact or Fiction: Chocolate as Aphrodisiac

  1. avatar Eugene Gauggel

    The movie, “Chocolat” gave us the impression that Chocolate is an aphrodisiac, but I think she put some special ingredients into it to make it so. One of them was red cayenne pepper. The Mayans were some of the ones who used it this way.

     
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