may be at work in food cravings  especially carbohydrate/sugar cravings.

Five minerals (and their co-factors) are critical for adequate blood sugar control: chromium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and vanadium.

Manganese is also associated with sugar and fat metabolism.

Magnesium is part of over three hundred enzymes in the body , helping control glucose metabolism, and participates in the regulation of insulin.⁽¹⁾

Interestingly, clinicians often note that magnesium deficiency leads to sugar cravings and chocolate cravings that disappear as soon as magnesium levels are brought back to normal. Because large amounts of magnesium are found in the hippocampus (the “emotional, thought and memory center of the brain”), ⁽²⁾ deficiencies may form the emotional environment which encourages carbohydrate cravings.

Stress triggers chocolate cravings, which may in turn be related to noradrenaline and dopamine levels in the brain.

Dopamine has been called the “pleasure neurotransmitter” and evidence shows that dopamine is a magnesium-dependent neurotransmitter.  It is possible that low levels of magnesium trigger low levels in dopamine in the brain, possibly triggering desires for chocolate as a biological attempt to increase dopamine and thus increase pleasure.

Magnesium recommended DV  is (400 mg/day).

Zinc is also essential to blood sugar regulation by influencing carbohydrate metabolism, increasing insulin response, and improving glucose tolerance. Zinc influences basal metabolic rate, thyroid hormone activity, and improves taste sensitivity.⁽⁹⁾

The average American diet is deficient in these minerals.

A lack of this important mineral can cause insomnia, depression, fatigue, migraines, anxiety, hyperactivity, panic attacks, premenstrual irritability, attention deficit disorder, bladder problems, fibromyalgia, asthma, allergies, palpitations, heart arrhythmias, and more.

Correcting mineral deficiencies can go a long way toward helping the frustrated dieter control her impulses to eat something sweet, something fatty, or something devoid of nutrition in an attempt to satisfy an inner compulsion.

Magnesium Sources

The best way to get enough magnesium is to eat a variety of whole foods, including whole grains, nuts, seeds and vegetables. Cashews, almonds and sunflower seeds are an excellent source of magnesium (go trail mix!).

Seaweed untreated sea salt and liquid mineral supplements are other good sources.

• The USCA “Best of Local Business” Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.
• I am pleased to announce that Community Acupuncture Clinic has been selected for the 2011 Best of Boulder Award in the Acupuncturists category by the US Commerce Association (USCA). 
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• I’m sure that your selection as a 2011 Award Winner is a reflection of the hard work of not only yourself, but of many people that have supported your business and contributed to the subsequent success of your organization. Congratulations on your selection to such an elite group of small businesses.

2-3 table spoons of freshly ground flax seeds daily in some juice or yoghurt , moistens and moves the bowls. Available in the fridge at Vitamin cottage. Keep refrigerated, and grind freshly in a small clean electric coffee mill.

A teaspoon of live Apple sider vinegar, (Braggs company)  or a teaspoon of lemon, lime juice, added to a tall glass of warm water first thing in the morning, supports the liver’s cleaning function and balances the body’s PH.

A cup of Nettle tea a day, cleanses the blood and supply’s the body with minerals. Available in Vitamin cottage in bulk herbs. Very inexpensive. Just take 2-3 table spoons and pour boiling water over. Let steep for 10 minutes. Enjoy hot or cold.

Utah liquid minerals, available at Vitamin Cottage, one teaspoon in a glass of water daily, good for hair, skin, nails and more

Dry roast 1/2  cup of fennel seeds till fragrant, let cool. Add 2-3 table spoons cardamon seeds, mix well and chew 1 teaspoon of mixture after meals. This helps easy digestion, eliminates gas and decreases phlegm.

Shaking the whole body with some fun music 10 to 15 minutes a day increases well being, releases stress, helps Lymph flow and feels awesome.

Keeping the feet warm is essential for the shoulders to relax and the whole body to be well.

Don’t surrender your loneliness
So quickly.
Let it cut more deep.

Let it ferment and season you
As few human
Or even divine ingredients can.

Something missing in my heart tonight
Has made my eyes so soft,
My voice
So tender,

My need of God
Absolutely
Clear.

I saw the following on a mailing, and had heard this before. It might be interesting to check out.

Be aware if a label says “sugar free”

Aspatame, marketed as ‘Nutra Sweet’, ‘Equal’, and ‘Spoonful’

Why Aspartame is so dangerous: When the temperature of this sweetener exceeds 86 degrees the wood alcohol in ASARTAME converts into formaldehyde and then to formic acid, which in turn causes metabolic acidosis. Formic acid is the poison found in the sting of fire ants. The metabolic toxicity mimics, among other conditions, multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus.

It is also suspect that the Aspartame in thousands of pellets of diet soda’s consumed by men and women fighting the Gulf War, may be partially to blame for the well-known Gulf War Syndrome.

Besides carbonated drinks are known to deplete the body of calcium and are bad for the environment, (cans,trash)

Recently on I heard that in order to get the same nutritional value , eating fresh corn today, one has to eat 16 times the amount of it, then 80 years ago.

The same is probably true for many of our  foods,  altered from their original form, to feed all of us in this overpopulated world.

Wheat used to contain a lot more protein, and through altering, to get a bigger  harvest, it  now mostly contains starch and gluten. These changes might contribute to so many allergy’s.

I wonder sometimes, even when I go into a health food store, how it is possible to get so many apples to look exactly the same, in color, size and shape, without a mark. And still be organic? When I was a kid,  apples came in all kind of odd shapes, tastes and textures, often with some wiggly thing living  inside.

What happens to all those apples, and all the different kinds we used to eat?

I still believe it is important to eat organic and local. Seeing Kirlean Photography pictures of water and foods there is a huge difference between fresh organic foods and non organic, traveled from afar. See some samples here:

There is so much more life in the foods grown without pesticides and artificial fertilizers. As our body’s energy’s and functioning depends on our food and water intake, the more lively the food is the better the energy is, we get from it.

Today many of us living here in the western world, do not get enough minerals in our diet. It might be a good idea to supplement with some sea minerals. If we are lucky, we have good drinking water. If possible it is good to avoid drinking chlorinated tap water.

I any case it is always the best to eat foods as they grow naturally, instead of processed items. Knowing where our food is coming from is difficult these days, but if possible eating locally grown foods, protects the environment supports farmers and gives us fresh produce.

Animals that are kept in spacious surroundings and fed good natural foods, are a better choice for the ones that enjoy meat eggs and dairy.

After all “guten Appetit”