Ms. Western's third visit: "Why do I crave chocolate over other sweets?"

Q: During our third meeting, Ms. Western, to whom I have referred in two earlier blogs, said to me, "Chromax has really curbed my cravings for chocolate and has given me much more energy. No doubt about it. Before I was so tired I couldn't exercise. Now I have enough energy to exercise and am walking a couple of miles a day." Then she added, "I like all sweets, but I prefered chocolate over all other sweets. Why?"

A: I said to Ms. Western, "Consuming sugar often makes people feel better and of course chocolate contains sugar. You probably prefer chocolate because, in addition to sugar, chocolate contains two substances that help mood. One is a mood-enhancing chemical called phenethylamine. The other one is a caffeine-like stimulant named theobromine."

While chocolate may lift your mood and gives you energy over the short time, eating too much chocolate may do more harm that good over the long term. Within an hour or two after eating chocolate, people often crash and are ravenously hungry again. Their body needs more chocolate. Over time, a person puts on weight and blood sugar fluctuations become even more of a problem. More and more chocolate is required for a fix. Yes, many patients refer, as you do, to eating chocolate as a "fix," an addiction.

Ms. Western said she felt so much better that she didn't think more visits with me were necessary. I agreed and told her that my door will always be open to her if she needs to come back. I also told her I would be pleased to receive e-mails from her about how she was doing. Meanwhile, I suggested she continue to take Chromax indefinitely to keep her chocolate cravings in check,and to continue Zoloft and exercise. She thanked me and we said goodbye.