For some reason, I keep craving dark chocolate....

Question

No, not the men, and no I'm not pregnant but for about a week now I have been seeking dark chocolate (not regular milk chocolate). I know cravings mean your body needs something (i.e. cheese=calcium) but I can't figure this one out. Help!

Answer 1

i hate dark chocolate. i dont see how anyone could crave it  

Answer 2

It could just mean that you want chocolate. For about a week I was craving pancakes, which doesn't necessarily mean that I needed carbs or anything. I just really needed the taste of pancakes again.  

Answer 3

It could just be the stuff in the chocolate, it has certain chemicals that help with your mood, I know I crave it around that 'time'.

Answer 4

Antioxidants? I know there in dark chocolate and they are good for you.  If I were you, I would give in to the craving and eat all the antioxidants you please! :D

Answer 5

lack of magnesium i hear

Recent studies have suggested that cocoa or dark chocolate may possess certain beneficial effects on human health. Dark chocolate, with its high cocoa content, is a rich source of the flavonoids epicatechin and gallic acid, which are thought to possess cardioprotective properties. Cocoa possesses a significant antioxidant action, protecting against LDL oxidation, perhaps more than other polyphenol antioxidant-rich foods and beverages. Processing cocoa with alkali destroys most of the flavonoids.[22] Some studies have also observed a modest reduction in blood pressure and flow-mediated dilation after consuming approximately 100g of dark chocolate daily. There has even been a fad diet, named "Chocolate diet", that emphasizes eating chocolate and cocoa powder in capsules. However, consuming milk chocolate or white chocolate, or drinking fat-containing milk with dark chocolate, appears largely to negate the health benefit.[23] Processed cocoa powder (so called Dutch chocolate), processed with alkali greatly reduces the antioxidant capacity as compared to "raw" cocoa powder. [24] Chocolate is also a calorie-rich food with a high fat content, so daily intake of chocolate also requires reducing caloric intake of other foods.

Two-thirds of the fat in chocolate comes in the forms of a saturated fat called stearic acid and a monounsaturated fat called oleic acid. However, unlike other saturated fats, stearic acid does not raise levels of LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream.[25] Consuming relatively large amounts of dark chocolate and cocoa does not seem to raise serum LDL cholesterol levels; some studies even find that it could lower them[26].

Several population studies have observed an increase in the risk of certain cancers among people who frequently consume sweet 'junk' foods such as chocolate. However, very little evidence exists to suggest whether consuming flavonoid-rich dark chocolate may increase or decrease the risk of cancer. Evidence from laboratory studies suggest that cocoa flavonoids may possess anticarcinogenic mechanisms, but more research is needed to prove this idea.

The major concern that nutritionists have is that even though eating dark chocolate may favorably affect certain biomarkers of cardiovascular disease, the amount needed to have this effect would provide a relatively large quantity of calories which, if unused, would promote weight gain. Obesity is a significant risk factor for many diseases, including cardiovascular disease. As a consequence, consuming large quantities of dark chocolate in an attempt to protect against cardiovascular disease has been described as 'cutting off one's nose to spite one's face'.[27].

Studies suggest a specially formulated type of cocoa may boost brain function and delay decline as people age.

Answer 6

RESIST.RESIST.RESIST

You havee probably seen a film or advert that has stuck in your mind.and the main character, in your mind, eats dark chocolate. On the other hand, how accurate was your pregnancy test?

Answer 7

Ah ha,

One of the reasons your craving dark chocolate is that the caffiene in it is higher than milk chocolate and is of course like coffee very addicting. Sooo eating this in the evening means your not sleeping properly(do to caffiene) and our bodies always crave bad calories when tired, get more sleep, eating dark choclate will not allow your body to relax and your heart rate come down properly while sleeping, meaning you`ll wake up tired even if you got 8hrs.

- I`ve found cutting all sugar(yes fruit too) out for 4 days straight tends to make craving subside, so remember when eating sugar, this will cause cravings for 4days afterwards.

The part of the brain that chocolate effects is the same part of the brain that is stimulated when lacking potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron.

Soo with that being said guess what makes a female multivitamin a female mulitvitamin?

Yep, extra potasium, calcium, magnesium and iron, all things girls use more of around "that time" of the month. So get a good female multi and quit eating chocolate, some of these minerals take awhile to be absorbed and bring your internal level back upto par, so be patient, get lots of sleep, stay hydrated and take that female multi.

  

Answer 8

Magnesium is the main mineral your body is craving... try a magnesium tab or a vitamin cocktail.

Of course, never start anything if you're taking prescription meds without talking to your doctor first.