So when’s the last time you craved chocolate?
Let me guess… yesterday!? Or maybe it was like 5 minutes ago?
Chocolate is such a delicious and indulgent treat, but more than anything, we tend to crave it and eat it because of our sugar cravings (or shall I say, addiction!)
Giving up sugar isn’t easy and managing sugar cravings are damn hard. I mean, it’s consuming and often times we can obsess over sugar and chocolate all day long.
And let’s face it, when your PMS comes roaring it’s big head, it’s hard not to want chocolate.
Many of my clients tell me how they just can’t kick their chocolate habit around their period. I totally get it! Been there and done that and trust me, I still eat chocolate around my period. A girls gotta go what a girls gotta do!
And I love how marketing companies are catching on to our chocolate habit by displaying chocolate bars and goodies by the tampons and pads!
So here’s the thing…
If you’re craving chocolate around your period, you’re not alone and know that it isn’t just some stereotype. You body is not just craving sugar, but magnesium.
Magnesium is essential for our bodies to function properly; it helps boost our immune system, keeps our bones strong, balances blood sugar levels, eases anxiety and is great for sleep.
Magnesium also helps to relax our muscles—not only the muscles in our arms, legs, and in the inner lining of our blood vessel walls, but also the muscles inside the uterus. And there’s a good chance your experiencing mild to severe cramps during your period as your uterine wall contracts.
The good news is that a serving of the dark chocolate (70% or higher) can provide about 15% of the daily recommended intake of magnesium; this percentage goes up with darker chocolate, but drops to only 8% with milk chocolate.
Chocolate is also incredibly rich in flavonols, which are potent anti-inflammatory agents. Flavonols help to decrease pain by blocking the release of pain-causing prostaglandins. As with magnesium, the amount of flavonols increases as the chocolate gets darker, so be sure to choose a high quality, organic and preferably raw source (my favourite brands are Giddy Yoyo, Sacred Chocolate and Alter Eco).
And then, there’s my 5 Minute Banish PMS Chocolate Cake, which will have you ooh-ing and ahh-ing and in chocolate heaven. Not to mention, it’s full of magnesium, gluten free, dairy free and contains the tiniest amount of sugar. I mean, if we’re gonna indulge, we mine as well make it as nutritious as possible.
I baked this goodness twice. Once in 2 mini bread pans and the second time in mini ramekins. You can bake it in a large bread pan, just increase the time. I prefer it in the mini pan/ramekins for a few reasons: 1. You eat less! It’s rich and perfectly sweet so for me, one was more than enough. 2. They’re just cuter this way 3. It help keeps the inside of the cake gooey and moist and 4. It bakes faster!
I mean, it is the 5 minute cake! It takes only 5 minutes to prepare and roughly 12-15 minutes to bake. It’s so worth the wait! Enjoy!
- 4 tablespoons coconut oil, melted and cooled
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 3 tablespoons coconut sugar
- 1/4 cup raw cacao powder (or more if you want it extra chocolatey)
- 1 tablespoon almond flour
- 1 tablespoon coconut flour
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- Preheat oven to 400F.
- Melt coconut oil and let cool.
- Meanwhile, whisk the eggs, coconut milk and coconut sugar together. Add in cooled, melted coconut oil.
- Next, mix in raw cacao powder, almond and coconut flour and combine until well incorporated.
- Place batter into either 4 small ramekins or 2 mini bread loaf pans.
- Carefully transfer to the preheated oven and bake for roughly 12-15 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and serve warm as is or with coconut ice cream on top! The inside should be soft and slightly gooey.
- *I kept the sugar to a minimum and let the richness of the cacao come out. If you feel you need a little more sweetness, feel free to add an extra tablespoon of coconut sugar or try using xylitol or stevia.
