Thursday, July 2, 2009

Did Somebody Say Chocolate?

Everyone loves chocolate!! I am not sure I have ever met a woman who does not at least like chocolate. Many of us love chocolate to the point of not being able to go a day without at least a little taste. Some of us only really crave it once a month.

Ever wonder why women have an intense craving for chocolate around the time of their menstural cycle? There has not been alot of research on this but what I did learn was:

Chocolate is very high in magnesium. A Magnesium deficiency can exacerbate PMS. PMS for most women start 7-14 days prior to their period. It is not really known what exactly causes PMS but there is much known about helping to control the symptoms of PMS. Some of those include staying away from caffeine, taking B6, calcium and magnesium supplements, among other things.

Here is how it relates to chocolate. Before menstruation the levels of the hormone progesterone are high. This promotes fat storage preventing its use as fuel. This in turn may cause a craving for fatty foods. One study stated that 91% of chocolate cravings that were associated with the menstrual cycle occured between the time of ovulation and the actual start of menstruation. These cravings were most intense in the late afternoon and early evening.


This timing made sense to me because if it is a craving for those fatty foods, those are the times when your body would be needing more energy to get through the rest of the day.


Chocolate also generally makes us feel good. Especially if you are a "chocolate person" to begin with. You crave chocolate when you are depressed, lonely, feeling blue, etc. The sugar in chocolate causes a release of serotonin. The brain uses serotonin to reduce depressive or anxious feelings. Chocolate also causes a release of several other chemicals (tryptophan, anandamide, phenylethylamine) in the brain that can give a person a mental boost, increase the heart rate, stimulate the nervous system and produce feelings of euphoria. These chemicals effect serotonin as well as dopamine in the brain. Both serotonin and dopamine are used in antidepressants and antianxiety medications that help make us feel "happy" and/or "relaxed".

So, now you know! When you are feeling blue. . . take the plunge. Eat a piece of chocolate maybe eat two. But remember, all things are good in moderation!! Don't overindulge, you will be more blue later if you do. Especially after you step on the scale and see that extra pound or two because you ate a whole box of chocolates!



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15 comments:

  1. Gosh, and here I thought that I loved chocolate for the flavor of it melting on my tongue and coating my throat...lol
    Sandi

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  2. Yum! I am wanting some chocolate now :)

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  3. I want some chocolate. . . .give me some chocolate.

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  4. Good grief, woman! CAn't you see I'm on a diet! LOL *runs off looking for the dark chocolate stash*

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  5. Your post inspired me to eat a giant spoonful of nutella because that's the only source of chocolate I have handy at the moment... YUM! oh and for the umm... health benefits :D

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  6. How affirming. . . Just the mention of it makes you all run for that secret stash you have!! Glad I could contribute to the addictions!
    Been too busy to post, but will catch up late next week!

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  7. I've been craving chocolate all day, but after reading your post, I'm ready to rip my cupboards apart in search of a secret stash!! Oh, and Maha, I recently tried Nutella, and gotta say it's a little piece of heaven in a jar.

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  8. I don't care if chocolate contains chlorine and rat poison, I am still eating it! LOL!

    On my list of followers, you have two profiles, you may want to delete one!

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  9. My chicklette loves Willy Wonk and lately asks for chocolate all the time! I give her a teeny smidge b/c to her, it's like cocoaine :)

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  10. Yummy Yummy...Snickers Bar, NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!LOL

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  11. Hershey Nuggets for a quick fix here. My tastes are not fancy nor are my pockets overflowing. I know that dark chocolates are 'better' for you but when I want chocolate in a hurry, grab a 'Nug' and feed the animal...

    Helen G.

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  12. I forgot to say also that I've had my works jerked many years ago so that doesn't seem to affect my cravings.

    Have a great day.

    Helen

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  13. Oh my how yummie I am about to go into a sugar coma...I want chocolate..dang it but it's too early in the a.m.!

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  14. Hello, I just wanted to leave a comment to say how much I've enjoyed reading your post today.

    I love reading your blog - thank you very much for sharing your pictures and thoughts !

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