Chocolate Poisoning - What are Signs of Chocolate Poisoning?

One of the most dangerous side effects of excessive chocolate intake is the influence of alkaloid theobromine on our bodies. This primary alkaloid of cocoa bean (taking up to 4% of its weight) can have various effects on the human body, eventually even leading to death.

Even though the amount of theobromine found in chocolate is not that high and its potency is smaller than its very similar caffeine, which has a significant impact on our nervous system, excessive eating of chocolate can drastically elevate its levels in our metabolism, causing severe problems, especially with the elderly. What is different between theobromine and coffee is one key point – theobromine stimulates the heart more, causing it to work faster, and dilates blood vessels causing reduced blood pressure. This alkaloid also puts slight pressure on our nervous system, possibly creating our addiction to chocolate eating, and is a probable cause that made chocolate famous as an aphrodisiac.

Here are all the possible symptoms of chocolate poisoning that theobromine can cause:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Increased urination
• Vomiting
• Cardiac arrhythmias
• Epileptic seizures
• Internal bleeding
• Heart attacks
• Death

The first recorded death from chocolate poisoning was recorded in 17th-century Mexico.

Note : All figures are approximate; this article does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.