6 Proven Health Benefits Of Theobromine

Theobromine, found in the cacao plant, may keep your blood pressure down and your mind active without the potential negatives of caffeine. Theobromine is a naturally occurring compound found in cacao plants and tea leaves.

Named after the scientific name of cacao trees, Theobroma Cacao, scientists found it had similar but milder stimulation and heart effects to caffeine.

It originated in the tropical rainforests of the Americas in times of the Mayan and Aztec civilizations and was considered a “food of the gods,” “theo” meaning god and “broma” meaning food.

# Lowers Blood Pressure

The theobromine in chocolate has many health benefits. One of the best known is its ability to lower the body’s blood pressure. Once theobromine is in the body, it releases a compound called nitric oxide into the bloodstream.
The nitric oxide helps to reduce the enzymes in the blood which cause vascular constriction. This causes your vessels to widen up, allowing blood to flow more freely throughout your body.

# Prevents Tooth Decay

Theobromine is also a promising deterrent against tooth decay and cavities. Lately, researchers have been comparing it to fluoride, the cavity-fighting component used in almost every toothpaste product available in the market today.
The way theobromine works is it targets the teeth’s crystalline structure. It coats the whole enamel and protects the entire tooth from acid erosion caused by leftover food.
Theobromine is slowly gaining a reputation as a toothpaste booster and is being studied as an alternative to fluoride

# Increases Airflow in Lungs

Theobromine doesn’t just help to open up the body’s blood vessels for better blood pressure. It’s also known to open up the body’s airways so more oxygen can get into the lungs.
Researchers have seen theobromine to be capable of relaxing the body’s smooth lung muscles. Relaxing these muscles helps to increase the airflow moving through the lungs which is a good way to manage respiratory conditions like shortness of breath, persistent coughing, and even asthma.

# Promotes Weight Loss

Amounts of theobromine in the body are also known to promote weight loss. Studies have shown that theobromine is one of the few natural substances which can effectively reduce eating urges and hunger pangs. It’s also known to help break down the excess fat in the body.
Theobromine is also an effective stimulant. As such, it gives you enough energy to last through the day despite controlling your urges to eat.

# Improves Heart and Brain Activity

As was mentioned previously, theobromine can act as a natural stimulant. Because of this, it can temporarily improve the body’s heart and brain functions.
It does this by increasing the blood flow throughout the body, especially towards the heart and brain. Increased blood flow helps to make the body more physically and mentally alert.

# Acts as an Anti-Inflammatory

Aside from being a natural stimulant, studies have also documented the anti-inflammatory properties of theobromine. It acts as an antioxidant with the ability to oxidate the toxins from the body right down to a cellular level. It’s also been seen to be effective against conditions involving muscle swelling like arthritis.