If you find yourself with uncontrollable chocolate cravings, the ones that happen at odd hours, frequently, enough to get you irritated if they aren’t met, then there’s more than meets the eye. There’s actually a strong connection between chocolate cravings and magnesium deficiency. So, read on to let the experts weigh in on this matter.
Dr Rebecca Pinto States Chocolate Cravings Can Indicate Magnesium Deficiency
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Mumbai-based nutritionist Rebecca Pinto stated to NDTV that craving a particular food item is not a matter to be taken lightly. After all, each food item is associated with a specific nutritional element. And if you find yourself having uncontrollable cravings for a particular food item it could indicate a particular deficiency you might be facing. When it comes to chocolate cravings, a person might be facing magnesium deficiency.
Chocolate in general is nothing but a blend of cocoa powder, sweetener and cocoa butter. Often many crave chocolate due to high stress, hormonal imbalance or period pain, health experts say it could also be due to magnesium deficiency.
Dr Rebecca Pinto often takes to Instagram to share insightful reels to nurture our bodies in a better manner. In a fun reel, she advised men to gift dark chocolate (90 per cent dark chocolate) to women when they are PMSing. Loaded with magnesium, dark chocolate helps to reduce stress hormones in the brain. In another reel, she also stated that an increase in chocolate cravings can indicate a magnesium deficiency.
Not just Dr Rebecca Pinto, even a study published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition states that dark chocolate is a wonderful source of magnesium. As per an NDTV report, a 100-gram portion of dark chocolate contains around 252.2 mg of magnesium. But consuming 90 per cent dark chocolate is no easy feat. And the ones commercially available have added sweeteners.
Also Read: 8 Best Handmade And Homegrown Chocolate Brands From Mumbai You Must Try
What Are Magnesium-Rich Foods You Can Consume?
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So, if you are facing magnesium deficiency, Dr Rebecca Pinto advises you to opt for other fruit and veggie sources like bananas, spinach and almonds. These are rich in magnesium and can alleviate muscle cramps and stress. So, when it comes to an advisable magnesium dosage, it depends on person to person. Age, gender, health condition are factors, you must take into consideration.
Also Read: Recipe: Make This Chocolate Overnight Oats For Your Breakfast
A report by the Harvard School of Public Health throws light on the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for magnesium. For men aged between 19 to 51+ years, it’s 400-420 mg daily. For women in the same age group, it’s 310-320 mg. However, during pregnancy, women need to consume 350-360 mg of magnesium daily. Lactating mothers must consume 310-320 mg. But it’s best to consult your doctor about the same.
Meanwhile, do let us know if you face uncontrollable chocolate cravings and if this article has helped you identify the reason behind the same.
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First Published: November 02, 2023 11:24 AM