Dark Chocolate for Anxiety, Focus and Attention

[xavier65]

Hey all, recently I came across some researchs on dark chocolate. Seems like it has powerful compounds and really does affect our brain.

So I bought a dark chocolate bar with 83% cocoa content.

It has both negative and positive effects on me.

Here's how I feel whenever I eat some:

Negative effects (Occur quickly):

1- Migraine Headaches 2- Nausea and stomach discomfort 3-Heart palpitations (strong forceful beats) 4-Racing heartbeat when standing suddenly 5- Increased anxiety, pressure in head, and increased muscle twitching all over body, especially on fingers 6-Increased hunger (later when I spend the gained energy) 7-Insomnia, overstimulated brain and obsessive thinking at night

Positive Effects:

1- Sense of euphoria 2- Improved focus, attention and learning 3-Improved mood, happy and having fun 4-High physical energy, boosted stamina 5-Less need for rest

So I'm very curious about how this powerful food works. Negative effects often show up when the positive effects are gone, possibly due to to the decreasing levels of compounds. According to some research, I've learned that increased anxiety and heart rate comes from it's "Theobromine"– a chemical similar but powerful than Caffeine.

It also contains Phenylalanine which is converted into L-Tyrosine. Our body uses L-Tyrosine in two different ways: 1-Boosting thyroid function 2-Producing Catecholamines such as (Dopamine, Norepinephrine and Epinephrine).

I guess the increased hunger comes from boosted thyroid hormones, and positive effects come from increased Catecholamines.

I hope by learning more about these compounds, I can find a way get the desired effect for improving my depression by proper supplementing.

Your thoughts? Do you have any similar experience with Dark Chocolate?

[alfreddy7]

I also take magnesium supplements. They do make a difference when I wake up. Even though my sleep is all screwed up, when I take it my anxiety is not as bad.

[xavier65 in reply to alfreddy7]

What forms of magnesium have you been taking? I want one for insomnia, racing thoughts and heart palpitations. Plus, how is your blood pressure guys? Does it affect your BP too much? I have a low blood pressure so I'm not sure about taking magnesium as it may further drop

[Anxious11 in reply to alfreddy7]

I took magnesium citrate for the first time last night and had stomach cramps all night. Does this eventually go away? I really have heard good things about magnesium helping with anxiety.

[alfreddy7 in reply to Anxious11]

Hello Anxious11

No I’ve never had stomach cramps with Magnesium. I actually suffer with ulcerative colitis as well and it also helps me with it.

Maybe try taking small dosage first and work up from there. Cause I’m suppose to take 2 pills a day but I only take 1 which is enough for me. Unless I’m starting to feel very anxious I take 2.

Hope my info helps.

[Anxious11 in reply to alfreddy7]

Thank you!

[Pinkie56]

Wow you really did your research. My doc told me I could have chocolate as long as it was dark. I'm a diabetic so this was like a gift from heaven. Yes dark chocolate is actually very good for you.

[xavier65 in reply to Pinkie56]

Glad it worked for you. But as I just mentioned, It has some serious negative effects on me as well.

[Pinkie56 in reply to xavier65]

So sorry to hear bad things about my favorite food. Do you know which foods give you bad reactions? I'm currently trying figure out what gives me bad times. I'm doing it by eating things & if they react badly I don't eat them anymore. Trial & error an effective method but time consuming. Hope you feel better. Does the heat & humidity effect you?

[xavier65 in reply to Pinkie56]

Nope, it's not heat or humidity. It's just food, and especially sugar. It literally kills me. I have no blood sugar imbalance either.

[Pinkie56 in reply to xavier65]

Curiouser & curiouser

[Agora1]

I love Chocolate *milk chocolate that is Unfortunately, the dark chocolateuse to give me palps just as bad as coffee. And yet, milk chocolate relaxes

me and even makes me sleepy. It's probably all the sugar in it. Thanks for sharing xx