All of us at one time or another have found ourselves craving certain foods, while some of us crave various junk foods high in calories otherwise known as empty calories, we go through life satisfying those cravings and that’s OK to a certain extent.
Lets look at what these cravings really mean such as a chocolate craving but your diabetic, oh-oh this could be disastrous to give in and indulge in those sweet chocolate desserts and chocolate bars oh nummy you say to yourself and then the guilt pops in and also you may be feeling like you just ate a brick also coming with that is the sugar high with the what I’ll call carbs, starches and sugar rushes then comes the dreaded crash that feels like a hangover from your old college days? your feeling like a truck just hit you? not a good feeling.
Below you can find out what your body is trying to tell you when you crave certain foods and how to eat healthy for your cravings.
chocolate: what your body really needs is magnesium and the foods that contain the most magnesium are raw nuts and seeds legumes, fruits.
Sweets: Chromium is lacking and you can get this nutrient from Chicken, Dried beans, cheese, grapes, and broccoli.
Bread, Toast: Is a sign your body is lacking in Nitrogen you can get this from high protein foods such as fish, meat, nuts, and beans.
Alcohol and recreational drugs: Your body is lacking in protein. Foods that are high in protein are meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, and nuts.
- Aventine-granola, oatmeal
- calcium-mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, cheese, sesame.
- Glutamine-Supplement glutamine powder for withdrawal, raw cabbage juice.
- Potassium- sun-dried black olives, seaweed, bitter greens, potato peel broth
Chewing Ice: This could be a sign of a medical condition called Anemia, it’s not really known why a person with anemia will chew ice but if you have a sudden craving to do so, consult with your physician to have your Iron level checked- Foods that are high in Iron can be found in Meat, Fish, Seaweed, Black Cherries, Spinach, raisins, apricots, dark green leafy vegetables, peas. Also, ry cooking with cast iron skillets.
Burned food: is a sign your body is lacking in carbon, eat more fresh fruits.
Soda and other carbonated drinks-Your body is lacking in Calcium: Try mustard greens, dark leafy green vegetables, broccoli and cheese. Also make sure you are getting enough water, if your craving a soda try drinking a full glass of water you’ll find you won’t drink as much soda and your thirst will go away, the sugar in the carbonated drinks actually make you more thirsty.
General overeating, your body could be lacking in:
- Silicon-Nuts, seeds, try to avoid refined starches.
- Trytophan-Spinach, liver, lamb, raisins, sweet potato, cheese
- Tyrosine: – try this-Vitamin C supplements, oranges, green and red fruits and vegetables
Salty foods are a sign your body is lacking in: Chloride-Try this, Raw goats milk, unrefined sea salt, fish
Having a preference to solids over liquids, remember your body needs 6-8 ounces of water daily, make sure you get enough water. not getting enough water will make you think you do not need water so instead your getting your liquids from the foods not only is this not an adequate amount of hydration it can contribute to weight gain by overeating and can also dehydrate you.
Lack of appetite: Could mean your body is lacking in these vitamins
- vitamin B1, nuts, seeds, beans
- Vitamin B3- Tuna, Halibut, beef, chicken, turkey, pork, seeds
- Manganese-Walnuts, almonds, pecans, pineapple, blueberries
- Chloride-Unrefined sea salt
These are just a few tips to help you learn about your body and its cravings I hope some of these help the next time you reach for a food that may not be as good for you as it looks or tastes. Love your body back to being healthy and happy