h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hello. my wife has periodic kidney problems due to a condition she sufferes called Ehlers-danlos syndrome. To keep here fragile kidney from suffering one of it's frequent infections she has been advised to drink red wine once or twice a week. When she is particular discomfort she also craves chocolate, either dark or with peanuts or something of the like. This is very odd as she usually has no sweet tooth at all. Any ideas why this might be?

The point that occurs to me first is that chocolate isn't really sweet - that's the added sugar in your bar. Dark chocolate can often taste quite bitter. However, it does help cheer you up, so perhaps it's just comfort food.

By a strange co-incidence I was reading this page on wiki yesterday and it name checks alcoholic beverages" and chocolate and links them to adrenalin and noradrenalin both hormones released by the adrenal glands atop the kidneys.

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

It may have nothing to do with your wife's condition (it's doesn't mention repeat infections) but may be something similar - an amino acid that has metabolic effects on the body.

Thanks guys, I'll chase those thoughts when I get a bit of time. Appreciate the input