Craving food is not a rare occurrence, but sometimes what we’re craving is not really what the body needs. If we pay attention to our cravings and aim to give it what it really wants however, then we might be able to keep things healthier and cut down on annoying cravings once and for all. Here are some weird reasons for common cravings.
When You’re Craving Sugar
Sometimes when people are craving something sweet they actually need chromium. Chromium can help to balance the insulin levels in the body. When the insulin levels are out of balance then the body tries to overcompensate for low levels by trying to get you to eat sugar to raise the levels, but this cycle can continue on forever since we crash after eating sugar and just crave even more. You can also cut down on sugar cravings by eating a well balanced breakfast full of protein and healthy carbs so that you don’t experience that dip in energy.
When You’re Craving Chocolate
When you are craving chocolate specifically it might be because you need some magnesium. Many people don’t get enough magnesium in their diet, but we need it to balance the nervous system, reduce anxiety, and reduce inflammation. Dark chocolate is the best option when you’re feeding this craving, but to prevent it in the first place you might want to fill up on leafy greens, nuts, and fish.
When You’re Craving Salt
When you’re craving salt you might actually need salt. We lose a lot of salt from our bodies just through normal sweat and daily activity, and if you don’t eat a lot of it in your diet sometimes you need it. (That’s why electrolyte sports drinks have sodium in them.) Too much salt however is not a good thing, so do be mindful about how much you eat to try and tell the difference between a sign that you need salt or a sign that you just want some chips.
When You Crave Meat
Sometimes when we crave meat it means that we need more iron in our diet. Meat is the best source of available iron, so if we don’t get enough and don’t seek out iron from good plant sources we can start to miss it. We need iron to keep our energy levels high and transport oxygen throughout the body. In addition to meat, lentils, spinach, and pumpkin seeds are pretty good sources of iron as well.
When You Crave Sour Things
Sometimes we go through periods of time where we crave sour things or foods made with vinegar such as citrus or pickles. This can mean that we have an imbalance of stomach acid which can occur from things like allergies or illness. Taking a probiotic can help to get your digestion system balanced by introducing good bacteria into the system.
Loove me some pickles I don’t care when or why I’m eating them
I always crave so much salt when I’m hungover
I crave meat a lot but I can’t tell if it’s an iron thing or I just want in n out