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Thread: caffeine in chocolate?

  1. #1
    Daffodil's Avatar
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    Default caffeine in chocolate?

    i always thought the amt of caffeine in choc was negligable, but last night i ate one bar fry's mint creme about an hour before bed and i was WIDE awake for a few hrs...could not sleep!
    it happened a few weeks back too after i had some after 8's (granted i did eat the whole box in one go so it was probably well deserved that i couldn't sleep) ..... but one little bar of choc????

    i don't normally have any caffeine from any other source so maybe i'm mega sensitive to it?

    how annoying is it when you're lying there awake and OH is fast asleep grrr.

  2. #2
    Fervent vegan DiaShel's Avatar
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    Default Re: caffeine in chocolate?

    Maybe it's the sugar. I'm allergic to caffeine and I have a little chocolate time to time and feel ok.
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  3. #3
    Daffodil's Avatar
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    Default Re: caffeine in chocolate?

    Quote DiaShel View Post
    Maybe it's the sugar. .

    yes thanks for that suggestion..i hadn't thought of that...just googled it and found this: Avoid before-bed snacks, particularly grains and sugars. This will raise blood sugar and inhibit sleep. Later, when blood sugar drops too low (hypoglycemia), you might wake up and not be able to fall back asleep.

    http://www.mercola.com/article/sleep.htm

    makes sense i don't really have much sugar in my diet either most of the time. i just feel naughty sometimes and have to have chocolate.

  4. #4
    Mahk
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    Default Re: caffeine in chocolate?

    Choc does contain caffeine. Sugar also has stimulant aspects to it but there's also a third in chocolate called theobromine. This, I believe, is why it is bad to give to dogs. It is also supposedly the part that triggers "love receptors" in the brain and causes "chocolate addiction".

  5. #5

    Default Re: caffeine in chocolate?

    Yup, and vegan chocolate (since it's dark and not diluted with milk and such) would contain more theobromine per bite. I love my extra-dark chocolate goodies, but I never share them with her. She once got into a box of chip ahoys, but those are milk chocolate chips and barely even chocolate anyway, still, we learned and kept the cookies even higher up the next time!

  6. #6
    baffled harpy's Avatar
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    Default Re: caffeine in chocolate?

    There seems to be some controversy about whether chocolate actually does contain caffeine, or just theobromine.

    http://www.xocoatl.org/caffeine.htm

    Haven't got time to look up their scientific references at the moment. From the point of view of its effect on the nervous system it may be six of one and half a dozen of the other anyway. And I agree that in the case of the Fry's bar it could have been the sugar that kept you awake - they don't actually have that much chocolate do they?

  7. #7
    gorillagorilla Gorilla's Avatar
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    Default Re: caffeine in chocolate?

    just a small point: i'm pretty sure After Eights aren't vegan (unless you're talking about a different brand of mint thins that aren't actually After Eights).
    'The word gorilla was derived from the Greek word Gorillai (a "tribe of hairy women")'

  8. #8
    Mahk
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    Default Re: caffeine in chocolate?

    Quote harpy View Post
    There seems to be some controversy about whether chocolate actually does contain caffeine, or just theobromine.

    http://www.xocoatl.org/caffeine.htm
    That's interesting but this study which clearly differentiates between the two, so I don't think they'd confuse one for the other, did find caffeine.
    ---

    There's a Ben and Jerry's ice cream that has as much if not more caffeine than a cup of coffee!


    Caffeine is my favorite drug.

    Although as best as I can tell After Eight chocolate mints currently contain butterfat, there are so many forum and blog entries across the net that insist they are vegan so I think at one time or in one country they once were.

  9. #9
    baffled harpy's Avatar
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    Default Re: caffeine in chocolate?

    Yes, After Eight did used to be vegan here at one time. Not sure why the silly sausages reformulated them. I think the company that makes them was taken over by Nestle or someone though so I wouldn't buy them even if they hadn't

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    cedartree cedarblue's Avatar
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    Default Re: caffeine in chocolate?

    whatever there is in chocolate, i can't allow myself to eat more than a couple of squares of it at night or else i get a 'hot' face which feels fuzzy during the night....weird.

  11. #11
    Daffodil's Avatar
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    Default Re: caffeine in chocolate?

    Quote Mahk View Post

    Although as best as I can tell After Eight chocolate mints currently contain butterfat, there are so many forum and blog entries across the net that insist they are vegan so I think at one time or in one country they once were.
    OMG no way!!!!! I'm sure I read they were vegan *digs out animal free shopper*
    I eat bucket loads of them..... *retches*

  12. #12
    Daffodil's Avatar
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    Default Re: caffeine in chocolate?

    OMG you're right! there's even a facebook group on the subject!! lol

    http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9610193942


    i can't believe it, i've eaten loads of them...they're about the only choc that my local shop sells that i thought i could eat. have to venture into next town to health food shop for frys. well that'll help my weight loss.....

  13. #13
    baffled harpy's Avatar
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    Default Re: caffeine in chocolate?

    I think these After Eight substitutes are (or at least were) vegan and they're also fairtrade

    http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/product...oduct=HN220280

    They used to sell them in Oxfam shops though I don't recall seeing them lately

  14. #14
    Daffodil's Avatar
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    Default Re: caffeine in chocolate?

    Quote harpy View Post
    I think these After Eight substitutes are (or at least were) vegan and they're also fairtrade

    http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/product...oduct=HN220280

    They used to sell them in Oxfam shops though I don't recall seeing them lately

    thanks for that. happy that there's no oxfam shops near me. I am gonna give up excess sugar. i will treat myself to a bar of frys on the odd occasion i make it to the healthfood shop in town, other than that i shall refrain. nestle may have done my figure a huge favour hehe.

  15. #15
    baffled harpy's Avatar
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    Default Re: caffeine in chocolate?

    Sounds like a good way of looking at it I'm trying to limit my chocolate intake too as I could happily eat pounds of the stuff, especially when feeling stressed. Unfortunately there are a lot of shops round here selling vegan chocolate so I have to rely on self-discipline (or being too lazy to go out and buy it )

  16. #16
    still singing smallhelen's Avatar
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    Default Re: caffeine in chocolate?

    I gave up caffeine some years ago, so am particularly sensitive to it. Then a couple of years ago my lovely in-laws bought me a Green and Blacks dark chocolate Easter Egg. Completely forgot about the caffeine and wolfed down half of the egg (it was quite small). Next thing I know I have to go to bed for the afternoon as I feel all shaky and sick and basically very spaced out!
    I know it was the caffeine cos I had a similar effect after accidentally taking a couple of doses of Paracetamol Plus.
    So ... now I remember not to OD on the choccy goodness!! Especially the dark stuff.

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    Default Re: caffeine in chocolate?

    Quote Mahk View Post
    Choc does contain caffeine. Sugar also has stimulant aspects to it but there's also a third in chocolate called theobromine. This, I believe, is why it is bad to give to dogs. It is also supposedly the part that triggers "love receptors" in the brain and causes "chocolate addiction".

    I had no idea about the Theobromine stuff. Chocolate, like the dark chocolate bars, make me ill. Headachey, nauseas, dizzy, hot, cranky, etc. I knew it wasn't the caffeine as I drink a ton of it but I wasn't sure what else was in it.
    Peace, love, and happiness.

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    Default Re: caffeine in chocolate?

    Quote Daffodil View Post
    i always thought the amt of caffeine in choc was negligable, but last night i ate one bar fry's mint creme about an hour before bed and i was WIDE awake for a few hrs...could not sleep!
    it happened a few weeks back too after i had some after 8's (granted i did eat the whole box in one go so it was probably well deserved that i couldn't sleep) ..... but one little bar of choc????

    i don't normally have any caffeine from any other source so maybe i'm mega sensitive to it?

    how annoying is it when you're lying there awake and OH is fast asleep grrr.
    are frys mint cremes dairy free? lol this will make my day!

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    Default Re: caffeine in chocolate?

    I believe they are.
    From Sutton, Surrey, (or Greater London when they want to fleece me for the Olympics)

  20. #20
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    Default Re: caffeine in chocolate?

    ^^ I believe they are too...wish they weren't tho! (I eat too many of them!) lol

  21. #21
    Karma Junkie vava's Avatar
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    Default Re: caffeine in chocolate?

    Quote Daffodil View Post
    ^^ I believe they are too...wish they weren't tho! (I eat too many of them!) lol
    TAKE THAT BACK IMMEDIATELY MISS!
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  22. #22
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    Default Re: caffeine in chocolate?

    Quote vava View Post
    TAKE THAT BACK IMMEDIATELY MISS!

    eh???

  23. #23
    Karma Junkie vava's Avatar
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    Default Re: caffeine in chocolate?

    Quote Daffodil View Post
    eh???
    wishing they wern't vegan.... it was a joke!!!!
    even perfect isn't perfect - Rubyduby 4th July 08

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