![\"Chocolate](\"http:\/\/angelaminelli.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/food-cravings-150x150.jpg\")
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\n\tWhich came first, no one really knows, but it's safe to say that each one interacts with the other and keeps your body in a constant state of craving sugar!\n<\/p>\n
\n\tAdrenal exhaustion occurs when prolonged stress exhausts your adrenal glands of their ability to regulate cortisol effectively, effecting sleep patterns, energy levels, blood sugar stability, aging, and more, while Candida is<\/span> a yeastlike fungus<\/strong> <\/strong>that lives in your digestive tract and eats undigested sugars and carbs before they hit your bloodstream. <\/span>\n<\/p>\n \n\t[bctt tweet=”About 15% of the overall bacteria in your digestive tract is Candida and it serves a very important purpose,”] however antibiotics found in prescription drugs, factory-farmed meat, and milk – even unfiltered water – kill off the good bacteria your gut <\/span>needs and allows candida to proliferate out of control. <\/span>\n<\/p>\n \n\tBirth control pills and other prescription medications affect the<\/span> delicate balance of your gut as well and unless<\/span> you correct it, you'll experience symptoms such as vaginitis, thrush, athlete’s foot, skin irritations, moodiness, violent outbursts, depression, anxiety, and even sugar cravings!<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \n\tOver 80% of Americans are so stressed, have such poor digestive health and eat so much sugar that they also develop a condition called hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, and the one thing that will quickly fix low blood sugar in the short term is sugar itself, which is why you crave it. It metabolizes quickly in your mouth,<\/strong> giving you a quick burst of energy, driving blood sugar back up and preventing you from ultimately passing out.\n<\/p>\n \n\tIt all leads to a vicious cycle. Yet one alternative you can try instead of refined sugar to combat cravings is any form of natural sweetener such as stevia, agave or brown rice syrup, all of which have lower glycemic indexes and don’t impact your blood system like sugar does, thereby keeping your pancreas stable as well as insulin production .<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \n\tToo much insulin too often will tax your pancreas and send your blood sugar skyrocketing,<\/strong> then crashing, leading to more severe blood sugar imbalances over time such as diabetes, however there are plenty of foods available made with natural sweeteners such as raw chocolate. Made with raw cacao, it's how all chocolate starts off, yet when candy manufacturers get their hands on it, it becomes junk food.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n\tWhen raw chocolate is made however, it's cooked at a low temperature, ensuring all the indigenous vitamins, minerals and enzymes needed to nourish your body remain intact. It's loaded with magnesium too which is good for heart and brain health; neurotransmitters that regulate mood, sleep, and appetite; and has the most antioxidants of any food on earth, making it one of the world's healthiest superfoods as well as the perfect, guilt-free way to overcome persistent food cravings.\n<\/div>\n\n\t \n<\/div>\n\n\tRaw chocolate is also made with agave, which is sweeter than refined sugar but won’t produce more cravings for sugar like sugar does due to its low GI of 30, so it's great at keeping your blood sugar stable Just make sure you shop for raw, organic agave, otherwise it's too refined and is the same as eating refined white sugar. \n<\/div>\n\n\tSo the next time you want to beat yourself up because you have a craving, understand it's your body's way of talking to you and become a detective. Figure out what it wants and if it's something sweet, try something like raw chocolate. It does way less damage than sugary candy does, and is actually good for you, therefore no guilt neccessary!\n<\/div>\n\n\t \n<\/div>\n\n\tI<\/span>'d love to know your thoughts! Leave feedback on the blog, plus be sure to download my free raw chocolate recipe guide with 10+ free raw chocolate recipes! Just click below.\n<\/div>\n\n\t \n<\/div>\n\n\t![](\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/LFTMBPZgxSN4fzkSIyWYonV6xx968F0quk2zmqnBXCBo4KOVws9Wd6_hJSRpo25qT9XQQmrO8vjPnHrmpJVKMS8=s0\")