Chocolate temptations can unfortunately lead to reactions of chocolate intolerance.

Today, let’s explore together the symptoms and effects of chocolate intolerance and find out which ingredients can trigger an intolerant reaction.

Cocoa and Chocolate Intolerance – The History of Chocolate

Cocoa was first cultivated as a crop in many ancient South American cultures, with the Aztecs and Mayas being the most well-known of these indigenous peoples. Researchers have found evidence of cocoa-containing foods that are several thousand years old.

When the Spanish conquistadors arrived in the New World and began conquering, colonizing, and eventually destroying the native cultures, they also discovered the value of the local cocoa plant. However, they introduced their own innovation to the adopted drink – adding sugar and spices to sweeten the bitter cocoa. From that point on, chocolate became very popular among the Spanish, who kept the production method secret from other Europeans for almost 100 years after its discovery.

The Spanish could not keep their secret forever, and chocolate quickly spread throughout the rest of Western Europe. Chocolate – then still exclusively in the form of a drink – appeared in France and later in England at royal courts and in special “chocolate houses” that served the social elite. Hot chocolate was considered delicious and healthy by the upper class, and cocoa eventually gained a reputation as an aphrodisiac.

The exclusivity of chocolate was eventually affected by the start of the Industrial Revolution, when steam-powered machines significantly accelerated and made cocoa powder production more affordable. Thanks to Joseph Fry’s discovery that adding cocoa butter to cocoa powder creates a solid mass, solid chocolate was introduced to the market in 1850 and became a great success. Sixty years later, the art of making chocolate confections with flavored fillings – named pralines after their Belgian inventor, Jean Neuhaus II – became known. From then on, the chocolate and cocoa industry experienced enormous growth and quickly spread worldwide.

The Health Benefits of Chocolate

Research has shown that dark chocolate and cocoa products containing at least 200 mg of cocoa flavanols can improve the elasticity of blood vessels , which promotes blood flow. And regular consumption of cocoa flavanols – even at a dose of 80 mg per day – improves the ability of blood vessels to widen or dilate, helping the body regulate blood pressure and blood flow to the organs.

This is believed to be because cocoa flavanols increase the concentration of bioactive nitric oxide. This molecule is involved in the dilation of blood vessels, has anti-inflammatory properties, and reduces the formation of blood clots, which can positively affect blood pressure.

Cocoa flavanols can also increase blood flow to the brain, which can improve cognitive performance. And they may help reduce cognitive decline by protecting the brain from damage caused by free radicals.

Symptoms of Chocolate Intolerance

A true allergy to cocoa is very rare, so it is more likely that you are reacting to an ingredient in the chocolate that is not directly related to cocoa. Some autoimmune diseases, such as histamine intolerance , can cause your body to treat chocolate like an intruder. This reaction is technically called chocolate intolerance because no IgE is released during the reaction.

Chocolate or cocoa intolerance or allergy can cause symptoms such as:

• Hives
• Tingling of the tongue, lips, or face
• Swelling of hands, feet, mouth, or tongue
• Rapid pulse
• Wheezing or difficulty breathing
• Blurred vision

If you are unsure whether you have a cocoa or chocolate intolerance, you can take a Medicross intolerance test . For this intolerance test using a hair sample, you take a few hairs and send them along with a questionnaire to our laboratory. Your hair sample will be evaluated and analyzed there. You will receive the results as an easy-to-understand report by email. Based on the results, you can adjust your lifestyle and diet to manage any intolerances. You can also supplement your diet with the appropriate personalized foods to ensure you are equipped with enough vital nutrients.