Theobromine

Chocolate is considered to be one of the greatest culinary sources of pleasure. For thousands of years, cocoa beans, which are the source of real chocolate, as well as coffee, have been considered natural stimulants, relaxants, euphoriants, aphrodisiacs, tonics, and antidepressants, in part because of a chemical found in these beans called Theobromine.

This compound was first discovered in the 1840s by biologists studying the bitter seeds (or pods) of cocoa trees in Central and South America, who referred to the trees as “Theobroma,” which means “food of the gods” in Greek.

Today, sources of theobromine, including dark cocoa and tea, are still considered to be nutrient-dense foods that may also have cognitive and mood-enhancing effects.

What does Theobromine do to humans exactly?

Its effects may include:

• stimulating the heart
• widening blood vessels
• potentially improving one’s mood
• speeding up the heart rate
• possible increased alertness
• increasing urination

Is Theobromine a stimulant like caffeine? While it’s not as strong of a stimulant compared to caffeine, it does have some stimulant effects.