Thinking of food cravings might bring to mind a pregnant woman yearning for pickles and ice cream, but cravings can hit anyone, anytime.
Research shows nearly everyone experiences them occasionally, and nearly all of us have experienced a craving at least once in the past year.
As the old Pringles tagline goes, “Once you pop, you can’t stop!†and you know it’s true, you can’t eat just one or two cookies, or just one handful of chips, before you know it, the whole package is gone.
The interesting thing about food cravings is they might be your body’s way of trying to let you know you need something.
Most people get intense cravings for junk food at some point in their lives, and some of us experience these cravings frequently.
Problem is, giving in to cravings and eating the desired food doesn’t always satisfy the craving. Why is this?
Research is showing that many cravings are an indication that your body is lacking in certain minerals that can be found in the desired food, though these foods are not the best source of these minerals.
By knowing what your cravings are trying to tell you, and knowing what healthy foods are better sources of these minerals, you may be able to ease your cravings without going overboard on junk.
Here are some common cravings and what your body is trying to tell you. If you are craving:
Chocolate
You are lacking in magnesium. It’s no coincidence that chocolate is the most common craving in the US, and magnesium the most common deficiency.
Instead of chocolate, consider raw cacao, nuts, seeds, veggies (especially leafy greens), fruits, fish, beans, and blackstrap molasses are all rich in magnesium and should satisfy your chocolate craving.
Sugar
Cravings for sugary foods can be tricky because they can be signal a need for any of several different minerals, particularly chromium, phosphorus, sulfur, carbon, or tryptophan.
If you’ve been experiencing sugar cravings, the best approach is to improve your diet all around with plenty of fresh fruits, veggies, poultry, and fish.
- Grapes, cheese, and chicken are good sources of chromium.
- For more carbon, opt for fresh fruits.
- To get some phosphorus, go with chicken, beef, fatty fish, dairy, nuts, eggs, veggies, and whole grains.
- Cranberries, horseradish, cauliflower, and cabbage are excellent sources of sulphur.
- Finally, sweet potatoes, raisins, cheese, and spinach are a great way to get some tryptophan.
Refined Carbs
If you can’t seem to get enough bread and pasta, you’re suffering from a nitrogen deficiency. Nitrogen is a vital component of protein and a nitrogen deficiency can lead to a protein deficiency, which can cause malnutrition.
If you’re craving refined carbs, choose white meat, nuts, beans, chia seeds, or other high protein foods instead.
Fatty Foods
Calcium deficiency can cause cravings for oily or fatty foods. Go with leafy greens or organic dairy products instead.
Salty Foods
If you can’t stop munching on chips or other salty foods, you’re lacking in either chloride or silicon. Fish, nuts, and seeds are good sources of these minerals.
