Unlike most chocolate confections, fruits like grapes, strawberries, blueberries, bananas, oranges, grapefruit and melon are low in fat and calories. Yogurt is another sweet and satisfying substitute for chocolate (not to mention a good source of vitamins, minerals and beneficial live probiotics).
When it comes to chocolate, it is common knowledge that the craving signifies a deficiency in magnesium. Since cacao is considered the food with the highest amount of magnesium per gram, it comes as no surprise that chocolate is the first thing we reach for when we encounter such a deficiency.
You may lose weight.
Since one regular bar of milk chocolate contains approximately 235 calories, eliminating the indulgence from your diet can result in a calorie deficit—resulting in some weight loss. (Related: Simple Ways to Start Losing Weight Immediately, According to Science.)
You may find that a diet abundant in magnesium-rich foods will help keep your chocolate cravings at bay. Of course, you can get magnesium in a supplement form, too.
Because dopamine is released into your brain when you eat chocolate, it can actually lower your levels of stress. This is why people often crave chocolate in stressful situations, or crave it when they are in need of comfort or reassurance.
Supplements of magnesium can reduce sugar craving and help stabilise blood sugar levels[1]. If you have Type 2 diabetes or Pre-diabetes you are more likely to have low magnesium levels[2, 3].
Cravings for specific foods could be an indication of a deficiency in a micro or macro nutrient. In particular, a craving for chocolate could highlight a magnesium deficiency. Magnesium is an essential mineral and is required for over 300 enzyme reactions in the body.
What is Carob? Carob might seem just like chocolate when processed into powder or chips and packaged just like our favorite cacao products, but carob and chocolate are completely different in terms of origin, taste, and chemical composition.
Good news for all the chocoholics out there — your favorite sweet treat can be part of a healthy diet. Dark chocolate contains flavonoids, or plant-based compounds that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, as well as important minerals like zinc, copper, and magnesium.
How much chocolate can I eat a day? Experts say the recommended “dose” is approximately 1 to 2 ounces or 30-60g. Indulge in anything more than that, and you may be consuming too many calories. A 1.45-ounce (41 gram) Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Bar has 190 calories.
The symptoms of chocolate addiction withdrawal include intense cravings for sweet foods, carbohydrate cravings, increased irritability, depressed mood, headaches, lack of energy, and exhaustion. Cutting back on chocolate may affect a person by causing withdrawal symptoms that may be uncomfortable.
It is a high-energy (high calorie) food, and too much can result in excess weight, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Healthier sources of polyphenols include beans, pulses, fruit and vegetables.
Deficiencies in certain minerals such as zinc, chromium, iron, calcium, and magnesium may lead to sugar cravings as well, Elia says. Magnesium deficiency is specifically worth paying attention to.
Magnesium deficiency is diagnosed via a blood test and sometimes a urine test. Your doctor may order the blood test if you have symptoms such as weakness, irritability, abnormal heart rhythm, nausea and/or diarrhoea, or if you have abnormal calcium or potassium levels.
Eliminating chocolate from your diet, even if it's just for a month, can help cut back on calories and sugar which can then lead to weight loss.
When people drastically reduce their sugar intake, they may experience withdrawal symptoms, such as headaches, cravings, and mood changes. These should go away within a few days or weeks.