researchers have tried to get to the bottom of our love affair with chocolate.

研究人員一直在探究我們與巧克力的戀情。

Biologically active compounds are encased in each chocolatey morsel,

每一塊巧克力都含有生物活性物質，

leaving scientists to wonder if there’s a physiological basis for our cravings.

讓科學家懷疑是否有生理上的原因 讓我們如此鍾愛巧克力。

We know that chocolate includes stimulants like caffeine and theobromine.

我們知道巧克力含有咖啡因、可可鹼之類的興奮劑。

Also, there’s tryptophan and phenylethylame,

同時，也包含了色氨酸和苯乙胺，

neurotransmitters associated with pleasure.

是與歡愉相關的神經傳導物質。

And don’t forget anandamide,

別忘了還有大麻素，

a compound in the same family as THC,

與四氫大麻酚（THC）同宗的化合物，

the active ingredient in marijuana.

這是大麻中的活性原料。

It has fueled speculation that chocolate is addictive.

這都讓人懷疑巧克力會令人上癮。

With so many feel-good chemicals in every bite,

每一口都有這麼多歡愉的化學物質，

it could seem likely our hankering is purely physiological.

好像對巧克力的追求是純粹生理上的。

But scientists say probably not.

但科學家說可能不是這樣。

In a study from the 1990s,

在一九九〇年代的一項研究中，

volunteers were given chocolate-- or a pill with almost all the active compounds.

把巧克力，或含有大部分活性化合物的藥丸 分配給志願者。

The pill alone did not satisfy.

只有藥丸沒辦法讓人感到歡愉。

White chocolate, however, did satisfy.

但白巧克力卻可以。

It’s made from the fat of chocolate and has the same calorie load and sweetness,

它由巧克力的脂肪製成，擁有同樣的卡路里和甜度，

but lacks most of the most pharmacological ingredients better than milk or dark chocolate.

比起牛奶或黑巧克力，少了大部份的藥理物質。

But we can’t say that white and milk chocolate both satisfied because of the sugar alone,

但我們卻不能把白巧克力和牛奶巧克力 讓人快樂的原因歸在糖份上面，

because in general, other sweets don’t satiate those cravings.

因為一般來講，其他的甜點並不會讓人上癮。

Then there’s anandamide,

還有大麻素，

which was NOT studied in the pill experiment.

沒有在藥丸的實驗中被研究。

But it's fat soluble.

但它是脂溶性的。

So it could have been present in both the white and milk chocolate,

因此很有可能存在於白巧克力和牛奶巧克力中，

explaining some of our cravings.

解釋了某些上癮的原因。

But there’s not enough in chocolate to achieve a noticeable “high.”

但巧克力中卻沒有達到明顯的「高」含量。

Current calculations suggest a 70-kg person

當今的計算顯示70公斤重的人

would need to eat almost a third of his weight, 25kg, in order to feel much of anything.

需要吃下體重三分之一，也就是25公斤的巧克力， 才有辦法感到大麻素帶來的快感。

And what about the fact that women reach for chocolate more often than men,

而女人比男人更愛巧克力的事實又該怎麼說？

especially around monthly menstruation?

特別是在月經期間。

That could be culturally mediated.

這可能是文化的因素。

Scientists say that our cocoa desires are more about coping with stress

科學家認為我們對可可的渴望，

in a culturally accepted--and delicious way-- than anything else.

是要用文化上能接受，並且美味的方式來舒緩壓力。

For now, the scientific consensus

現在，科學家的共識在於

is that chocolate craving is more about the riot of pleasure for our senses.

巧克力上癮的原因多半來自感官上的歡愉。

From its melt-in-your mouth taste to its sweet aroma and perfect fragrantness.

融在嘴裡的滋味，香甜的氣味，還有完美的芬芳。

For Scientific American’s Instant Egghead.

這是科學人的快速知識。

I’m Dina Fine Maron.

我是迪娜·芳·馬龍。