Chocolate for Coughs - This is How the Delicious Candy Helps

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Chocolate for coughs: This is how the candy relieves the urge to cough

Chocolate as medicine sounds beguiling. We explain to you in which case chocolate can relieve your cough.

A British scientist brought up the subject: Slowly sucking on a piece of chocolate with a high cocoa content – preferably very dark chocolate – can effectively relieve a cough.
If you try it yourself and actually feel relief, the following mechanism of action could be behind it: The melted chocolate covers your irritated mucous membrane like a protective film.
The chocolate film shields the nerve endings that otherwise trigger the urge to cough. A theory that is as simple as it is plausible.
In fact, previous studies have shown that the alkaloid theobromine contained in cocoa can relieve coughing and an unpleasant burning sensation when the artificial, pungent irritant capsaicin is sprayed down the throat.

Studies have also looked at whether theobromine can compete with cough syrup that contains the antitussive drug codeine.

The studies showed that agents with cocoa components are at least as effective as the codeine-containing drug – and without any side effects.
However, there is still controversy as to whether the results speak more in favor of chocolate and cocoa as effective anti-cough remedies or against cough syrup containing codeine.
In addition, it is doubted whether the amount of active ingredients in chocolate is sufficient for an effect. After all, treatment shouldn’t degenerate into a chocolate-sugar shock.
In the experiment with theobromine mentioned above, about 1000 milligrams were administered.
Unsweetened dark chocolate contains about 400 milligrams of theobromine in about 30 grams, dark sweet 150 to 200 milligrams, and milk chocolate with about 60 to 80 milligrams of theobromine.
An argument in favor of chocolate: eating it increases the level of serotonin, which is known to make you feel good. Positive feelings in turn support the immune system.
That’s why you can try a few pieces of chocolate as soon as you feel a slight scratch on your throat. Try out whether dark chocolate will help you.