Chocolate Cravings? You Might be Deficient in Magnesium
Are you a chocolate addict? In addition to the sweet taste and creamy texture, do you find you enjoy the little boost you get from indulging in this delicious treat?
If so, you’re not alone.
Chocolate is the most frequently craved food in North America, according to The Journal of Nutrition. 40% of women and 15% of men experience chocolate cravings, researcher Susan Yanovski found.
Do You Have a Chocolate Deficiency?
According to the Journal of the American Dietary Association, chocolate may be used by some people as a form of self-medication for dietary deficiencies.
Chocolate is high in magnesium, and it’s been suggested that a deficiency in magnesium may play a role in these cravings. However, researchers note that other foods that are much higher in magnesium, such as nuts, are rarely the subject of a craving. Nonetheless, “it could be a magnesium deficiency,” explains nutritionist Caroline Pearce. “Chocolate is high in magnesium so if you’re lacking it, that’s what your body craves.” It’s possible that your body is simply craving magnesium but that the other positive associations you have with chocolate are making it the magnesium-rich food you zero in on. Many people do find that increasing their magnesium intake does make chocolate cravings go away. It’s also possible that chocolate targets multiple deficiencies at once.
Wellness Mama writes that “there are several components in chocolate that the body may become deficient in, especially magnesium and antioxidants.” She goes on to say that: ”In studies, chocolate cravings seems especially tied to hormone changes (menstruation, pregnancy, etc) and the magnesium in chocolate, as well as its ability to affect neurotransmitters may be a large part of the reason.“
Chocolate for Your Hormones
Women tend to report more frequent chocolate cravings than men, and monthly periods may be one of the biggest reasons for this. As a woman’s body goes through its natural cycle a lot of key nutrients, including magnesium, are lost through menstruation, leaving women more vulnerable to developing a deficiency.
Women craving chocolate during their periods is so common it’s practically a punchline. PMS is no joke though! Supplementing with magnesium not only alleviates the more typical symptoms of deficiency, but it can also be effective for relieving the discomfort and unpleasantness of PMS. Writing for Mind Body Green, Dr. Kelly Brogan states that: “Magnesium is also critical for those struggling with PMS, including premenstrual migraines, irritability, low mood, and cramps. Of women that supplemented with a conservative dose of 250mg daily for three months, 34% experienced relief of PMS. Similarly, by the second month of treatment with magnesium, women with PMS experienced improvement in mood and pain in a randomized, controlled trial.”
Of course, while dark chocolate will get you some of the magnesium you need, it’s important to avoid milk chocolate, since it’s very high in sugar and doesn’t have nearly as much magnesium in it. Dark chocolate is still high in calories too remember, so even when choosing good quality dark stuff, enjoy it in moderation.
Fortunately, you don’t need much. Bembu.com notes that “You can get an energy boost by having just a small amount of dark chocolate thanks in part to the magnesium it contains. You’ll also feel better, since chocolate has long been known to help the body produce endorphins.”
When You Need to Step Away from the Chocolate
There are many healthy options for getting more magnesium in your diet. You may find that eating other magnesium-rich foods helps to keep your chocolate cravings in check. Dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, avocados and bananas all have relatively high amounts of magnesium in them.
Of course, you can get magnesium in supplement forms too, including transdermal options.
Magnesium is vital for everything from your nerves to your bones and immune system. It’s needed for healthy muscle and nerve function and to keep the heart beating rhythmically. Magnesium is also important for regulating blood sugar levels, thereby promoting normal blood pressure as well as increasing energy, improving metabolism and protein synthesis and it has a positive effect on the treatment of disorders such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes.
At Activation Products, our passion for magnesium came from many years of detailed research. EASE, by Activation Products is created with pure magnesium chloride hexahydrate, one of the safest and most bioavailable forms of magnesium available.
By spraying your body with EASE, you can resolve magnesium deficiency and alleviate or eliminate the many symptoms that come along with it.
Activation Products has a scented line of EASE that includes high-end essential oils, one of which is, you guessed it: chocolate! Enjoy the delicious and comforting smell of chocolate AND the benefits of magnesium without the calories.
Related Links:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10524390
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/minerals/health-benefits-of-magnesium.ht
https://books.google.com/books?id=xHrLCj-QN_4C&pg=PA203&lpg=PA203&dq=magnesium+and+chocolate+cravings&source=bl&ots=s6jLjn38eE&
http://wellnessmama.com/57297/crave-chocolate/
https://www.healthaliciousness.com/articles/foods-high-in-magnesium.php
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