What do we eat to balance the chocolate?
January 5, 2016 11:01 PM Subscribe
My partner and I are going to to a 3-day "Chocolate Fest" for research purposes and expect to end up sampling lots of chocolate. What can we do to reduce the impact of all that theobromine and caffeine?
We don't consume much caffeine (or other xanthene alkaloids), so we're both fairly sensitive - a cup of coffee or strong hot chocolate can easily leave us anxious or hyperactive, and may be a migraine trigger for my partner.
Are there specific foods, activities, strategies, or (in the case of the migraines) possibly even medication we should consider to balance a high-cacao diet?
We don't consume much caffeine (or other xanthene alkaloids), so we're both fairly sensitive - a cup of coffee or strong hot chocolate can easily leave us anxious or hyperactive, and may be a migraine trigger for my partner.
Are there specific foods, activities, strategies, or (in the case of the migraines) possibly even medication we should consider to balance a high-cacao diet?
Focus on eating white and light (milk) chocolates, which have less of the theobromine and caffeine you're worried about.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 11:20 PM on January 5, 2016
posted by a lungful of dragon at 11:20 PM on January 5, 2016
Best answer: From Lifehacker, perhaps a banana to mitigate the caffeine?
posted by the thorn bushes have roses at 11:25 PM on January 5, 2016
Eat a small snack that contains calcium and potassium, such as a glass of milk, a piece of cheese or a banana. According to the Sleep Disorders Guide, the drying effect of caffeine can throw off your balance of electrolytes, including calcium and potassium, which can lead to muscle cramps and other systemic symptoms.Sadly, I don't think there's much you can do to reduce the effects, but I don't think eating a banana would hurt. Could you also perhaps prepare by upping your intake of caffeine slowly in the week prior (green tea with a meal is fairly gentle) and then carefully decreasing the caffeine the week after?
posted by the thorn bushes have roses at 11:25 PM on January 5, 2016
Best answer: Green apples are my go to cure-all for when I've overindulged in chocolate or coffee. Lemon or cucumber water might also be a good palate cleanser and tonic during this delightful excursion. If you're migraine prone, try to avoid chocolate covered fruits and nuts which can contain sulfites (migraine triggers also found in wine).
posted by Hermione Granger at 11:27 PM on January 5, 2016
posted by Hermione Granger at 11:27 PM on January 5, 2016
Some people believe magnesium helps headaches. Often I'll crave green salad or Gerolsteiner brand mineral wate (it has an unusually high Mg content) if I've got a slight caffeine headache.
Also: walking/exercise, making sure you can sleep when it's time.
Also ibuprofen.
posted by amtho at 2:04 AM on January 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Also: walking/exercise, making sure you can sleep when it's time.
Also ibuprofen.
posted by amtho at 2:04 AM on January 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Start drinking coffee now to reduce your sensitivity?
posted by wyzewoman at 5:10 AM on January 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by wyzewoman at 5:10 AM on January 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
L-Theanine is an amino acid found in tea that tends to help mitigate the effects of caffeine (it's why tea makes people less jittery). you can buy pills at a health food store.
posted by vogon_poet at 5:33 AM on January 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by vogon_poet at 5:33 AM on January 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Chamomile or Tension Tamer tea help me when I feel over-caffeinated.
posted by salvia at 6:47 AM on January 6, 2016
posted by salvia at 6:47 AM on January 6, 2016
Seconding L-Theanine, it works like a charm.
posted by signalnine at 10:01 PM on January 6, 2016
posted by signalnine at 10:01 PM on January 6, 2016
a cup of coffee or strong hot chocolate can easily leave us anxious or hyperactive, and may be a migraine trigger for my partner
Hot chocolate has this effect on both of you? And might give your partner a migraine?
All this sampling is a bad idea -- not just because of these effects, but I'm assuming that since this is for research purposes, you'd be writing or otherwise trying to convey your experiences of the different chocolates.
The way you experience chocolate is very different than how people who like chocolate experience it. You won't be able to convey the properties of the chocolate the same way.
You can probably find some people (maybe even mefites where the event is taking place) who like chocolate willing to attend this festival with you in exchange for a ticket (and small stipend, depending on how much time you need them for and what they would need to do). Just have them eat the chocolate and tell you about their experience.
Also, some people are allergic to chocolate. You and/or your partner could be. It's probably not going to give you the research results you want if you end up in the ER with heart problems from the chocolate, but OTOH if you are trying to write a gripping piece about how exciting your trip was this might be just the thing you are looking for.
posted by yohko at 1:02 PM on January 7, 2016
Hot chocolate has this effect on both of you? And might give your partner a migraine?
All this sampling is a bad idea -- not just because of these effects, but I'm assuming that since this is for research purposes, you'd be writing or otherwise trying to convey your experiences of the different chocolates.
The way you experience chocolate is very different than how people who like chocolate experience it. You won't be able to convey the properties of the chocolate the same way.
You can probably find some people (maybe even mefites where the event is taking place) who like chocolate willing to attend this festival with you in exchange for a ticket (and small stipend, depending on how much time you need them for and what they would need to do). Just have them eat the chocolate and tell you about their experience.
Also, some people are allergic to chocolate. You and/or your partner could be. It's probably not going to give you the research results you want if you end up in the ER with heart problems from the chocolate, but OTOH if you are trying to write a gripping piece about how exciting your trip was this might be just the thing you are looking for.
posted by yohko at 1:02 PM on January 7, 2016
We went with fresh, unsalted cheeses and a huge bag of shredded kale.
posted by aniola at 11:09 PM on January 22, 2016
posted by aniola at 11:09 PM on January 22, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 11:06 PM on January 5, 2016 [2 favorites]