Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

3

i am recovering from a magnesium deficiency from this summer. my levels were .5 (1.5-2.5 range). my RBC magnesium test is still on the low end 4.6 (4.2-6.8 range). i am supplementing just fine though, my serum mag is always at the top of the range now either 2.0-2.2..

coincidence or not, i have never CRAVED chocolate in my life. i liked it but i never had chocolate cravings, nowi love dark dark chocolate and i've been making these little chocolate cups the size of reeses every day or every other day. they have cocoa, stevia, coconut oil, coconut milk.

should i listen to my body and keep consuming a lot of cocoa or is this bad?

is this really magnesium? why am i not craving other foods high in magnesium?

flag	asked Dec 16 2011 at 21:05 holly 1,097●3●12

	i have between 1 or 2 quarts of OJ per day. that has a lot of magnesium. – Anon Sep 17 at 0:35
	yeah i have IR. i wish i could drink OJ :( – holly Sep 17 at 16:33

Rhubarb · Accepted Answer · 2011-12-16 21:24:31Z UTC

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Sounds yum! And that's may well be why you're craving the chocolate :)

Just keep in mind that cocoa is very high is phytic acid, so you may want to avoid eating it around other meals, as the phytic acid will have an effect on you absorbing some minerals.

answered Dec 16 2011 at 21:24

Rhubarb
5,165●3●13

great point about hte phytic acid, thanks!! – holly Dec 19 2011 at 0:37

Nance · Answer 2 · 2011-12-16 21:23:41Z UTC

Could it just be a novel treat? If so, it will settle down. The only way to test them is to go at least 3 days without and see if you crave them. It's in our natures to relish treats, but we only crave nutrients we need or addictive SAD foods.

I used to think I was a choca-holic but when I gave up sugary chocolate I didn't miss the chocolate at all--based on my indifferent reaction to unsweetened--but I certainly missed the sugar. This week, however, I bought a small package of very-dark-chocolate-covered-cherries at Trader Joe's. There are small amounts of sweeteners but they're at the end of the ingredients list.

Anyhow, the highlight of each day is to eat 4-5 of them and I don't forget to go get them out of the cupboard, if you know what I mean. :-))

On the other hand, it will be very painless not to buy more and I'll quickly forget about them when they're gone because they aren't sugary enough to be addictive.

When I get hungry for liver, or a particular vegetable, then I assume it's a deficiency.

Syrio · Answer 3 · 2011-12-17 13:12:58Z UTC

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You are not craving other foods high in magnesium very likely because, at cellular level, you are deficient in both: potassium and magnesium.

Potassium content in chocolate is higher than magnesium.

Potassium and magnesium depletions go hand in hand.

Replenish your body with potassium, taking a supplement if required.

answered Dec 17 2011 at 13:12

Syrio
21●2

	i actually test kind of high in potassium which is is odd to me but i believe i suffer from hypoalderosteronism (sp) my blood pressure is really really low. i guess i should be more careful about the cocoa since my potassium is high – holly Dec 19 2011 at 0:38
	you have a good point though, im not totally sure what my potassium is i was reading that potassium serum readings are notoriously unreliable. ive tested very high 2x and then on the low side once or twice. – holly Dec 19 2011 at 0:53

chocolate cravings

3 Answers