Have you experienced a sudden, strong urge to eat a very specific type of food? You’re not alone, as more than 90% of people have reported having the sensentation. The cause for these cravings can vary widely, from something as simple as seeing an ad for said food item to fluctuation of hormones.
While the cause of cravings can vary, the item of said cravings can actually be a good tell tale for what it going on internally. Sometimes it can indicate a lack of a certain vitamin, other times can be telling of your emotional health.
Read on to find out what these extremely common food cravings actually say about your current health.
Sweets
A strong craving for sweets may indicate blood sugar fluctuation, but giving into it with chocolate, candy, cake, and other sugary goodies will only make the problem worse. Instead choose a fruit with natural sugar that will calm the craving and stabilize your blood sugar.
Comfort Food
Feeling blue and looking for comfort food? Sometimes nostalgic cravings for comfort food indicate a psychological ailment instead of a nutritional one. Try to get your mood up before you scarf down some mashed potatoes or chicken pot pie. Go outside, workout, or call up an old friend.
Ice
A sudden craving for ice signifies low blood hemoglobin, or iron. Often pregnant women ask for ice because their bodies are anemic. Ice helps to alleviate the pain and inflammation caused by low iron levels in the blood.
Crunchy Snacks
Munching on nuts is good for your health but constantly craving something crunchy could indicate a lot of inner frustration. Chewing and crunching on food alleviates irritation, but the feeling returns once the crunching stops. If you feel a little stressed try deep breathing or meditation.
Chocolate
Chocolate cravings could mean magnesium deficiency. But here’s the good news. When you’re craving chocolate, eat it! Just make sure you reach for dark chocolate because it is low in sugar and high in antioxidants. Additionally, eat foods that are high in magnesium like nuts, fish, and leafy greens.
Salty Foods
A craving for potato chips, pretzels, or popcorn is usually brought on by stress. Chronic stress starts to take a toll of your adrenal glands, which give you energy and help cope with stress. The trick is to work hard to manage your stress. Try meditation, exercise, or breathing techniques before you binge on a salty snack.
Red Meat
This one is not very surprising. A craving for red meat, like burgers or steak, indicates an iron deficiency. Not enough iron can lead to fatigue, lowered immune health, and weakness. Beans, legumes, spinach, and dried fruit will stop that craving in its tracks.
Cheese
If you feel a need for cheese it might be a sign of a fatty acid deficiency. This is very common since few people actually get the recommended dose of omega-3 fatty acids. Reach for raw almonds, flaxseeds, or salmon.
Bread
If you crave bread, toast, or pasta, it could indicate a nitrogen deficiency. Important hormones and chemicals that control metabolic activities and basic cell functions contain a lot of nitrogen. Restore your nitrogen levels with high-protein foods like nuts, seeds, beans, and green leafy vegetables.
Soda
A strong craving for fizzy soft drinks could mean that your body needs more calcium. Instead of giving into your craving and reaching for a drink that is packed with sugar, try munching on sesame seeds, broccoli, or kale.
Coffee Or Tea
Sometime craving coffee or tea doesn’t just mean you need your caffeine fix. It could also indicate a sulfur or iron deficiency. Add more leafy greens to your diet like kale, spinach, and cabbage, and be sure to consume more Vitamin C for better iron absorption.