Craving Chocolate?

Are you craving some creamy milk chocolate?  Some rich dark chocolate?  Some nutty chocolate?  If you weren't before, you probably are now!  One of the reasons we crave chocolate is that it contains magnesium and most of us are deficient in magnesium.  Our bodies need magnesium for many basic physiologic functions. Our innate intelligence will direct us to foods which will supply what our bodies need to survive.  In this case, chocolate to supply magnesium.

Magnesium is used in the body to aid the absorption of calcium, to maintain healthy teeth and bones, support the immune system, relax muscles, nerves & blood vessels, improve sleep patterns, it's essential for fundamental cellular production including the storage of energy & protein synthesis (ATP), and it helps to lower blood pressure and reduce bad cholesterol levels.  As a matter of fact there are about 300 different processes in the body that require magnesium.

Unfortunately a large portion of us are deficient in magnesium because processing foods destroys the magnesium.  The standard North American diet is high in processed foods and consequently low in magnesium.  Another problem is that many of the foods we consume that should contain magnesium have only small amounts because the the soils they are grown in are magnesium deficient.  When consuming magnesium rich foods many people also fail to have benefits because their digestive systems do not function well enough to absorb this mineral.  This can be the result of low levels of stomach acid or an unhealthy lining of the gut.

Good sources of magnesium are whole grains, nuts, seafood, dark green vegetables, and of course chocolate (preferably dark).  Per capita consumption of  magnesium rich, whole foods (other than chocolate) has decreased 50% over the past 50 years!  It's no wonder we are magnesium deficient.

So you may have a very good reason to be craving chocolate - a magnesium deficiency.  If so it is wise to look for ways to get the magnesium that are healthier that chocolate.  For most people supplementation is the best solution.

Still craving that chocolate? Well maybe, just perhaps, it's because it tastes yummy.