Why You Crave Chocolate?
Studies show over 75% of Americans are dangerously deficient in magnesium. Magnesium is an essential factor in more aspects of health than any other mineral, yet rarely measured by doctors.
Chocolate cravings are a sign of a magnesium deficiency. Women’s bodies scream for chocolate during PMS. Some researchers believe that women crave chocolate prior to menstruation because it contains high levels of magnesium.
A lack of this important mineral can cause insomnia, depression, fatigue, migraines, anxiety, hyperactivity, panic attacks, premenstrual irritability, attention deficit disorder, bladder problems, fibromyalgia, asthma, allergies, palpitations, heart arrhythmias, and more.
Even a mild deficiency causes sensitiveness to noise, nervousness, irritability, mental depression, confusion, twitching, trembling, apprehension, insomnia, muscle weakness and cramps in the toes, feet, legs, or fingers. Adelle Davis, writing in Let’s Have Healthy Children
A 2004 study fed one group of mice a magnesium-depleted diet for a few weeks and fed control mice a regular diet. At the end of the study period, the poor magnesium deficient mice were prone to anxiety and to depression.
Magnesium Sources
The best way to get enough magnesium is to eat a variety of whole foods, including whole grains, nuts, seeds and vegetables. Cashews, almonds and sunflower seeds are an excellent source of magnesium (go trail mix!). Read about more food sources of magnesium.
Calcium supplements decrease the body’s absorption of magnesium, as do soft drinks, alcohol, caffeine, excess sugar, diuretics and birth-control pills.
The recommended daily allowance is 350 milligrams. Some on the forefront of magnesium research are recommending up to 1000 mg per day in healthy people. The National Institutes of Health increased their recommended daily intake of calcium to 1,500 mg for prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Magnesium and Heart Conditions
Cardiovascular diseases have often been linked to magnesium depletion. Many forms of abnormal heartbeat can be traced to a magnesium deficiency and these conditions respond well to magnesium supplementation.
My husband and I both have serious heart conditions. Even though magnesium insufficiency causes arrhythmias and coronary artery disease, not one of our cardiologists nor any other doctors have tested for or recommended magnesium for either of us.
I began taking magnesium supplements when I developed a heart condition and read the important of Mg in The Magnesium Miracle
I’m upping my dose now to deal with menopause insomnia.
Sleep in magnesium deficiency is restless, agitated and disturbed by frequent nighttime awakenings. However, all forms of magnesium are not equally effective. In a study of more than 200 patients, Dr. W. Davis used magnesium chloride as a possible means of combating insomnia. The researcher reported that sleep was induced rapidly, was uninterrupted, and that waking tiredness disappeared in ninety-nine percent of the patients. In addition, anxiety and tension diminished during the day. (W. Davis and F. Ziady, The Role of Magnesium in Sleep, Montreal Symposium).
The Chlorophyll Wonder Can Help
Chlorophyll (plant pigment and natural non-toxic wonder) is recognized as one of nature’s riches sources of important nutrients and can help you increase magnesium.
Taking chlorophyll supplements is similar to eating tons of green leafy vegetables. It is an excellent source of calcium, helps in good blood circulation, is a cancer preventative, and helps in wound healing. Chlorophyll has been used for gastrointestinal problems, bad breath, anemia, and to help detoxify cancer-promoting substances.
Chlorophyll is available in capsules, tablets, liquid, sprays, green power drinks, barley grass powder, and wheat grass juice at any health food or vitamin store.
wow, you learn something new everyday! I do eat quite a bit of whole grains, and come to think of it, I don’t crave chocolage that much..hmmm..interesting…
sarah mae’s last blog post..Lady of Wisdom Interview – Cathy Bowman
Now that’s really interesting. I didn’t know that. But what if you crave coffee? LOL
Magnesium was the answer to my hypertension problems – and guess what – I don’t eat nearly the amount of chocolate I used to. I used to eat chocolate EVERY DAY – now if I have a bar or two a month.. that’s fine..
I’m taking 1200mg of magnesium citrate per day along with about 1500 mg of calcium citrate and 600 mg of potassium – that’s ON TOP OF MY FOOD INTAKE OF CAL AND MAG…
If you read my pregnancy posts on my blog, it’ll show you the drastic differences.
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MoreLittleWilsons/October%2B2007%2BPregnancy/page2/&thisy=&thism=&thisd=
Wow! Very Interesting! I’ll have to check this out. My husband and daughter both have arrhythmia’s. My husband has been hospitalized a few times because of it. Thanks!
Very interesting! Thanks for sharing!!!
Nikowa’s last blog post..Sugar + Lemons= Money for babies!
I take my whole foods vitamins and drink that nasty green leafy powder everyday to ensure that I have my needed balance of supplements. Four times over the last couple of years I have tried to give blood and was turned down due to a low iron count. Since I started taking my supplements I have another problem….
I went to a veteran’s day fair and was asked to give blood for the blood bank. I kindly told the woman she would be wasting her time but she insisted and I obliged. If nothing more than just to entertain her. I figured I would be turned down again. Guess what? They said I was the healthiest woman they had seen all day. My iron count was 14(I’m told that is good!) I was able to give blood and they have called me three times since then asking me to come in and donate again. Good grief. Now they want all my blood!
Great post, Robin!
Amy Bayliss’s last blog post..There’s No Place Like Home
BEST source for natural, Creator-sent magnesium? Purslane. Yes, the weed with those little squishy teardrop-shaped leaves out in your garden. Don’t just pull it, put it in your veggie basket & add it to the evening salad (or juice it) or just eat it while you’re out there weeding. My daughters find it and call out “I found treasure!” and eat it on the spot.
Happy weeding!
Ok, sweet ladies…I’m looking at this from a totally different (warped?:) perspective. If we’re craving chocolate (my mouth just watered…lol) for the magnesium, then why not GO FOR IT…especially if it’s the good DARK chocolate (my personal fave).
Gotta Google that Purslane, btw. I have TONS of weeds around here.:-/
P*(digging thru my computer drawer for my Magnesium fix…)
Epsom salt baths are great too. Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate. You can open up your pores by scrubbing your skin. I have friends with autistic children who do not calm down for bed unless they have taken their Epsom salt bath!
Tammy’s last blog post..Charlotte Mason WORKS
Thank you for posting this Robin! I’ve had problems
with insomnia for quiet some time now.
Elisa, Purslane! My dh and I Googled it. Wow!
I never knew about it, and
low and behold…we have it growing all over
our yard! God is so good!
” And God Said, Behold, I have given you every
herb yielding seed, which is upon the face
of all the earth, and every tree, in the which
is the FRUIT of a tree yielding seed; to you
it shall be for meat(FOOD).” Genesis 1:29
Looks like Purslane will be added to our
salads!
So much to learn and so little time!
In Christ, Donna < *
Hey Donna…while you’re in the Googling mood, do a search on PLANTAIN. It grows in your yard as well and is one of the most versatile, healing, easily accessible herbs known. I knew it was good for bug bites, but it also stops bleeding in open wounds (ex: chainsaw accident by an Amish friend!) and helps cuts & scratches heal in record time.
It might even be a good source for magnesium…wouldn’t surprise me at all! LOL
But DON’T USE ANY HERB FROM A YARD THAT’S BEEN SPRAYED WITH WEED KILLER. Go to your neighbor’s weedy yard & get theirs if yours has been treated. Maybe ask first……..
-e
[...] Do You Crave Chocolate? Are You Getting Enough Magnesium? [...]
Wow, I just talked to another mom at my son’s school and we were talking about our weight and dieting and cravings. She said she had heard that if you crave chocolate you may have a magnesium deficiency. I had been told a few years ago by a chiropractor who was also a kinesthesiologist (not sure about the spelling) that I was deficient in magnesium, calcium, and fish oil. I took the supplements for a while and didn’t see much difference. But now, after reading the side effects of low magnesium and hearing about the chocolate cravings, I think he was right. I also have many of the other side effects as well. I was taking a vitamin supplement of calcium citrate, Magnesium, and Vitamin D. Should I buy the magnesium supplement separate from the calcium? If so, should I take the calcium separate, like at bedtime?
[...] Do You Crave Chocolate Are You Getting Enough Magnesium Posted by root 5 minutes ago (http://heartofwisdom.com) I began taking magnesium supplements when i developed a heart condition and read the important of mg in the i 39 m upping my dose now to deal with menopause insomnia comment by donna thank you for posting this robin i 39 ve had problems all rights reserve Discuss | Bury | News | Do You Crave Chocolate Are You Getting Enough Magnesium [...]
My family takes a magnesium suppliment called Natural Calm. It is a powder that you use to make a hot “tea”. We like it and it really helps you sleep at night too.
do you crave chocolate? http://bit.ly/130zII (from @heartofwisdom)
One simple way to get more mag & chlorophyll is wheat grass juice. I empathize with Amy who takes the nasty green powder. The freeze dride powder is a ton better tasting than most green powders & it also comes in vegicaps.
I like dark chocolate too mind!
.-= FitRosie´s last blog ..Organic Additive Free Green Superfood – Sweet Wheat® =-.
I used to have all the time chocolate cravings and, of course, I ate a lot, so I got a little worried about my silhouette. But it’s been 3 months since I take magnesium pills and the cravings just stopped. It really works!
[...] it’s more normal than you realize. Having some chocolate is beneficial in many ways. Remember, too much of [...]
This article is about the goodness of chocolate because it contains lots of magnesium. It presented us with a table showing a list of food that are rich in magnesium. But, excuse me, I cannot find chocolate on that list?
Why not just eat chocolate? A good high-quality dark chocolate is very, very good for you. A lot better than all those nasty grains (and nuts are mostly O-6 fats – not good) which stop the body from absorbing magnesium (and don’t forget to mention to make sure it doesn’t upset the calcium:magnesium balance).
Lindt Excellence 85% or 90% chocolate. Perfect.
[...] – when we’re on our cycles, our magnesium levels get way low. Chocolate is an easy way for our bodies to compensate, plus, it’s [...]
[...] is magnesium deficiency? Is it an over-exaggeration? No! According to one of many sources, Heart Of Wisdom: Studies show over 75% of Americans are dangerously deficient in [...]
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