What Your Food Cravings are Telling You

Do you often crave a sugary donut? What about a fresh batch of salty fries? Believe it or not, these food cravings can tell you a lot about your health. For instance, if your body is craving salt, it could be a sign you are deficient in calcium or iron. This article will explore more behind common food cravings and what your body might be trying to tell you.

What is a Food Craving?

A food craving is when your body starts to have an intense want for a specific type of food or taste. Also known as pica, this is different from regular hunger as it is a selective hunger that craves only one form of food.

Common Food Cravings

Food cravings usually occur because your body is craving some type of processed food. This is often due to the ingredients in them which hook you, like sugar and salt. Some of the most common food cravings are:

  • Ice cream
  • Spicy food
  • Peanut butter
  • Soda
  • Chocolate
  • Cheese
  • Potato chips
  • Meat

What Food Cravings Mean

It might not seem like it, but these food cravings are a secret sign that your body is missing some type of nutrient. As mentioned above, if your body is craving salty foods, it could mean you need to consume food high in calcium or iron. On the other hand, if you’re craving sugary treats, it could be a sign of a magnesium deficiency. Another common food craving is hamburgers. This could point to a Vitamin C deficiency and that your body is low in iron.

The Dangers of Food Cravings

While splurging on a sweet or salty treat every now and then isn’t bad, caving often into the cravings can be very harmful. By eating these processed foods, you can easily invite toxins into your body. This can make you feel sick and lethargic and even make you gain weight. While sometimes it might be a sign of some type of deficiency, your food cravings could also be a source of a health problem, especially hormone imbalances.

Alternatives to Try

Thankfully, there are a few ways you can try to overcome any food cravings you might have. Below are some alternatives to consider.

Craving Salt?

If you’re craving salt, you can try alternatives like kefir, cheese, yogurt, or almonds. These calcium-rich foods will quickly calm your salt cravings down.

Craving Sugar?

For those who want sugar, look for food high in magnesium. This includes options like whole grains, bananas, cashews, and figs.

Craving Meat?

Oddly, sometimes you might crave nothing more than a juicy hamburger. If you find yourself doing so, look for alternatives, such as spinach, raisins, sunflower seeds, or tomato juice which are items high in iron.

While it can be difficult to ignore food cravings, it’s important to do so. This will not only help to prevent them from continuously occurring, but keep you healthy as well. Because of this, it’s important to pay close attention to your food cravings and replace them with healthy options that will make you feel better not only physically but mentally as well.