Chocolate Cravings? No More!

If you religiously strive for your "moment of ecstasy" by indulging in the delicacy of chocolate, you are very normal. It’s not a secret that this luscious, smooth, almost irreplaceable food makes you feel absolutely fabulous. But the very familiar feeling of guilt that follows after munching on a whole box of chocolates might ruin the finest experience. You may find that chocolate is not as evil as you thought. As a matter of fact, studies in two prestigious journals report dark chocolate is an honorable addition to your list of healthy foods. Used throughout history as a tonic, it has a number of wholesome compounds that might improve mood, fight fatigue, and even elevate your sex life.

Chocolate is known to contain over 380 different chemicals. The pleasurable sensations people get from eating chocolate come from the combination of these chemicals. The sugar in chocolate sparks the release of a nerve chemical called serotonin and might lower another nerve chemical called NPY; the end result is a sense of well-being. The sweet taste also releases endorphins in the brain, giving us an immediate euphoric rush. The fat in chocolate enhances flavor and aroma and satisfies another nerve chemical called galanin, thus curbing our cravings for fat.

Chocolate Cravings Explained
An enormous percentage of women crave sugar, carbohydrates, or alcohol. In most cases, these food cravings are not true eating disorders, but instead are signs of hormonal imbalance caused by a lack of healthy nutrition. Food cravings mean that the body has its signals mixed up. When we are exhausted or blue, we have low blood sugar levels, but even if we just ate we still might crave chocolate.

1. One reason may be in your brain. There are two neurochemicals released in the brain which make us feel good. When these chemicals run low in the system, you start feeling uncomfortable and the body signals the brain that it needs something to fix the problem. Sweet foods stimulate these neurotransmitters and make us feel good when we eat them. And this is in addition to fixing the blood sugar levels if they were low at the moment of uncontrollable craving. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, compounds that work as an energy pick-me-up. Several amino acids (phenylethylamine, or PEA, tryptophan, tyrosine) stimulate the nervous system, increase blood pressure and heart rate, enhancing pleasurable "love" feelings. Chocolate also contains anandamide that mimics the effects of marijuana and boosts the pleasure you get when you eat chocolate. Add to the list the natural calming elements (valeric and glutamic acid) and you’re craving an incredibly delicious, mellow, non-jittery mood and energy boost.

2. Another reason may be found in your overall nutrition. Are you getting enough carbohydrates, protein and essential fats with each meal? Skipping meals or eating on an unpredictable schedule catapults your body into a state of starvation, depriving your brain and body of fuel. Additionally, low-carbohydrate diets often create cravings for starchy foods and sweets because the brain prefers running on glucose, supplied by carbohydrates. Eat well and your metabolism will heal itself and your cravings will stop. If it has been damaged, the process can take some time, but it will happen. The good news is — you don’t have to give up chocolate!

3. The third reason for chocolate cravings, and probably the most popular of all, is emotional attachment to chocolate. Or specifically, to the feelings it produces. You may even be attached to the chocolate flavour because of the associations it creates. Researchers have discovered that the brain not only associates enjoyment of certain foods with unrelated stimuli - such as smells, sights and even sounds - but can also relax those associations once hunger is sated. So, when you are hungry, your associations with the pleasure effect of chocolate smell and taste go up and you crave it more.

Cravings? No More!
• Get sufficient rest – at least 8 hours a day. This will help your entire mind and body relax and recuperate and naturally balance your hormones.

• Eat regularly. Skipping meals or eating on an unpredictable schedule catapults your body into a state of starvation, depriving your brain and body of fuel. This sets you up to crave starchy or sugary foods for energy. Don’t ever let yourself go hungry and eat enough wholesome foods at breakfast, lunch, and a healthy afternoon snack.

• Check your diet. Combining natural foods, such as whole grains, legumes, lean meats, fish, dairy, fruits and vegetables throughout the day is an excellent way to get the right balance of carbohydrates, protein and fat. Breakfast, for instance, could be cereal + milk + banana. You can get a perfect lunch from a seafood stir-fry with rice and vegetables, or a chicken salad sandwich. Have some meat, vegetables and wholemeal pasta for dinner. And, yes!, you may finish your day with a cup of hot cocoa if you want, just make it caffeine-free.

• Supplement. Try adding mineral Magnesium, B-vitamins, Essential Fatty Acids, Branched-Chain Amino Acids, and maybe some calming herbs, such as chamomile, valerian and maybe 5-HTP or SAMe (these two work on neurotransmitters in the brain and have been clinically used to fight depression).

• Don’t make desserts your ‘forbidden’ food. Have these regularly, but watch the portions. At first, it will be more difficult to do, but as your body and mind will learn that you can have as much as you want, you may stop over-indulgence when you just can’t get enough. Make chocolate your friend and easily approachable companion, not your diet-ruinning enemy.

• Eat chocolate. If you go for chocolate, go for the real thing – the best quality and the most delicious to your palate. It feels like more of an indulgence, plus the chocolate is usually richer, and you tend to be satisfied with less. Put it in the freezer and take out only one serve at a time. It takes longer to eat your indulgence when it is cold, so you may find that one small square satisfies those cravings.Try to find the product with high cocoa content - more than 50% cocoa is found in most dark chocolate. This is one of the best ways to satisfy your cravings healthfully. Note that most chocolate bars contain more sugar than cocoa.

Choco-Free Solutions
If you want to stay away from chocolate because you know you wouldn’t be able to stop at one bite, try:

• A glass of water

• A cup of herbal fruity or green tea

• Carob or hot cocoa drink - better without sugar, with a spoon of honey and with organic milk

• Chocolate-covered muesli bar

• Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies with pecans

• Oatmeal made with either banana, raisins and nuts – sprinkled with carob powder

• Chocolate protein shakes

• Something salty eg olives, sundried tomatoes etc can take away a sweet craving.

• A piece of fruit, some nuts, dried goji berries or a piece of toast

• A greens mix i.e Wheat or Barley Grass, Spirulina or Chorella

• Try butter, vanilla or chocolate flavoured sugar-free sweets – you can suck on them for a long time and enjoy the smooth texture and beautiful flavour