Chocolate?…what you really crave
October 30, 2011
I keep several bars of dark chocolate in drawers at work. It’s an amazing superfood. But I’ve discovered the intense craving is not about the delicious fat/caffeine/theobromine combination with a little sugar. It’s actually about the magnesium.
The book,
The Magnesium Miracle, states that it can treat the following (I especially found it true for #1)
1.
Anxiety and panic attacks- because it helps keep adrenal stress hormones under control
2.
Asthma – both histamine production and bronchial spasms increase with magnesium deficiency
3.
Blood clots – magnesium prevents blood clots and thins blood without side effects.
4.
Bowel disease – magnesium deficiency is one of the main causes of constipation.
5.
Cystitis – bladder spasms are worsened by a magnesium deficiency.
6.
Depression – serotonin (mood elevator) is dependent on magnesium for its production and function.
7.
Heavy metals – magnesium is essential for the removal of heavy metals such as aluminum and lead.
8.
Diabetes – magnesium facilitates the production of insulin and the transfer of glucose into the cells.
9.
Fatigue – magnesium deficiency affects hundreds of enzymes, and fatigue is one of the first signs of a magnesium deficiency.
10.
Heart disease – The heart requires magnesium as does all muscles.
11.
Hypertension, hypoglycemia, insomnia, kidney disease, migraines, nerve problems, PMS, osteoporosis, Raynaud’s syndrome, and tooth decay are all aggravated, and sometimes caused by a magnesium deficiency.
I recommend the following ways to supplement it:
Ancient Minerals states that best form of absorption is through the skin. So their oils, moisturizers and bath salts can be used this way. Note: Don’t get the oil for massage. Use their gel instead for that.
Calm Natural can be taken at night and helps a lot for getting to sleep as well. Make sure to follow their instructions of using hot water first.
I predict that in the not too distant future the media will be picking up on this, much the same way they picked up on Omega-3’s years and years after the healthy communities knew about it.
All this to stay, I still love my dark chocolate. I just don’t have that intense need for it like I did before.
