Craving Chocolate? Here's What Your Body Might Be Telling You

1. You're Dehydrated

You might be craving chocolate because you're dehydrated. Dehydration is when your body doesn't have enough fluid, either from not drinking enough or losing fluid through sweat.

Being dehydrated can make you feel hungry, especially for sweet foods like chocolate, because it's harder for your body to access stored glucose (sugar) in a dehydrated state.

Eating chocolate that contains added sugars can give you a quick hit of sugar that replenishes your energy.

2. You're Stressed

Feeling stressed can make some people crave chocolate. Chocolate tastes good, and for many people, it's a "comfort" food associated with good memories and enjoyment.

You might reach for chocolate when you're stressed because you've psychologically linked chocolate (something that makes you feel good) as a solution to feeling bad.

As you imagine how good chocolate makes you feel, you build up a craving compared to how bad you feel currently. Scientists call this the elaborated intrusion theory of desire.

3. Your Senses Are Stimulated

For some people, a chocolate craving is activated by external cues, such as passing by a bakery or seeing an advertisement for chocolate.

External cues can trigger intrusive thoughts about chocolate, which you might elaborate on with the help of your senses of sight, taste, and smell. For example, as you pass by a bakery, you might involuntarily imagine how chocolate tastes or the feeling of biting into a chocolate bar.

Combined with real and imagined senses, these thoughts can cause a chocolate craving.

4. You're Actually Craving Sugar

Chocolate—especially milk and white chocolate—contains high levels of sugar. Scientists don't agree on whether sugar is addictive, but they do know that it activates the reward pathways in the brain, which can trigger cravings.

In other words, you might be craving chocolate because you associate it with sugar.

Consider the sugar quantities in the following chocolate bars:

• Kit Kat (2.8 oz): 42.7 grams (g)

• Snickers (2 oz): 28.8 g

• Twix (2 oz): 27.5 g

• 70-85% dark chocolate (3.5 oz): 24.2 g

If you struggle with chocolate cravings, consider eating dark chocolate or choosing low-sugar or sugar-free alternatives to help curb the cravings.

5. You're Tired

Chocolate contains caffeine, so there's a chance that you might be craving it because of the energy boost you typically get from caffeinated foods and drinks.

Milk chocolate and white chocolate contain relatively low levels of caffeine compared to dark chocolate.

See the table below to get a sense of how dark chocolate's caffeine compares to common caffeinated beverages.

6. You're Being Influenced By Your Culture

You've probably heard the stereotype about women craving chocolate on their periods (or you've experienced it yourself). While this stereotype is common in the United States, it's rare elsewhere.

Some scientists believe this craving isn't due to biological reasons (the theories on hormonal imbalances and nutritional deficiencies have been disproven), but rather is something ingrained in the culture.

In one study, significantly more U.S.-born women (32.7%) than foreign-born women (17.3%) experienced menstrual chocolate cravings. A greater association with U.S. culture was also linked to higher rates of chocolate craving. The researchers theorized that craving chocolate during your period is connected to cultural stories and expectations.

Chocolate Nutrition

Chocolate comes in different percentages, based on how much cacao is present. Lower percentage chocolate contains higher amounts of milk and sugar, making it less healthy.

Dark chocolate contains 50% cacao and above, offering slightly more nutritional benefits.

You'll find the following nutrients in one 3.5 ounce bar of 70-85% dark chocolate:

• Calories: 604 kilocalories (kcal)

• Fat: 43 grams (g)

• Protein: 7.87 g

• Carbohydrates: 46.4 g

• Fiber: 11 g

• Sugar: 24.2 g

• Iron: 12 mg

• Magnesium: 230 mg

• Potassium: 722 mg

• Phosphorus: 311 mg

• Manganese: 1.97 mg

• Copper: 1.79 mg

• Caffeine: 80.8 mg

How to Stop Chocolate Cravings

It can be frustrating to crave chocolate, especially if you want to lose weight or eat a healthier diet. Here are some ways to curb your chocolate cravings:

• Practice mindfulness: Try practicing mindfulness by focusing on how your body feels in the moment. Are you truly hungry, or are you thirsty? Do you need chocolate or something else?

• Distract yourself: Try distracting yourself with another activity to fade the craving.

• Drink plenty of water: Dehydration can cause you to crave sweet foods like chocolate, so drink plenty of water.

• Cut out high-sugar foods: While it's unclear whether sugar is addictive, it doesn't hurt to avoid sugary foods, like candies and sodas, to help turn off your sugar cravings.

• Switch to dark chocolate: Aim for 50% dark chocolate and above, with higher cacao content and less sugar and milk.

• Use aromatherapy: Sweet smells may make you crave chocolate more, whereas fresh or savory smells can help dial down your chocolate craving. Try carrying an aromatherapy dropper or roller to use when a craving hits.

Key Takeaways

• Dehydration can cause chocolate cravings because your body needs access to sugar.

• Feeling stressed, tired, or smelling something sweet can also make you crave chocolate.

• Some chocolate cravings, particularly the classic pre-menstrual craving, may actually be due to culture rather than biology.