Why You Should Be Careful About Eating Chocolate Before You Go To Sleep...Besides caffeine, this also has an arousal effect
Oct 17, 2025
|
The U.S. health media 『Eating Well』 shared experts' opinions on the effects of chocolate on sleep and how to consume it effectively.
Cacao beans, the raw material of chocolate, naturally contain two arousal ingredients known as caffeine and theobromine.
Caffeine increases attention, and the amount found in chocolate depends on the type of cocoa you choose. The darker the chocolate, the higher the caffeine content, with one ounce (28.35g) of dark chocolate containing up to 23mg of caffeine, while milk chocolate generally contains about 6mg per ounce. This amount of caffeine is less than coffee, but depending on the person, even a very small amount of caffeine can affect sleep. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid caffeine-containing foods and beverages at least four hours before bedtime.
In particular, chocolate also contains another 'natural stimulant', theobromine. Although theobromine is a softer stimulant than caffeine, it is pointed out that it can still increase heart rate and affect sleep, especially if you eat dark chocolate at bedtime. Theobromine is more present in dark chocolate because it comes from cocoa solids that give chocolate a rich flavor. On average, dark chocolate contains about 227 mg of theobromine per ounce, while milk chocolate contains about 60 mg.
However, milk chocolate with low caffeine and theobromine content is high in sugar, which can increase blood sugar and affect sleep quality.
Therefore, experts recommend that chocolate be consumed with protein or fiber-rich foods to prevent blood sugar spikes. For example, add chocolate chips to Greek yogurt with berries or add chocolate to a handful of nuts.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
