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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Those Pesky Fall
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