Chocolate addiction.........

[Indi]

After a pretty rocky transition (this time around) I no longer have cravings for cooked food.

The only thing that stops me eating 100% is the addition of vegan chocolate to my diet.

Four or five days before my period, I crave CHOCOLATE.
I still continue to eat it for a couple of days then the craving just goes.
Nothing else hits the spot.
I have tried all sorts of substitutes.
It has to be Dark Vegan plain chocolate.

I took a magnesium supplement over the past two months, but still craved the chocolate.
I have thought about trying raw chocolate, but would rather kick the stuff altogether.

I am wondering if it may be a deficiency as the craving is so strong.
I previously ate a totally raw diet for over six months last year, so i know i can live without chocolate.

I exercise regularly.
My stress levels are temporarily high at the moment. The chocolate appears to offer some temporary comfort.

Maybe i will just have to go with this for a while, as compared to my previous diet, im doing very well!

My current diet is very light and simple.
It consists of lots of green smoothies, green juices, salads, fruits, flax crackers and water.

I make the occasional dehydrated foods, ice cream and RP's brownies.

I just feel a bit stuck and feel that the chocolate addiction is holding me back from the amazing benefits i have previously experienced on a totally raw diet.

I really do need some help with this issue
Any ideas raw family?

[Shmoopie]

I don't have any ideas other than just stopping, but I wanted to ask: why not raw cacao? It's good for ya. It'd replace that magnesium supplement and has some other good stuff in it.

Not trying to change your mind, just curious.

[tvillemom]

I have the same addiction. I am going to try using raw cacao (right now I'm using organic cocoa) in recipes mixed 1/2 with raw carob....trying to cut down on the amount of caffeine...but still get the chocolate benefits. Maybe you could try this. I personally don't think cacao is all that bad. Sounds like your doing GREAT with the other foods. Don't beat yourself up about the other!!
Wendi

[bittersweet]

First of all, give yourself a hug for eating more healthily than 99.9% of the population.

Then try to decrease the amount of chocolate that you eat, if only very, very slowly.

See if you can get to the root of the addiction. Is it a mental thing? Maybe you can find out.

[Shmoopie]

Indi, maybe it's partly a caffeine thing too...?

[Indi]

Thanks for your replies.
Shmoopie, hmm...it may be a caffeine thing, however, i can go a couple of weeks without touching the stuff, then the craving returns.


bittersweet. Im not beating myself up over this!
Its just a pattern or habit that I would like some insight into in order that I can work to eliminate it.
I dont know if its a mental thing. It feels like its maybe triggered by hormonal changes.
I never encountered this problem whilst previously raw.

tvillemom, glad im not on my own!
I cut out tea again four months ago. It was a real struggle, severe tea withdrawal symptoms! Like you i have been using cocoa in recipes in order to cut back.

Im really happy with my current diet.
I just know that i would feel better if i wasnt craving chocolate for about ten days a month!

I know that just not eating chocolate wont be an option for me.
If I tell myself that I cant have certain foods, then i want them even more!
I will have to find a substitute or find out whats causing this addiction.

Maybe I just have to give myself a little more time to allow my body to naturally resolve this issue :)

[SparklePlenty]

Try RawPriestess' raw brownies. Omigosh, they're amazing.

1 cup pitted dates, not soaked
1 cup walnuts
1/4 cup raw cocoa (I use more like 1/3 cup cuz I love chocolate too)

Process in food processor til it almost holds into a ball. Press into a pan, Freeze, then cut into squares and put back in freezer. I make them in quantity and for me, they do satisfy.

[Sharon in Colorado]

If you think you are addicted to it, and the rest of your diet is really great, it may be the very thing that is holding you back from achieving the health you want.

I KNOW I'm addicted to it, I realize there are compounds and such in there that everyone talks about, but I really don't think it's necessarily going to give me some kind of optimal health that fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds won't give me. I just don't see chocolate, cocoa or cacao as "healthy" or "health promoting".

Also we have to look at the whole source. Health experts say wine and coffee have all these great things in them, but the alcohol and caffeine are not conducive to health.

Surely things like poison oak and belladonna have all kinds of nutrients in them, but are they really meant for human consumption? I can almost see scientists and labs taking nutrients from these toxic plants and encapsulating them (if they haven't already) for our "health".

[trinity082482]

I hear that a strong crave for chocolate is caused by lack of sexual intimacy LOL.. Just something I heard. :D

[trinity082482]

Try RawPriestess' raw brownies. Omigosh, they're amazing.

1 cup pitted dates, not soaked
1 cup walnuts
1/4 cup raw cocoa (I use more like 1/3 cup cuz I love chocolate too)

Process in food processor til it almost holds into a ball. Press into a pan, Freeze, then cut into squares and put back in freezer. I make them in quantity and for me, they do satisfy.


Oh yes very much so!~ I love these my self. I love them with the icing on top :D Piggy me. :p

[Indi]

SparklePlenty, thanks for the brownie recipe
I did list in my original post that I make RP's brownies.
The whole family loves them!
They are great.
I originally made them with organic cocoa, then eventually carob.

Sharon in Colorado
It feels like an addiction at the moment.
I love the sense of calm that a RV diet brings.
I know that adding this chocolate stimulant is interfering with the balance and holding me back from achiving that fantastic sense of wellbeing.

Its so disruptive!
I am also concerned tat it might lead to other bad food choices further down the road, so I would like to nip this in the bud now that i have identified whats happening.

It seems that i have two choices, try and go 'cold turkey' or
Maybe I just need to give my body more time to adjust to a totally raw diet again then things will even themselves out. :)

[Missrawdiva]

You could always make from Rawvulotions book his carob coconut haystacks! To me they taste like milk chocolate and they are DELICIOUS!
Here are the ingrediants: 1/2 cup carob, 3cups shredded unsweetened coconut, 3/4 cup of coconut oil, and 1/2 cup of raw agave nector.

[Indi]

I dont think that eating RP's brownies will lead to other bad habits.. I eat them every day.. heck, a few times a day! I love the fact that raw cocao is an appeitite suppresent! That is why I eat them before I go to the gym! You could always make from Rawvulotions book his carob coconut haystacks! To me they taste like milk chocolate and they are DELICIOUS!


Hey!
This post is about chocolate addiction NOT RP'S Brownies!!!!!!!!
If you read my post you would know that i am also a fan of RP's Brownies.

If you read my original post you would also understand that i have indeed been taking a magnesium supplement for the past two months in order to correct the possible low magnesium levels often( as you pointed out) attributed to women craving chocolate during their period.

As i'm still craving chocolate, i thought i would set up this thread to see if others could offer any advice.
Thanks for the coconut haystack recipe. I will give it a try! :)

[VeryBerry]

I was not craving chocolate or sweets when I firts went raw. Then I tried raw coco just for fun, and the cravings really kicked in again. For me having healthy raw treats just makes me want to have more of them.

You can try eating more greens (green juice), or eating seaweed. It supposed to remineralize the body. This is what I plan to do to stop cravings.

[Sharon in Colorado]

Indi maybe you should just try doing some of these recipes using raw carob powder. Chocolate and cocoa and cacao are from the same source. But carob is completely different.

It sounds like you really need help out of this, and it may not be appropriate for others to tell you that cacao has all these "good" and "beneficial" things in in it if you are dealing with an addiction and asking for help out of this. Just my take on it, not to offend anyone else here. :)

So I suggest trying stuff with carob. You'll love my tahini truffles:

Tahini Truffles
by Sharon Oliver
www.rawstepbystep.com

1 cup raw sesame tahini
½-3/4 cup raw honey, or to taste
½ cup raw carob powder

Sesame seeds for coating

Place tahini, honey and carob powder in a food processor with the S blade in place. Pulse a few times, and then run until a dough forms. Alternately, this can be mixed by hand in a large bowl.

Roll into little balls and then coat with sesame seeds.

Chill until firm.

[Indi]

Hi Sharon, thanks for sharing your recipe.

You are right, its not helpful for others to highlight the 'perceived' benefits of chocolate.
Its up to others what they choose to eat.

I know that eating chocolate is not in my best interest.
It interferes with that amazing chilled out balanced state that i have previously experienced on a totally RV diet.
If i hadn't been raw before (without eating chocolate) then maybe i would not have been able to identify that chocolate has this effect on me.

If i make a cooked food choice, I can just move on, but if I eat chocolate i just crave the stuff for the rest of the day.
I'm pretty sure its hormone related.

Thanks again for the recipe sharon :)

[trinity082482]

You could always make from Rawvulotions book his carob coconut haystacks! To me they taste like milk chocolate and they are DELICIOUS!
Here are the ingrediants: 1/2 cup carob, 3cups shredded unsweetened coconut, 3/4 cup of coconut oil, and 1/2 cup of raw agave nector.


do those go in the fridge and stay in the fridge when not eaten? :o

[Ariannah]

I know I am addicted to it, I may not be eating nearly as much of it, and the nature of it may be waaaaay healthier than what I used to eat, but I'm not kidding myself.

It's going to go sometime, but not yet... I ain't ready ;-) haha

[jaurequi]

I am wondering if it may be a deficiency as the craving is so strong.
I previously ate a totally raw diet for over six months last year, so i know i can live without chocolate.

I exercise regularly.
My stress levels are temporarily high at the moment. The chocolate appears to offer some temporary comfort.

This is probably a reason. "Stress" is generally attributed to a myriad of things depending on the individual. I think working on this would be best whether or not it actually eliminates the chocolate cravings.



My current diet is very light and simple.
It consists of lots of green smoothies, green juices, salads, fruits, flax crackers and water.

I make the occasional dehydrated foods, ice cream and RP's brownies.


You may need more fat in your diet. Your preferred way is getting it through chocolate (like many people!:)); so try adding more good fats to your diet through a variety of nuts and seeds. Occasional brownies isn't daily fat. I would make sure to get sufficient DHA by consuming fats rich in Essential Fatty Acids, such as flax and hemp every day (1 to 2 TB ground flax is best).

Some people do well with more fat; some with less. You should try adding more, again, especially essential fatty acids. (I'm not suggesting excess)
You mentioned comfort associated with the chocolate, so there may be some emotions or, as you mentioned, stress issues, you have to deal with.

Best,

[Indi]

jaurequi

Thanks for your post.



This is probably a reason. "Stress" is generally attributed to a myriad of things depending on the individual. I think working on this would be best whether or not it actually eliminates the chocolate cravings.


You may need more fat in your diet. Your preferred way is getting it through chocolate (like many people!:)); so try adding more good fats to your diet through a variety of nuts and seeds. Occasional brownies isn't daily fat. I would make sure to get sufficient DHA by consuming fats rich in Essential Fatty Acids, such as flax and hemp every day (1 to 2 TB ground flax is best).

Some people do well with more fat; some with less. You should try adding more, again, especially essential fatty acids. (I'm not suggesting excess)
You mentioned comfort associated with the chocolate, so there may be some emotions or, as you mentioned, stress issues, you have to deal with.

Best,

Stress is a huge issue,
I meditate, eat well and exercise, this is just a rocky time that I appear have to have go through just now.
The cause is outside of my control! I'm working on the way i deal with it!!!!!

As regards fat, I agree.
My natural fat intake is low, as i am probably choosing to obtain it from chocolate!!!
I have been looking through my old food diaries.
I did eat more fat in the form of nuts, avocado and dehydrated goodies.
I have started to reintroduce a little more fat.

Thanks again for posting, I appreciate your thoughts on this matter.

[jaurequi]

jaurequi

Thanks for your post.




Stress is a huge issue,
I meditate, eat well and exercise, this is just a rocky time that I appear have to have go through just now.
The cause is outside of my control! I'm working on the way i deal with it!!!!!

As regards fat, I agree.
My natural fat intake is low, as i am probably choosing to obtain it from chocolate!!!
I have been looking through my old food diaries.
I did eat more fat in the form of nuts, avocado and dehydrated goodies.
I have started to reintroduce a little more fat.

Thanks again for posting, I appreciate your thoughts on this matter.

Oh, that's great you kept a diary! Those come in handy :)

Sorry about the stress, but I wish you well. You'll get through it :)

Best,