The Sweet Truth About Chocolate
A Sweet Treat with a Toxic Twist
Americans collectively shelled out nearly $7 billion for holiday confections in 2023, with sales expected to grow slightly this year. While chocolate may be a sweet treat, overindulging in it can lead to weight gain, tooth decay, and even death.
The Toxic Component: Theobromine
The sweet treat is made from cocoa beans, which contain the mild stimulant theobromine. Large amounts of theobromine can be poisonous. "Theobromine interferes with the nervous system, respiratory system, and cardiovascular system (e.g., vasodilation), as well as results in excess urination," Dr. Naveed Saleh wrote in a blog post for Psychology Today.
The Dangers of Overindulgence
Theobromine poisoning can cause severe headaches, sweating, and trembling in people. In very high amounts, it can cause increased heart rate, sweating, trembling, loss of appetite, severe headache, and drops in blood pressure. Popular Science reports that 1,000 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight is considered to be a toxic dose of theobromine in humans.
How Much is Too Much?
A person who weighs 150 pounds (about 68 kg) would have to eat around 68,000 mg of theobromine to be poisoned. Theobromine amounts vary by chocolate type. You won’t find much in white chocolate — but there’s more in milk chocolate (2.4 mg of theobromine per gram of chocolate), dark chocolate (5.5 mg per gram), and baker’s chocolate (16 mg per gram), per Popular Science.
Fatal Overdose
The outlet crunched the numbers and determined that a 165-pound person could theoretically fatally overdose from eating 711 regular-sized Hershey’s milk chocolate bars, 7,084 Hershey chocolate kisses, or 332 standard-sized Hershey’s dark chocolate bars. There are no reports of this ever happening.
Animals at Risk
While humans can metabolize theobromine quickly, many animals cannot. Theobromine is the primary reason you shouldn’t give chocolate to dogs, cats, or birds. Sadly, an "inquisitive" wild parrot succumbed to tragedy after consuming what appeared to be dark chocolate.
Dogs at Risk
In dogs, a lethal dose of theobromine is considered to be 100-500 mg per kg of body weight. Symptoms, which include vomiting (especially blood), increased thirst, panting or restlessness, excessive urination, and a racing heart, tend to emerge within two to 12 hours of eating chocolate. If your dog accidentally eats chocolate, you should immediately contact your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline at (800) 213-6680.
Conclusion
While chocolate may be a sweet treat, it’s essential to be aware of the potential dangers of overindulgence. The toxic component theobromine can cause severe health issues, even death, in humans and animals. Be mindful of your chocolate intake and keep it out of reach of your furry friends.
FAQs
Q: How much theobromine is toxic to humans?
A: 1,000 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight is considered to be a toxic dose of theobromine in humans.
Q: How much chocolate would a 165-pound person need to eat to fatally overdose?
A: 711 regular-sized Hershey’s milk chocolate bars, 7,084 Hershey chocolate kisses, or 332 standard-sized Hershey’s dark chocolate bars.
Q: Why can’t animals metabolize theobromine?
A: Many animals, including dogs, cats, and birds, cannot metabolize theobromine quickly, making them more susceptible to its toxic effects.
Q: What should I do if my dog accidentally eats chocolate?
A: Immediately contact your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline at (800) 213-6680.
