Why do some people crave chocolate? In 2000, Spanish researcher Tomas Herraiz reported a possible chemical clue after finding a group of neuroactive alkaloids called tetrahydro-beta-carbolines in ordinary cocoa and chocolate bars.
The compounds were found at concentrations of up to 7 micrograms per gram of chocolate. Their discovery added another group of chemicals to those being investigated for possible influences on mood and behavior. Herraiz, a researcher at the Spanish Council for Scientific Research in Madrid, reported the findings in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
