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Interactive Lesson about the Chemistry of Chocolate- Juliette LH 23-24

Juliette Laracuente-Huebner

Created on October 31, 2023

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Transcript

The Chemistry of Chocolate

Created by: Juliette Laracuente-Huebner

Start

*Click to start the lesson!

Index

Brief History of Chocolate

The Basic Chemistry of Chocolate

Checkpoint

A Deeper Dive into Some of the Chemicals

What do these chemicals look like?

What do these chemicals look like? Cont.

Further Health Benefits

Exit Quiz

References

Brief History of Chocolate

  • It all started with the Maya's!
    • They referred to chocolate as the "Food of the Gods" and typically drank common day hot chocolate
  • The first European to discover this "Food of the Gods" was Christopher Columbus in 1502
    • "Identified [cocoa beans] as a form of currency in Mesoamerica" (Montagna et al., 2019)
  • It was not until 1528 that cocoa came to Europe when Hernan Cortes brought it to King Charles of Spain where its deliciousness seemed to spread
Click the picture for a video about the history of chocolate!

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6950163/pdf/ijerph-16-04960.pdf

The Basic Chemistry of Chocolate

  • Chocolate has more than 300 to 500 known chemicals such as:
    • Phenylethylamine (PEA)
    • Caffeine
    • Theobromine
    • And many more!
  • It is composed of sugar, milk powder, and, most importantly, cocoa butter!
    • Sugar is a carbohydrate, milk powder is a protein, and cocoa butter is a lipid
  • Also filled with minerals such as:
    • Potassium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, etc.

Source: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335844594_The_Chemistry_Of_Chocolate and https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6950163/pdf/ijerph-16-04960.pdf

Checkpoint!

The information in this quiz is from the previous slides

Question 1

What did the Mayan's refer to chocolate as?
Food of the common folk
Food of the Gods
Hot chocolate
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Question 2

What year did cocoa come to Europe?
1528
1502
1526
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Question 3

How many known chemicals is in chocolate?
300 to 400
400 to 500
300 to 500
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Question 4

There is no caffeine in chocolate.
False
True
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A Deeper Dive into Some of the Chemicals

  • Theobromine
    • Chemical formula: C7H8N4O2
    • Natural cough medicine that helps treat high blood pressure
    • Strengthens tooth enamel
    • Raises HDL cholesterol levels
  • Anandamide
    • Organic Compound: C22H37NO2
      • Poly-saturated fat
    • "Mood enhancer"
    • A neurotransmitter that reduces anxiety and depression
  • PEA (one of the main ingredients)
    • Organic compound: C8H11N
    • Typically released in the brain when falling in love
      • "Love drug"
    • A neurotransmitter
  • Caffeine
    • Chemical formula: C8H10N402
    • Increases the release of serotinin in the body
    • Stimulates blood flow in the brain
    • Decreases fatigue

Source: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335844594_The_Chemistry_Of_Chocolate

What do these chemicals look like?

PEA

Caffeine

Functional Groups:

Functional Groups:

  1. Alkene
  2. Amide
  3. Amine
  1. Aromatic
  2. Alkane
  3. Amine

Source: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335844594_The_Chemistry_Of_Chocolate

What do these chemicals look like?

Theombromine

Anandamide

Functional Groups:

Functional Groups:

  1. Alkene
  2. Amide
  3. Amine
  1. Alcohol
  2. Amide
  3. Alkene

Source: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335844594_The_Chemistry_Of_Chocolate

Further Health Benefits

  • Antidiabetic
    • Improves the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates (sugars)
    • Improve insulin sensitivity, allowing for a better regulation of blood sugar levels
  • Obesity
    • Decreased gene expression associated with lipid production
    • Decreases appetitie just from smelling it!
  • Immune system
    • Anti-inflammatory effects
    • Improves allergic reaction health imbalances

Source: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335844594_The_Chemistry_Of_Chocolate

Exit Quiz

This covers everything from the lesson

Question 1

Which two chemicals discussed were organic compounds?
PEA and Anandamide
Caffeine and Theobromine
None!!
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Question 2

In order to get the health benefits of chocolate, you need to eat chocolate high in cocoa
False
True
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Question 3

This chemical is a lipid
False
True
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Question 4

How is chocolate antidiabetic?
It is anti-inflammatory and improves allergic reactions.
It improves the digestion and absorption of sugar, and betters insulin sensitivity.
It isn't. It increases blood sugar levels and decreases insulin sensitivity.
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References

Montagna MT, Diella G, Triggiano F, Caponio GR, De Giglio O, Caggiano G, Di CiaulaA, Portincasa P. Chocolate, "Food of the Gods": History, Science, and Human Health. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Dec 6;16(24).Munjal, Mathur, Lodha, and Singh (2019) The Chemistry Of Chocolate,International Journal of Innovative Research & Growth