Ask questions via twitter! Message any question to @answers on twitter. We'll publish the question and send you a reply each time there's a new answer.

Warning About Health Questions


 

Mahalo Answers is a great place to start your research into Health questions, but it's not the final answer.

Mahalo Answers is not a substitute for informed professional advice. If you desire or require professional advice, please consult a qualified provider who is licensed in your state or country. You should always seek independent professional advice before acting on any opinion, advice, or information available on Mahalo Answers.

 
 


Next Question

Answered Question

dbspringe... dbspringe...
 
M$1 December 17, 2008 07:13 PM

Why do I sneeze whenever I eat dark chocolate?

I've noticed lately that whenever I eat dark chocolate I sneeze. In fact, that darker the chocolate, the greater the chance/intensity of the sneeze.

Does anyone know what causes this? Sources please!
Interesting Question?  Yes (0)   No (0)   
RSS
 
 

Best Answer  Chosen by Asker

johnsonaar... johnsonaar...
 
 December 17, 2008 07:19 PM
Seems to be a possible correlation between either the Cocoa content of the dark chocolate or the milk product in the chocolate. Some of the valid questions seem to be: Do you have this reaction at all to any milk products? If not you may have already self identified the cause of the issue. You may have a slight, very slight, allergy to cocoa.

I read the first 3 or 4 results and threads here and they offered some insight, but nothing seems definative.

http://www.google.com/search?q=sneeze+dark+chocolate&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1
Asker's Rating:
• Thanks for helping me get to the bottom of this. Big props to carriep too!


Helpful Answer?  (2)   (0)    Tip johnsonaaron for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
dbspringer dbspringer
 
December 17, 2008 07:24 PM
Unless I've recently developed an allergy (which is possible), I've never had any previous issues with chocolate or milk. I can eat/drink as much as I want without any ill effects.

Also, I can eat milk chocolate no problem, but it seems that once a certain "darkness threshold" is crossed it causes me to sneeze.

Report
 
 
carriep carriep
 
December 17, 2008 07:28 PM - New Source
A couple additional sources for you. Although if the darker the chocolate the more likely you are to sneeze, then it's probably the chocolate and not the milk.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oral_allergy_syndrome

http://ask.metafilter.com/50368/Why-does-dark-chocolate-make-me-sneeze

Report
 
 
dbspringer dbspringer
 
December 17, 2008 07:59 PM - New Source
Here is another interesting source I got from carriep's metafilter source (which is eerily like my question). Seems like "unexpected" pleasures cause people to sneeze... guess may just like dark chocolate!

http://www.universalreflex.com/article.php?story=20051027150722171

Report
 
 
johnsonaar... johnsonaar...
 
December 17, 2008 08:47 PM - New Source
Well, it seems apparent that its the chocolate as Milk products are not affecting you. Here's an idea: Are you just sneezing because you believe you will sneeze when you eat it? I posit this: Maybe you "happened" to sneeze a couple of times when you ate the chocolate, then you noticed, and now each time you take a bite you are anticipating, and thereby causing the sneeze.

Have someone feed you something that is dark chocolate but not tell you it is dark chocolate sometime soon.

(Maybe tell a wife/girlfriend to do it sometime over the next week without giving you warning of when or what)

Report
 
 

Other Answers (6)

Sort By
greenscree... greenscree...
 
December 17, 2008 07:24 PM
You may be allergic to snack food. What happens when you eat a Ho-Ho? Same effect? If you rub dark chocolate on your skin does it change in color? That's how they tested my kid for food allergies, maybe that will work for you too.

Helpful Answer?  (0)   (0)    Tip greenscreencinema for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
dbspringer dbspringer
 
December 17, 2008 07:28 PM
Snack food doesn't really seem to affect me (I've been eating chocolate Pocky all morning). It seems it's only intensely concentrated dark chocolate that causes it.

Report
 
 
girmant girmant
 
December 17, 2008 07:25 PM
maybe you just have some sort of mild allergy? I notice that I sneeze when I eat ripe bananas.... go figure :)

Helpful Answer?  (0)   (0)    Tip girmant for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
alexdegruv... alexdegruv...
 
December 17, 2008 07:43 PM
Sounds more like just a sensitivity than an actual allergy, particularly considering that your reaction increases with the intensity of the chocolate.

An allergy, while definitely having the potential to cause sneezing, would also have some other type of histamine reaction in most cases. Do your sinuses also get stuffy, or anything like that?

Helpful Answer?  (0)   (0)    Tip alexdegruven for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
mrhelmsc mrhelmsc
 
December 17, 2008 07:51 PM
Because you're alergic to it

Helpful Answer?  (0)   (1)    Tip mrhelmsc for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
cianw cianw
 
December 17, 2008 08:58 PM
lupus
Source(s):
House. Every series


Helpful Answer?  (0)   (0)    Tip cianw for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
light7 light7
 
December 17, 2008 09:20 PM
either u have a reaction or a allergy to dark cholocate

Helpful Answer?  (0)   (0)    Tip light7 for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 

Answer this Question

How tips and payments work

This question has already been resolved. You may add an answer to it but you will not be eligible to win best answer or any associated tips.

Related Questions

No questions found.
View All Health Questions

Ask a Question


140 characters left
Top of Page
Buy Mahalo Dollars with Credit Card or PayPal

Top Members

This Week All Time
  • buddawiggi
    buddawiggi
    2nd Degree Black Belt
    27115 Points
    M$783.09 Earned
  • kty2777
    kty2777
    Purple Belt with a Brown Tip
    5444 Points
    M$199.92 Earned
  • opher
    opher
    Purple Belt
    4166 Points
    M$187.17 Earned
   See All
 

Most Popular Tags

mahalo(1595)
twitter(945)
iphone(462)
music(459)
google(355)
food(318)
internet(303)
online(294)
beer(279)
money(262)
movies(255)
facebook(253)
apple(251)
aotd(235)
answers(222)
health(217)
dog(205)
video(204)
free(202)
windows(195)
   See All
 

Categories

Welcome New Members


 
 
Mahalo Dollars are the currency of Mahalo Answers.

Each Mahalo Dollar costs $1.

Once you earn more than 40 Mahalo Dollars, you can request to be paid via PayPal. Each Mahalo Dollar is currently worth $0.75 when paid out via PayPal. Learn More

 
 

Please log in to use this function.

Answers Home | Ask a Question | Earn Points | How Tips Work | Widget