Have you ever left everything you were doing to get something you have been longing to eat all day long?
If so, then you are familiar with food cravings. They are not quite the same as hunger—hunger is controlled by the stomach, but cravings are controlled by the brain.
Here are the most common cravings and what they say about your nutritional needs
1. Sweets
Sugar can cause our brains to release cortisol and serotonin, a chemical which makes us feel relaxed and regulates our moods. We eat a lot of sugary stuff when we are stressed or sad because it can put us a little more at ease.
There are also few health conditions that cause sufferers to crave sweets, most notably type two diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome. So, it is important to see a doctor if this craving persists.
Foods which can help curb this craving are fruits, sweet potatoes, carrots, chickpeas, leafy greens, and oatmeal, to name a few.
2. Red meat
If you are constantly craving nyamachoma, it could mean you have low iron levels or you are not getting enough protein. It is a sign of a protein deficiency, as well as a lack of iron or vitamin B in your diet.
You can also take that craving as a sign to introduce more of those vitamins and proteins in meat into your diet by eating more nuts, and dark, leafy vegetables, lentils, chickpeas or beans.
3. Sour things
These acidic cravings might imply your stomach acid is running low, which can lead to many digestive problems.
It could also have to do with your liver. Your liver is responsible for removing toxins, but sometimes there are too many, and it cannot do its job well.
In this case, you can add lemon juice to your water or meals, or eat pickles, brussels sprouts, vinegar, and tomatoes.
4. Bitter foods
Bitter food can be associated with your heart health or feelings of negativity, such as anxiety and anger.
They are said to be able to release body heat, which allows better flowing energy and keeps the body from falling into anxiety, anger, and other negative emotions.
For this craving, you should load up on leafy greens such as kale, brussels sprouts or spices, such as cardamom and ginger.
5. Spices
There are multiple reasons you might be craving spicy food. One might be because you have a thyroid imbalance, or perhaps you are lacking sulfur.
Another reason could be your body feels the need to cool down, wherein spicy food might lead you to perspire. Then again, it’s also possible to just be addicted to the rush of spiciness.
Most spice comes from chili peppers, so you could cut a few up and add them to your meal.
6. Chocolate
Why are there so many of us who suffer from being chocoholics? It might be because 80 per cent of the population does not get enough magnesium, and in 100 grammes of dark chocolate, there are about 150 milligrammes of magnesium.
In addition, like sugar, chocolate has a way with our emotions and eating a square can amp up your mood.
If you need help coping with your chocolate cravings, cinnamon toast, dates, peanut butter, frozen grapes, nuts, seeds and greens could curb this.
7. Soda
While you may love the fizzy sweetness, what you are most likely craving is the caffeine hit.
One serving of Coke provides 30 milligrammes of caffeine, enough to give you a nice wake-up jolt. A less common reason for soda cravings is a calcium deficiency.
The phosphoric acid in carbonated drinks can leach calcium and magnesium from your bones, creating a vicious cycle of depletion and craving.
8. Water
If you are super thirsty, chances are you are just dehydrated and your body is telling you to drink water. But if you are always craving the water, it could signal a deeper issue such as diabetes.
Excessive thirst and urination are one of the earliest warning signs that your insulin levels are low. Extra sugar builds up in your blood, making your kidneys go into overtime to process all of it.
When they can’t keep up, it gets excreted through your urine, which in turn makes you thirsty again.
9. Sweet and salty food
If you are craving popcorn or something that is both salty and sugary, the body needs both sodium and glucose to function properly.
The two nutrients are quickly depleted when you exercise, especially if you sweat a lot. So, if you are craving a salty-sweet treat, it may be your body telling you it needs to physically recover and replenish its stores.
This is why most workout recovery drinks include a hit of both sugar and salt.
10. Non-food items
Pica is a condition where people crave non-nutritive items such as soil, sand or even ice. Pica is more common among children and pregnant women.
Research suggests that people who experience Pica often have low levels of iron, calcium, or zinc. When those nutrients are ‘topped up’ through supplements, the cravings usually stop.
