When you have blood sugar concerns, you’re constantly trying to ignore sugar. But it’s all around us in the American diet! Even when you cut down on processed foods and cook meals from scratch, snacks, drinks and sweets are all around to tempt us.

Many of us attribute our sugar cravings to habit, addiction or hunger. But it might not be as clear cut as that. It could be that increasing the amount of magnesium in your diet could be the key to cutting those cravings. Up to 80 percent of people in America are magnesium deficient.

“Because chocolate is high in magnesium, it’s been suggested that a deficiency may play a role in these cravings,” said Dr. Susan Yanovski. “This is a research area that needs more investigation, but it does present an intriguing possibility in terms of what might be the underlying cause of these cravings.”

A long-term magnesium deficiency can lead to an array of medical problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, weak bones and blood sugar concerns. And magnesium boosts your immune system. The good news is that magnesium is found in high amounts in a lot of healthy foods. You can reach your daily recommended value through healthy eating. Beans, seeds, nuts, fruit, leafy greens and fish can all be excellent magnesium sources.

Besides making you crave sugar, a lack of magnesium can leave you with lower energy levels. While fatigue can be a sign that you need a rest, persistent fatigue without a physical cause may be a sign of a medical problem and a reason to speak to your doctor. Magnesium deficiency can also lead to mental health problems likes apathy, depression and possibly anxiety.

With everything being topsy-turvy around us, we take every opportunity to help ourselves find ways to boost our wellbeing. Knowing that 80 percent of us suffer from a deficiency without realizing it, we’ll take a boost. It is available as a supplement, but it’s so easy to find in foods that there isn’t much need for a supplement unless you don’t enjoy any magnesium-rich foods. And, even if you aren’t a fan of any of the foods, we always think spinach is one of the easiest veggies to hide: you can sneak it into meatloaf. Parents have been doing it for their children for decades, and you can do it for yourself!