All because the lady loves ......Byline: By Jane Picken With Easter approaching, the lure of chocolate eggs is sure to tempt tempt v. tempt·ed, tempt·ing, tempts v.tr. 1. To try to get (someone) to do wrong, especially by a promise of reward. 2. healthy eaters. Health reporter Jane Picken finds out why so many of us are chocoholics Chocolate fans will not be surprised to know it is the easiest and most popular solution to life's stresses and strains, from being dumped to feeling hormonal. And despite the advice from our dentists and dieticians warning us of its high calorie content, there are an estimated 11m people munching on it every day. Next month children and adults alike will be cracking open eggs of all varieties as part of the Easter weekend. Like other sweet food, chocolate is thought to stimulate the release of endorphins endorphins (ĕndôr`fĭnz), neurotransmitters found in the brain that have pain-relieving properties similar to morphine. There are three major types of endorphins: beta endorpins, found primarily in the pituitary gland; and enkephalins and ( natural body hormones that generate feelings of pleasure and well-being. "Chocolate's the most commonly craved crave v. craved, crav·ing, craves v.tr. 1. To have an intense desire for. See Synonyms at desire. 2. To need urgently; require. 3. To beg earnestly for; implore. food because it melts at body temperature and has that instant feel good factor," explains Jacqui Lowdon, from the British Dietetic Association The British Dietetic Association (BDA) is a professional association and trade union for dieticians in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1936 and is affiliated to the Trades Union Congress and the Scottish Trades Union Congress. External links
Bio-psychologist Dr Leigh Gibson adds: "The combination of creamy, fatty sensations and sweetness makes it a memorable taste people want to return to." Experts are still uncertain why people crave it so much even though it does contain 300 chemicals, including some ingredients such as caffeine caffeine (kăfēn`), odorless, slightly bitter alkaloid found in coffee, tea, kola nuts (see cola), ilex plants (the source of the Latin American drink maté), and, in small amounts, in cocoa (see cacao). that are mildly stimulating. But how much is too much? If you are spending so much on chocolate you think it should be on prescription and your weight's soaring it could be time to think about help. Hypnotherapist Ursula James is one expert who helps people overcome their chocolate 'addiction'. She says: "I've helped people who eat up to 12 bars a day, which can cause them serious health problems and emotional problems because it makes them feel out of control. "Just because it is a food problem the seriousness of it can be dismissed, which is wrong. There are people who secretly binge on chocolate, and pay cash for chocolate supplies so they don't appear on the family shopping bill." Key to a solution, she says, is identifying the mood that triggers their need for chocolate and finding a way to alter the pattern of behaviour so the need for chocolate is eliminated. |
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