Not Necessarily a Bad Thing: Dark Chocolate Cravings

Dark chocolate cravings are the least harmful of the chocolate cravings that people might have. Dark chocolate cravings can help the individual to keep a little bit of dark chocolate in his system each day so that his heart can get the nutrition that is available in the dark chocolate. Doctors have said that a little bit of dark chocolate is beneficial; however, those with dark chocolate cravings do not necessarily stop with a little bit of dark chocolate. Instead, they will over-indulge in it and eat an entire candy bar or more each day. Over eating any food can lead to weight gain and other health issues and dark chocolate cravings that are overindulged lead to the same.

Curbing the Cravings

There are many reasons why women crave chocolate in addition to some men. One reason is that chocolate is full of ingredients that promote a feeling of wellness in the body, making the individual feel better emotionally. There are chemicals in chocolate that are mood enhancers, such as phenylethylamine. This chemical is similar to an amphetamine so that when an individual eats chocolate there are certain 'good' feelings produced. Some researchers claim that this chemical in chocolate causes the brain in women to release mesolimbic dopamine, which is what peaks during orgasm for women.

There are several ways that women and men can curb the dark chocolate cravings, even with the drug induced draw that chocolate has. One way is to trick the brain into thinking about something else. Since cravings usually only last about twenty minutes, if the individual can distract the mind for about that long then the craving will go away. Since part of the draw in dark chocolate cravings is for that feeling of euphoria, the individual can participate in some activities that will simulate this good feeling, such as exercise. By getting out of the house, the person not only removes himself from the place where he can access the chocolate, but he also is getting exercise that can stimulate the production of serotonin, which causes that feeling called the 'runner's high.' By distracting the mind, removing the temptation and creating another means to the 'good feelings' that the chocolate produces, the individual is better able to resist the dark chocolate cravings. In addition, he can let himself indulge every once in awhile in a low fat substitute for dark chocolate, or limit the amount consumed, such as eating only one dark chocolate Hershey's Kiss.

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