Few people can resist the taste of chocolate, but a new trend is causing people to enjoy this product in a very different and dangerous way.
Some people apparently prefer to snort finely ground cocoa powder in order to immediately feel a rush of euphoria thanks to the caffeine in the chocolate. However, our bodies are not designed to snort chocolate, says Dr. Alexander Farag from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
“We have stomachs for a reason,” says Farag. “It is acidic and breaks down compounds into smaller particles. Furthermore, the areas of our body intended for absorption (the intestines) are not the first portal of entry. There’s a reason we have a liver that filters toxins from the blood. When you bypass these mechanisms, you exceed your body’s limits.
Coco Loko
There have been so many reports of chocolate sniffing Trending topics on social networks. One product that is getting a lot of attention is Coco Loko, a nutritional supplement available online. This is ground cocoa that is mixed with other substances such as taurine and other common ingredients in energy drinks.
Farag, a rhinologist and skull base surgeon in the department of otolaryngology, says the appeal of chocolate powder varies from person to person. “We know that foods high in sugar and fat, like chocolate, activate reward pathways in the brain.” The new dietary supplements take advantage of this connection by enriching cocoa with stimulating elements from energy drinks.
People snort the powder using the same methods as drugs like cocaine. The relationship begins to worry some people. “The nose is a very vascular place that allows compounds to be absorbed quickly into the blood,” says Farag. “Sniffed substances can also use the sense of smell and other cranial nerves to bypass the blood-brain barrier and penetrate directly into the brain. “This can produce a more intense euphoria and taste of a compound.”
Some might argue that it is a relatively safe alternative to snorting more dangerous drugs. However, the rhinologist disputes this: “No, it’s not a good idea to replace one illegal substance with another,” says Farag, who has seen the consequences of snorting various everyday products, from Tylenol to nutmeg to crushed candy.
However, chocolate powder is not one of them. At least not yet. “People will move on,” says Farag. “It’s a relatively new trend. We have not handled any case. But with social media you can have a very small phenomenon that can quickly spread globally.”
Much of Farag’s work involves repairing holes in the nose and palate caused by snorting substances. “People get all kinds of infections that can weaken their immune systems,” he says. “Tissues can die and cause atypical infections that land you in the emergency room or, even worse, the operating room.”
So is it safe to snort chocolate? “No, I don’t think it’s safe,” Farag says. “Food residue can render the cilia unusable and impair the ability of the nose to function. If you want a more intense chocolate experience, eat more chocolate.
Source: Ohio State University