Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
anandamide
References
Videos
A white woman bites into a chocolate bar.
Britannica AI Icon

anandamide

physiology
Written by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last updated

Quick Summary

A white woman bites into a chocolate bar.
The chemistry of chocolate Is your favorite sweet good for you?

Anandamide is a naturally occurring compound in the brain and some foods, like chocolate. It is a derivative of arachidonic acid and binds to the same brain receptors as cannabinoids found in cannabis, such as THC. The name "anandamide" comes from the Sanskrit word for "bliss".12

Anandamide and other similar compounds are classified as endocannabinoids. Research has shown that the brain produces its own THC-like substances, and anandamide was identified as one such compound. While THC, the active compound in marijuana, can cause euphoria and altered perceptions, anandamide is a naturally produced substance within the body.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
  1. anandamide
  2. tetrahydrocannabinol

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.