Chocolate Craving = Magnesium Deficiency?

[not2late]

I read a blurb on a diet site that chocolate cravings can be a sign of magnesium deficiency. So I looked it up.

I found a number of sites that claim chocolate cravings are due to magnesium deficiency because chocolate is high in magnesium. These sites also said that people are self-medicating themselves with chocolate. They also made a point that the chocolate we eat is very processed and highly sugared (imo, that makes sense....not too many of us snack on the roasted seeds of the chocolate plant or drink chocolate made only from the unsweetened cocoa powder and water like the Aztec Indians did). Conversely, I found a number of chocolate sites that link chocolate with magnesium, but they spin the info in a positive way by saying that eating chocolate is a good way to get your daily magnesium.

I also found this rather objective article about magnesium deficiency:
http://www.healthy.net/asp/templates...Article&ID=541

I still haven't found any studies specifically about chocolate cravings and magnesium deficiency.

Anyhow, here's a list of magnesium rich foods:
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/magnesium.asp

[2big4mysize]

Re: Chocolate Craving = Magnesium Deficiency?

that is one reason you could want choclate. however the pharmacological properties of chocolate are stagering. it has a chem your brain uses mellow out bindingto the same spot Pot does. it has chems that effect mood and chems like caffeine too.

They now have disacovered it has heart healthy chems too if you have dark chocolate.

[not2late]

Re: Chocolate Craving = Magnesium Deficiency?

Yeah, I heard about the HDL raising effect of it too. Hopefully, those revelations won't blow up in our faces like the soy-heart connection did.

[Analog6]

Re: Chocolate Craving = Magnesium Deficiency?

Not2late, thank you, thank you. Of the symptoms described, I have many (see below).

"Menstrual cramps; difficulty swallowing or a lump in the throat-especially provoked by eating sugar; photophobia, especially difficulty adjusting to oncoming bright headlights in the absence of eye disease; and loud noise sensitivity from stapedius muscle tension in the ear; anxiety, and premenstrual irritability; symptoms involving the peripheral nervous system include numbness, tingling, and other abnormal sensations, such as zips, zaps and vibratory sensations; high blood pressure; salt craving, carbohydrate craving and intolerance, especially of chocolate, and breast tenderness."

That's a pretty awesome list, wouldn't you say. And here was I thinking because I didn't get leg cramps I didn't need magnesium. It is now on my shopping list, for this afternoon on the way home. I have been craving chocolate something awful! I am eating lots of green vegetables and some nuts, maybe I need to try to stuff more down.

Thank you again.

[kkat55]

Re: Chocolate Craving = Magnesium Deficiency?

Thanks for sharing this info!!

[urbangoddess]

Re: Chocolate Craving = Magnesium Deficiency?

Chocolate huh? I wonder if it would be worth it to come up with a low-carb Aztec type drink to supplement magnesium. Or would it just taste terrible....

[killerbombshell]

Re: Chocolate Craving = Magnesium Deficiency?

Wow, I just realized by this list of symptoms that I most definetely have a magnesium defecit. I guess I'll have to up my almond consumption or get a suppliment.

[2big4mysize]

Re: Chocolate Craving = Magnesium Deficiency?

i have been drinking the cocoa powder and hot water for over a yr now when i want some chocolate. I started out in 2003 with cream water cocoa powdr and a bit of sweetner and gradually lowered the cream amount and increased the wateramount. I have it down to 2T cocoa powder 1 drop liquid stevia and 12 ounces of water in the evening mug when i got to have chocoalte. you can gradually get yours down to this too.

it is funny but adding cream now has a greasy mouth feel for me.

[not2late]

Re: Chocolate Craving = Magnesium Deficiency?

Re: supplementing magnesium without eating or drinking it.

In Dr. Atkin's Vita Nutrient Solution, he recommended soaking in Epsom salts. Epsom salts are magnesium sulfate crystals. Anyhow, you dissolve the crystals in bath water and soak yourself or dissolve it in a basin and soak your feet. Dr. Atkins said, your skin will absorb the amount of magnesium you need from the epsom salt water and you won't overdose on magnesium because your body will only soak up the amount it needs.

I soak my feet in an Epsom salt bath once a week---not because I'm trying to supplement myself, but because it helps loosen the callous on my feet and makes it easier for me to pumice it off.