Curbing Chocolate Cravings on Ketogenic Diet
Magnesium deficiency is a real and current problem. Humans used to get magnesium from plants and vegetables, due to the soil they were grown in. Some processing methods that are currently commonly used, lead to a decrease in magnesium in soil and thus in our diet. We also used to get magnesium from our drinking water. Since we now filter our water to get rid of the negative bacterias and add-ins, we also filter out the valuable magnesium content. Because of this, most humans have a magnesium deficiency.
Magnesium deficiency will show itself in a variety of ways. Some symptoms include: fatigue, lack of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and weakness. As the deficiency gets more severe, these symptoms will increase. Symptoms of severe magnesium deficiency include: depression, numbness, tingling, muscle contractions and cramps, seizures, personality changes, abnormal heart rhythms, and coronary spasms. Yikes!!
When our body does not have enough of something, we end up with cravings. Next time you have a craving, take a moment to consider why you are craving what you are. Is it pickles? Then you might need sodium. Is it chocolate? Then you might need more magnesium. Our cravings are our body’s way of telling us what we need to be more healthy. If you are craving chocolate, why would you ever deny that?
Our Favorite
Since you DO have to be careful when choosing your chocolate, we wanted to include our personal favorite. Skinny Me Chocolate is sugar-free and super dark. It contains only all natural ingredients, and is made from Belgium chocolate (the best of the best!). Try a free sample, and it’ll soon be your favorite too!
Chocolate: You Know You Want It!
Dark Chocolate is one of the best ways to get magnesium into your body! Not only does it contain up to 176g of magnesium per 100 g serving, it also relieves stress by releasing dopamine in your brain!
Chocolate is not always to be avoided, if you use self-control and common sense in choosing your chocolate intake.
If you eat an entire bar of milk chocolate, you won’t be happy with your scale, or your ketosis levels. Most milk chocolate contains high levels of processed sugar, and little health benefit. Remember, eating sugar is basically the equivalent of eating carbohydrates. That sugar is going to be converted in glucose, and will throw your body out of ketosis. Processed sugar is not good for your body, and should be avoided.
Turn your chocolate bar over and check the nutrition label. No matter how strong your craving, put it down if it doesn’t fit into your keto diet.
Dark chocolate (over 60% cocoa), on the other hand, can have a positive effect on your physical and mental health! It’s important to note that the higher the cocoa content, the better it is for you.
Chocolate and Happiness
Chocolate is one of the top 10 foods known to release dopamine in your brain! Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that makes you feel happy. Since you feel happy when you eat chocolate, it’s no wonder that you find yourself craving it!!
Changing your diet, way of thinking about food, and overall healthy lifestyle can be stressful. This leads to cravings of foods that are known to calm you and make you feel less stressed. Not only does eating chocolate raise your happiness level, it also helps you to deal with stress.
Why To Eat It
Now that we know that Dark Chocolate is important to our health, let’s review the reasons why:
- It Makes you Happy and Relieves Stress By Releasing the Happiness Hormone Dopamine to Your Brain.
- It Helps you to Ingest the Important Electrolyte Magnesium.
- It Lowers your Stress Levels, Both Through the Magnesium it Delivers, and the Dopamine it releases!!
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Check out some Guilt-Free Chocolate Dessert Recipes:
