What Are Your

Food Cravings
Telling You?

W h a t Are Your Food Cravin gs Te lling Yo u ?

Food cravings may speak volumes about your

o v e ra l l health. I n f a ct, ce rtain food c ra ving s

indicate that you may be missing out on key

n u t ri e n ts , vitamins and mine ra ls in your e v ery d ay

diet.

N o w, l e t ’s t a k e a l o o k a t s e v e n c o m m o n f o o d

cravings, along with tips to treat some of the

d i e t a ry def iciencies a ssoc ia te d with the se

cravings.

1. C h o c o l a t e

Re c e n t res ear ch indica te s that c hocola te c rav i n g s

affect approximately 15% of men and 40% of

w o m e n, accor ding to Veryw e l l Mi nd.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, r e s e a r c h s h o w s t h a t i n m o s t o f

these instances, people need an immediate

chocolate fix to fulfill their craving.

Ch o c o l ate cr avings some time s oc cur due to a

magnesium deficiency. Yet chocolate is usually

h i g h i n calor ies , and ea ting it to ove rc ome a

magnesium deficiency may result in weight gain.

I f y o u continue to consume choc olate at a hi g h

r at e , i t may incr eas e your risk of ca rdiova s cu l ar

d i se a s e and other long-te rm hea lth proble m s , t o o .

To m a n age a chocol a t e c ra v i n g , ad d a s p o onful of

cocoa powder to a smoothie or oatmeal. This

o ffe rs a quick- f ix to sa tisfy a choc olate crav i n g .

Plus, it enables you to boost your magnesium

levels and reduce the risk of future chocolate

cravings.

2. S u g a r

Let’s face it – sugar cravings are problematic,

p a rt i c u lar ly f or people who a re trying to man ag e

their weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

U n f o r t u n a t e l y, s u g a r c r a v i n g s m a y o c c u r w i t h o u t

n o t i c e . Per haps w orst of all, sugar c ra vings m ay

lead a person to snack on candy, pastries and

o t h e r h igh- calor ie trea ts.

Sugar cravings are commonly associated with a

b l o o d sugar im balanc e. The y ma y also occ u r d u e

to a deficiency of chromium, magnesium and

o t h e r miner als in the body, as well as

d e h y d ration.

I f y o u exper ience a sugar c ra ving, snac k on fru i t ,

as this provides a healthy alternative to candy

and other sweet treats. Furthermore, since a sugar

craving may be related to dehydration, drinking a

g l a s s o f w ater m ay he lp you ove rc ome you r

craving.

3. S a l t

P e o p l e s o m e t i m e s e x p e r i e n c e s u d d e n u rg e s t o

consume pretzels and other salty snacks.

H o w e v e r, t h e h i g h v o l u m e o f s a l t i n t h e s e s n a c k s

may cause a person’s blood vessels to stiffen

o v e r t i me. This ultimately ma y increa se a

p e rso n ’s r is k of s uffe ring a hea rt a ttac k, hi g h

b l o o d p r es s ur e and stroke down the line.

There is often a strong correlation between salt

cravings and stress. Meanwhile, research shows

that stress hormone fluctuations and low levels of

electrolytes in the body may trigger salt cravings

as well.

B-v i t a min r ich f oods c an pla y vita l role s in

managing salt cravings. Foods like nuts, seeds,

legumes and vegetables are loaded with B

v i t a m i ns , and they offe r proven options to h el p

b a l a n c e s tr es s hor mone s in the body. Also, y o u

can consume unflavored coconut water to quickly

increase your electrolyte levels and minimize the

impact of a salt craving.

4. R e d M e a t

Even the smell of cooked red meat may trigger an

u n c o n t rollable urge for a hamburge r, ste ak o r

o t h e r r ed meats. Ye t several observational s t u d i e s

indicate that consuming too much red meat may

increase a person’s risk of cancer and

cardiovascular disease.

Re d m e at cr avings generally occ ur due to an i ro n

d e fi c i e n cy. I n thes e instance s, people ma y feel

tired and weak, and their immune systems may be

more prone to infection and disease than ever

b e fo re .

I f y o u f ace a r ed mea t craving, c onsume bean s ,

legumes and dried fruit. These foods provide

h e a l t h y alter natives to re d me ats and ma ke i t eas y

to immediately address an iron deficiency.

5. S o d a

The urge to consume sugary soda may strike at

any time. But people who regularly consume soda

r i s k w e ight gain, obesity, blood suga r issues an d

o t h e r l o ng- las ting he alth problems.

Soda cravings often occur due to a lack of

calcium in the body. Conversely, research shows

that soda may actually interfere with the body’s

ability to absorb calcium.

Be a t i n g a s oda cr aving is ra re ly simple. In s o m e

instances, it helps to gradually transition from

r e g u l a r soda to diet varieties. You also can c u t

d o w n o n your s oda inta ke ove r the course o f

s e v e r a l w e e k s o r m o n t h s , a n d e v e n t u a l l y, s w i t c h

f r o m soda to calor ie-free fla vore d or seltz er

w a t e r.

6. C o f f e e o r Te a

A l t h o u g h t h e u rg e t o d r i n k a c u p o f c o ff e e o r t e a

to start the day may seem like a desire for

caffeine, this problem may prove to be much

more significant.

Co ffe e o r tea cr avings some time s indica te t h at a

p e rso n is dealing with an iron or sulfur

d e fi c i e n cy. I f a per son consumes several c u p s o f

coffee or tea during the day, an iron or sulfur

d e fi c i e n cy could bec ome a long-lasting hea l t h

p ro b l e m, too.

Co n s u ming a daily vitamin C supple me nt c an

h e l p a per s on bols ter his or her a bility to ab s o rb

iron. It may also be beneficial to consume

spinach, cabbage or other leafy greens, all of

which have been shown to help people treat iron

and sulfur deficiencies.

7. Fried Foods

F r i e d f o o d s m a y b e t a s t y, b u t c o n s u m i n g t h e s e

f at t y fo ods on a r egula r ba sis ma y increa se a

p e rso n ’s r is k of s uffe ring dia be te s, c ance r an d

o t h e r h ealth pr oblems.

The urge to consume French fries, fried chicken

and other fried foods may be linked to a fatty

acid deficiency. Although fried foods can help

y o u a d dr es s this defic ie nc y, they simulta ne o u s l y

increase harmful LDL cholesterol and lower

b e n e fi c ial H D L cho le sterol in the bloodstream .

I f y o u exper ience a fried food craving, ste er cl ear

o f h i g h - calor ie f ixes. Instea d, sna ck on avo cad o ,

salmon and other foods that are rich in quality

f at s t o cor r ect your fatty a cid de ficiency.

Lastly, if you need extra help dealing with food

cravings, you may want to consult with a doctor.

This medical professional can help you identify

the root cause of a food craving and work with

y o u t o develop a lo ng-te rm pla n to a ddre ss t h i s

p ro b l e m. Bes t of all, a doctor c an offe r tip s an d

r ec o m m endations to help you re duce your ri s k o f

experiencing cardiovascular problems and other

long-term health issues .

Re a d y to put your food cravings to re st? Us e t h e

aforementioned tips, and you can take the first

steps to alleviate your food cravings both now

and in the future.

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