Gimme

Does anyone else get those times when chocolate is a NEED? I've got one of those times right now.

Dave's out with the lads, probably getting a skinful (well enough for a 'gover). I've put the kiddiwinks to bed, eaten and had a beer. There are still toys on the floor that need tidying, the washing up needs doing and I'm really not in the mood. There's nobody online chatting. There's nothing happening on my patch of MySpace and all I've got in the house are Milky Bar Buttons!!!!! How sad.

What I'd really like right now would be some Green and Blacks Maya Gold. Or a box of Thornton truffles. Or those really nice chocs from Fresh and Wild.

Boys are thinking "what are you talking about?", girls are thinking "oooh, yeah, I could do that?"

I think I can prove that scientifically there's a good reason for my craving:

Excerpts from What's in Chocolate?

Chocolate contains small quantities of anandamide, an endogenous cannabinoid found in the brain. Sceptics claim one would need to consume several pounds of chocolate to gain any very noticeable effects; and eat a lot more to get fully stoned. Yet it's worth noting that N-oleolethanolamine and N-linoleoylethanolamine, two structural cousins of anandamide present in chocolate, both inhibit the metabolism of anandamide. It has been speculated that they promote and prolong the feeling of well-being that anandamide can induce.

Chocolate contains caffeine. But the caffeine is present only in modest quantities. It is easily obtained from other sources.

Chocolate's theobromine content may contribute to - but seems unlikely to determine - its subtle but distinctive profile.

Chocolate also contains tryptophan. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid. It is the rate-limiting step in the production of the mood-modulating neurotransmitter serotonin. Enhanced serotonin function typically diminishes anxiety. Yet tryptophan can normally be obtained from other sources as well.

Like other palatable sweet foods, consumption of chocolate causes the release of endorphins, the body's endogenous opiates. Enhanced endorphin-release reduces the chocolate-eater's sensitivity to pain. Endorphins probably contribute to the warm inner glow induced in susceptible chocaholics.

Chocolate cravings are admitted by 15% of men and around 40% of women. Cravings are usually most intense in the late afternoon and early evening.

Perhaps chocolate's key ingredient is its phenylethylamine "love-chemical". Yet the role of the "chocolate amphetamine" is disputed. Most if not all chocolate-derived phenylethylamine is metabolised before it reaches the central nervous system. Some people may be sensitive to its effects in very small quantities.

Phenylethylamine is itself a naturally occurring trace amine in the brain. Phenylethylamine releases mesolimbic dopamine in the pleasure-centres. It peaks during orgasm. Taken in unnaturally high doses, phenylethylamine can produce stereotyped behaviour more prominently even than amphetamine. Phenylethylamine has distinct binding sites but no specific neurons. It helps mediate feelings of attraction, excitement, giddiness, apprehension and euphoria. One of its metabolites is unusually high in subjects with paranoid schizophrenia.

I should point out that I don't think I'm schizophrenic. Who said that?