Why Do I Crave Chocolate? Common Causes That Make You Crazy For Cocoa

A chocolate bar can be a perfect solution and a way to fight those cravings we can sometimes get during the day; a lot of the time, it's just the right kind of sugar fix to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Chocolate bars are very popular treats among children and adults of all age groups, largely because eating yummy snacks releases dopamine and serotonin. Research says that women crave chocolate when going through their menstrual cycle or while experiencing PMS (premenstrual syndrome).

Craving chocolate is a common diet trend among adults. Many adults like high-quality dark chocolate with a limited sugar content.

That combination is higher in magnesium. Milk chocolate and white chocolate both have several health benefits, but any kind of chocolate that is high in sugar might increase your blood sugar level and affect your health.

There are several types of chocolate available; when eaten in moderation, they can satisfy the body's antioxidant requirements. A bar of chocolate is made of cacao and cacao butter, so it contains a lot of fat. Some chocolate varieties also have caffeine in them, which can help elevate energy levels.

Because natural cacao is bitter and not very tasty, sugar is often added to chocolate to it more palatable. Consuming a bar of chocolate in moderation, with food, can enhance your magnesium levels and can make you feel better; what a welcome fact!

However, your chocolate bar intake should be within reasonable limits.

To a certain extent, it's also considered healthy to eat small amounts of chocolate, as that can have a positive effect on your brain and can also significantly make your mood better.

So, a craving for chocolate is not necessarily a bad thing, because there several kinds of milk chocolate and dark chocolate varieties that contain less sugar and more healthy antioxidants.

Because of that, it's not a bad idea to grab a bar of chocolate when you're hungry; it can also reduce your stress and elevate your mood due to the serotonin release it initiates.

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Common Times You Might Crave Chocolate

Cravings can arise at any time. In most cases, you may feel like eating chocolate right after a meal. Women commonly crave chocolate during their menstrual period or simply while experiencing PMS.

A chocolate craving may occur after someone eats a variety of foods. Although chocolate cravings are not bad and may have numerous health benefits, some people may be negatively affected after eating chocolate treats.

Craving chocolate during pregnancy is also very common in women, because the high sugar content in chocolates can release dopamine, reduce stress, and act as a mood-booster. This is also the reason why women crave chocolate bars during menstrual periods, as dopamine tends to help them destress.

Even though craving chocolate once in a while is OK, craving chocolate too often might encourage you to look for alternative options that will satisfy your cravings. There can be several reasons why you crave chocolate.

This can include a magnesium deficiency, or it could be a habit that indulges your sweet tooth. You can opt for a healthy alternative food item, such as yogurt.

It's a sweet, low-fat energy booster, and is an ideal option that keeps blood sugar levels low. Other tasty foods, such as nut butter, can also be eaten as a snack when you're hungry.

These butters contain high amounts of protein and are a great source of energy.

Plus, they do not contain cocoa or caffeine, and will not contribute to the development of body fat. It's a combination that promotes good health and gives you something sweet to eat!

If those foods don't satisfy your cravings, another option is trying some leafy greens or an avocado. Or, you could just wait it out for a minute to let the craving pass.

One other alternative to chocolate cravings is eating a little bit of dark chocolate. It is the best chocolate option because it can boost energy, doesn't contain as much caffeine, and is healthier for your body.

What Chocolate Cravings Mean

Chocolate cravings are common in adults, including women of all age groups. Each individual craving may be caused by different reasons, but people mostly crave chocolate because they are looking for a snack.

Chocolate cravings can result in various health issues when the intake is beyond reasonable limits.

So, to control your cocoa intake habits or cravings, it's important to understand what might be the reason for these cravings and then determine what are some better, healthier alternatives you can choose instead of cocoa products. For example, a woman's reason for craving chocolate could be due to her menstrual period or pregnancy, or a symptom of hunger.

Typically, your brain tempts you to fill your stomach with chocolate treats because you're hungry and those may be the only snacks that come to mind.

Other times, you may be craving chocolate because your brain is simply craving sugar. In that case, you might consider snacking on a healthy fruit yogurt, some fresh fruit, or another food that contains healthier ingredients, but still has a sweet taste.

If you form that kind of habit, swapping chocolate for these food options can weaken your dependence on cocoa.

Outside of these, another reason behind chocolate cravings could be a very low energy level. Research shows that many people have adopted emotional habits and view chocolate as a type of reward when they are stressed or in a very difficult situation.

So, this can also be a reason why your brain craves chocolate so much.

Another possible explanation why your brain loves cocoa is that you may have a magnesium deficiency. An unusual craving for chocolate can be an indication of a magnesium deficiency in your body or blood.

In this case, you might want to look for a good doctor and treat it medically, because simply eating chocolate bars may only satisfy your craving while masking the real problem.

What deficiency causes chocolate cravings?

Craving for chocolate, in many cases, is natural and can be your body's way of telling you that it's hungry or wants sugary foods. In other cases, a chocolate craving can be a sign of magnesium deficiency.

Your body needs many different types of vitamins and minerals, and magnesium is one of those nutrients that your body usually extracts from food you eat on a daily basis. A consistent chocolate craving could reveal a possible deficiency of other micro- and macronutrients that you are not receiving from your everyday diet.

Magnesium plays a very important role in your bodily functions and is necessary for at least 300 different enzyme reactions.

So, you can understand why consuming magnesium is so important.

Dark chocolate is one of the richest sources of magnesium; it's also a great source that doesn't contain high amounts of sugar. Try going for a dark chocolate bar with a low sugar content, or you may even prefer a magnesium supplement that will help to significantly curb your cravings.

There are other symptoms of a magnesium deficiency that may also coincide with a person's unusual chocolate cravings. A magnesium deficiency can often cause many different symptoms, which can negatively affect your body's ability to function.

It can make normal activities difficult, or even spark consistent migraine episodes. Irritability is a symptom that can be noted in some pregnant women.

They may choose to eat chocolate snacks as a way to boost their mood. Other serious symptoms of magnesium deficiency include insomnia, anxiety, and even an inability to concentrate. In some cases, an irregular heartbeat may develop into a more concerning issue.

Eating chocolate has been known to provide a form of mental relief, even if it's only temporary. Sometimes a sweet tooth for chocolate can mask a magnesium deficiency.

However, there are many scientists who have questioned this popular assumption, because there are many other food items that are even more richly packed in magnesium than chocolate. These are foods that people rarely ever crave when compared to chocolate.

For example, foods like nuts or leafy greens are great sources of magnesium, but not many people express cravings for them. Because of that, the idea that chocolate cravings are connected to magnesium deficiencies is frequently questioned by scientists.

Their hesitancy is warranted, since there is a wide variety of healthier foods to consume as a way to treat a vitamin or mineral deficiency, especially since chocolate can raise blood sugar levels.

Foods like raw or soaked almonds are high in protein and other nutrients. Even black beans and whole grains are ideal alternatives.

Stopping A Chocolate Addiction

Fighting an addiction can be a difficult battle. Even though adding a steady diet of chocolate to your eating habits may seem like a good idea, it could set you up for some unfortunate long-term results. There are a few different ways to combat the urge to snack on chocolates.

In many cases, people have chocolate cravings because they feel hungry. In this situation, the best solution is to enjoy a full, well-rounded meal with a sweet dessert afterwards.

A lot of the time, sugar cravings can be mistaken as chocolate cravings. However, a yogurt, healthy shake, or homemade smoothie can satisfy a sugar craving.

If you ever notice yourself catching a chocolate craving, think twice before heading to the vending machine for a chocolate bar. Learn how to understand why you're craving chocolate, and then look for a healthier alternative.

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