Chocolate may be the ultimate comfort food, but unfortunately it can be responsible for the discomfort of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Ironically, the very reason that chocolate comforts and calms so many of us is the same reason it can cause painful reflux episodes for others. It contains high amounts of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate our moods, emotions, appetites, and sleep patterns. But researchers have found that serotonin also has the ability to relax the lower esophageal sphincter, which would normally prevent the reflux of acid into the esophagus.
If you've been diagnosed with GERD and find this news about chocolate disheartening, don't despair — GI disorders affect people on an individual basis, and what might keep one person up all night with reflux may not even bother another. But do watch closely for flare-ups following chocolate consumption, since it is often the foods we suspect the least that torment us the most. Try to limit yourself to small servings of chocolate to avoid symptoms.
Last Updated: 8/15/2007