A large percentage of the world’s population enjoys eating chocolate — and, in most cases, they always crave for more once they started. If you enjoy consuming chocolate, you can be sure you’re not alone, and there are many chocolate lovers spread across the globe. Chocolate Trusted Source Chocolate - BBC Good Food Chocolate as we know it is relatively new, having been invented by Joseph Fry of Bristol in 1847. Until then, chocolate was only available as a thick, fatty, often gritty drink that required constant stirring to keep it emulsified. www.bbcgoodfood.com consumption benefits you in many ways, especially when you take it before bed because it can help you get sound sleep. On the other hand, in a similar way to coffee drinking, consuming chocolate before bed can affect your sleep, making you search on Google or ask your friends and professionals the effective ways to get good sleep.
That sounds confusing, right? Not for long! In this post, you will discover how you can get good sleep with the aid of chocolates and 1why medical professionals kick against chocolate consumption before bedtime. Let’s get right into the details.
If you’re wondering why so many people lay emphasis 1ay on the “avoid consuming chocolate before bed” mantra, this is the reason: it contains Theobromine and Caffeine. But how does the presence of Theobromine and Caffeine in chocolate influence my sleep? We will explain in a bit. Before that, let’s show you what they are.
Have you ever asked yourself what gives dark chocolate its bitter taste? That is simply Theobromine at work. According to most consumer reviews, dark chocolate contains a high percentage of Theobromine. Thanks to its great, bittersweet taste and fine ingredients mixture, the Green and Black Organic Chocolate Variety Packs are one of the best out there.
Theobromine can also be found in milk and white chocolate. However, unlike dark chocolate, there are only a few traces of Theobromine.
Caffeine, on the other hand, is solely responsible for the coloration of dark chocolate. In other words, the darker the color of the chocolate, the greater the amount of caffeine present in it. Based on this fact, you can easily guess that white chocolate contains zero caffeine. Based on experts’ comments, a great chocolate option to consider is a milk chocolate variety that contains more milk than cocoa, such as the Fannie May Assorted Chocolate Bars, which has a creamy and attractive texture.
Caffeine and Theobromine are part of the group known as Methylxanthines Trusted Source Methylxanthine - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics Methylxanthines are alkaloids that can be found in high concentrations in tea, coffee, and chocolate. Theophilline, theobromine, and caffeine are the most popular. They can be found in different concentrations in coffee, chocolate, and tea. www.sciencedirect.com or Methylated Xanthines. They are both referred to as stimulants because they increase the flow of blood and heart rate. Now, here is why the combination of Theobromine and Caffeine in chocolate isn’t ideal before you go to bed. Let’s face the facts, chocolate has a smooth texture and delightful taste that can make you keep going back for more. Meanwhile, the more chocolate you consume before going to bed, the higher your intake of Theobromine and Caffeine. Unfortunately, these stimulants are known for either preventing or disrupting sleep, even if you sleep with a face mask or on a mattress that doesn’t sag.
Put simply, they can keep you awake all night or make sleeping uncomfortable for you. You certainly don’t want this, so you can decide to avoid it by not taking chocolate at all before bed.
Here’s the thing, the consumption of chocolate before you go to bed is not bad. In fact, it can enhance your chances of sleeping well, but only if you took a little before you sleep. Chocolate contains a substance called Tryptophan that can help your body generate melatonin and serotonin, otherwise known as the sleep hormones. Beside that, there are also minerals and vitamins that help with sleep regulation, including magnesium and calcium.
It’s a well-known fact that excess sugar isn’t good for the teeth. Chocolate also contains sugar. Therefore, be cautious when consuming chocolate during the day or at night. In addition, ensure you make it a habit to brush your teeth before you sleep. It protects your teeth from any damage-causing bacteria.
An aphrodisiac is a drug or food that can trigger sexual instinct or improve sexual performance or pleasure. This begs the question: Is Chocolate an Aphrodisiac? The Aztecs claimed it functions as an aphrodisiac.
Scientifically, there’s an element of truth to this claim, thanks to the presence of chemicals like Phenylethylamine and Tryptophan, which are known as mild sexual triggers and mood activators.
At this point, you already possess sufficient knowledge on why you should or shouldn’t consume chocolate before sleep. Don’t undermine the importance of sleeping well. This is because it gives your physical and mental health a significant boost. For this reason, you have to be cautious about how much chocolate you consume before you go and sleep on your daybed. Excessive consumption of chocolate before bed does you no good. Instead, it deprives you of the much-needed sleep you deserve. So, if you wish to enjoy your sleep, there are two ways you can go about it. One, you can take a little chocolate. Two, you can avoid it totally if you know you can’t stop yourself from consuming more after taking a little. Cheers to good sleep and healthy habits!
