Do you CRAVE Chocolate? It could be a magnesium deficiency!

Here is a small piece from my book KETO ADAPTED:

What mineral is needed by every cell in the body, yet odds are you don’t get enough of it AND IT CAN MAKE YOU CRAVE CHOCOLATE? Hint: It’s not calcium. Give up? Magnesium. It gets little attention now, but rising evidence implies that magnesium benefits your heart and bones, plus it may help prevent diabetes and migraine headaches.

Deficiencies also cause muscle spasms and pain, insomnia and fatigue. Magnesium assists in maintaining muscle and nerve function maintain a heartbeat, helps our immune system and keeps bones strong. Magnesium is also great for diabetics because it helps regulate blood sugar levels.

Magnesium is also being researched as a natural way to curb food cravings. It is found that as magnesium deficiencies increase so do food cravings. Supplementing with a therapeutic dose of 600 milligrams of a magnesium supplement has been shown to significantly calm food cravings.

Early signs of magnesium deficiency include nausea, fatigue, or weakness. As magnesium deficiency gets worse, restless leg syndrome, numbness, muscle cramps, seizures, mood changes, or irregular heartbeats can occur.

I take 600mg of magnesium-glycinate (NOT Magnesium oxide) every night before bed to enhance my health in many ways (including helping me to fall asleep). Magnesium has been proven to:

1. -Aids in fighting depression
2. -Reduces food cravings
3. -Beneficial in the treatment of PMS
4. -Relieves restless leg syndrome
5. -Particularly important for maintaining a normal heart rhythm and is often used by physicians to treat irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia).
6. -Beneficial for bladder problems in women, especially common disturbances in bladder control and the sense of “urgency.”
7. -Helps in the treatment of high blood pressure
8. -Beneficial in the treatment of neuro-muscular and nervous disorders
9. -Helps prevent kidney stones and gallstones
10. -Vital for a healthy immune system
11. -Keeps teeth healthy
12. -Magnesium is used by the body to help maintain muscles, nerves, and bones.
13. -Energy metabolism and protein synthesis
14. -Helps regulate blood sugar levels
15. -Adequate intake of calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D coupled with overall proper nutrition and weight-bearing exercise throughout childhood and adulthood are the primary preventive measures for osteoporosis
16. -Useful in the treatment of polio and post-polio syndrome
17. -Useful in the treatment of prostate problems
18. -Help reduce stress

Dietary magnesium does not pose a health risk, however therapeutic doses of magnesium in supplements can promote unfavorable effects such as diarrhea. Choosing the correct form of magnesium will help prevent this undesired effect. Magnesium oxide is found in Milk of Magnesia … so of course, that version of magnesium will cause diarrhea. Choose magnesium-citrate or magnesium-glycinate; which are highly absorb-able forms and cannot be found in your typical retail store; these are found in health food stores, your local nutritionist or chiropractor. These versions are a little more expensive, but you are ensuring you are absorbing the nutrient; it is money well spent.

I recommend taking magnesium around 30 minutes before going to bed. Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant that helps our sleep. I recommend 400mg for most people; if someone is suffering from a medical condition or is on medication that depletes magnesium, they may require more, up to 1,000mg per day. In addition to supplements, taking baths with magnesium salts is extremely helpful. Absorbing magnesium through the skin stimulates the production of DHEA, the anti-aging hormone.

Click HERE to find Magnesium Glycinate.

Flourless Chocolate Torte

My tip is to make this flourless chocolate torte in a pie or cake pan (lined with parchment paper and greased well) and under-bake it just a touch. Let it cool and cut into individual servings to store in the freezer for ‘portion control’. When a craving strikes, take your little piece of heaven out and warm in the oven or microwave for about 20 seconds just until ‘gooey and melty’ top with a dollop of cream cheese frosting!…oh my!

I also like to make it in individual ramekins and only bake one at a time. That way I have better portion control.