I am sure there’s not a single person in the world who hasn’t experienced a food craving. If cravings weren’t on the brain, advertisements full of tasty treats wouldn’t be plastered all over billboards, magazine covers, and t.v. screens. We wouldn’t base our next meal on “what we’re hungry for,” wouldn’t eat when we’re not really hungry, and where we’re going to eat and what we’re going to eat wouldn’t consume a large percentage of our thoughts.
If cravings weren’t a big deal, you wouldn’t send your man out to the store in the middle of the night to get “the baby” ice cream and pickles. You wouldn’t down a bottle of wine and “have” to eat all things chocolate during your favorite time of the month, and you wouldn’t dive into a bag of salty tortilla chips after work or eat way more carbs than you should while you’re studying for a test.
Cravings derail even the hardest efforts to eat healthy, lose weight, and live whole.Click To Tweet
Cravings are annoying and can derail even the hardest efforts to eat healthy. They can make us feel defeated, overwhelmed, and at the bottom of the bottomless pit we sometimes turn into. But the truth is, there’s a reason and a purpose for that craving and if you know what a craving really is, why you have it, and how to satisfy it properly, you can control your cravings instead of letting them control you.
What is a craving, anyway?
A craving is simply an overwhelming desire to consume a certain food (and sometimes non-food) item. It’s your body’s way of telling you it needs something…a vitamin, mineral, protein, or nutrient to function properly. A craving can also have a chemical component to it, which is why cravings are more common when someone is depressed or emotionally upset.
Your body stores an impression of everything you’ve ever eaten – every flavor, texture, and chemical make-up of what’s gone into your mouth. If your diet isn’t full of a wide variety of foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, quality protein, and flavors (beyond salty and sweet), it will crave the only source it knows of to obtain what it needs…brownies, cookies, chips, anything fried, and everything bad.
Because these foods only contain a trace amount of what your body really needs, you’ll have to eat a whole lot more of it to meet the quota. For example, one serving of butternut squash might supply you with an entire day’s worth of magnesium, but it would take an entire box of chocolate brownies to give you a just a fraction of the daily requirement.
This is why you go through a whole bag of chips before you feel “satisfied” and why that craving comes back the next day. This is why you’re told to satisfy your craving with something “healthy,” because it will take less of that healthy food to make you feel full and can turn that craving off.
What’s really causing your cravings?
Now that you know a craving means you’re lacking something in your diet, how do you figure out what you’re lacking? Below is a list of the biggest cravings, what causes them, and the healthy options you can choose to kick them so you won’t demolish a bag of chips or an entire batch of cookies:
- Chocolate
Chocolate cravings are associated with deficiencies in magnesium and copper. Around “that time of the month,” the body uses up more magnesium which is why many women experience PMS and chocolate cravings. To curb the craving, try a magnesium supplement, eat more yellow foods like butternut squash, non-GMO corn, apples, apricots, bananas, and nuts. Still want some chocolate? Substitute with carob or add a teaspoon of raw cacao to your smoothie.
- Tortilla Chips
One of two things could be at the root of this craving: a magnesium deficiency or an over-consumption of sugar. When you swing sweet, your body wants salt. If you’re not a big “sweets” person, then you may be deficient in magnesium. Focus on the yellow vegetables or try my favorite magnesium supplement.
- Dairy (milk, cheese, ice cream, or pizza)
A craving for dairy has a simple answer: calcium. Hook yourself up with some organic butter, raw cheese, and leafy greens.
- Nuts
A craving for nuts is a clear sign you’re body needs essential fatty acids (or protein if you’re vegan or vegetarian). EFAs are essential to all of the cells in your body. Unfortunately, most of the nuts on the shelf are dead – pasteurized, void of enzymes, or rancid, so you’re going to want to get unpasteurized raw nuts from a good source. Try cashews, walnuts, or almonds. You can also get on an awesome EFA supplement like Udo’s Oil.
- Salt
A salt craving could be caused by several things: a diet that is too sweet, a deficiency in sodium, or too much potassium. Cut the sweets, avoid table salt, and opt for Himalayan salt or celery juice to remineralize the body.
- Sweet and Sour Cravings (pickles, lemons, limes, or a combo of sour and sweet)
These cravings are associated with liver congestion. Want a simple fix? Add lemon to your water on a regular basis. If you think you might need something a little more than lemon, try a liver cleanse supplement or milk thistle.
- Sugar and Starches
A craving for starches and sweets can be caused by numerous things but the most common causes include a candida overgrowth, a neurotransmitter (often serotonin) imbalance, or a lack of glucose (the brain’s optimal source of energy). If you’re craving sugar while studying, it’s because your brain burns glucose for energy. These cravings usually go away once you eat. If you crave sugar after chow’n down on some chips, it’s because you ate too much salt. If you’re depressed, look into serotonin and healthy ways to boost it via exercise or a serotonin precursor like 5-HTP. If you crave sugar literally all the time, you need some probiotics, fiber, and a good candida cleanse.
- Dirt
A dirt craving is often associated with a deficiency in trace minerals and is very common during the third trimester of pregnancy. Make sure you’re eating enough vegetables and consider a trace minerals supplement.
- Fried foods
Not all fats are bad, and a craving for fried foods is a sign you’re lacking the good fats your body needs to function properly. Ditch the “taste good but bad for you” fried foods and up the olives, avocado, coconut oil, seeds, nuts, and Udo’s Oil.
- Spicy foods
A spicy food craving is associated with a thyroid imbalance or sulfur deficiency. Eat garlic, horse-radish, curry, cayenne, etc. and make sure you source organic. MSM is one of the best supplements to address a sulfur deficiency.
- Chalk
A craving for chalk is associated with an iron, calcium, or trace mineral deficiency.
- Caffeine
Your adrenals are exhausted or you have a neurotransmitter imbalance. Cut back on the stress and try licorice root, vitamin B5, and a B complex that contains support for the adrenals. If you have had your genetics tested and are homozygous for the CY1AP2 gene, some caffeine may be medicinal.
- Nicotine
People who crave nicotine often have unresolved emotional issues and a B vitamin deficiency.
- Alcohol
Alcoholism always has an emotional root, but an L-glutamine deficiency (especially if alcoholism is genetic) and a neurotransmitter imbalance could be contributing.
- Meat
You might have a deficiency in protein (rare in this country), iron, amino acids, or phosphorus.
- Ice
An ice craving is most commonly associated with an iron deficiency. An iron deficiency though, can be caused by low iron, folate, or B-12. Try to incorporate more iron rich foods into your diet, or try a raw iron or supplement, a supplement that increases the blood’s ability to carry oxygen (required for iron absorption), like liquid chlorophyll, or a methylfolate/B12 supplement.
- Tuna
If you’re craving tuna, your body is probably looking for a source of omega 3 fatty acids. If you can find some mercury-free or sustainably sourced tuna, go for it. If you can’t, try an omega 3 fish oil supplement.
- Carbs (after a long day at work)
People crave carbohydrates and magnesium at the end of a busy day to calm their nerves. You might also crave carbs if you resistance train on the regular (to restore glycogen.) Take magnesium right before you leave work so you won’t attack the junk food and tortilla chips when you walk through the door, eat every 3 hours, and look to satisfy your cravings with healthy carbohydrates.
Cravings are a big deal. We have drugs to chemically curb our willpower, eating support groups, constant struggles with our waistlines, obsessions with dieting, and we constantly struggle to eat the way we should eat. Use this list as a guide for understanding what might be underlying your food cravings and what you can do the next time you’re hit by them.
When I was a teenager I craved dirt, rocks, and roasted pumpkin seeds. I’d look for roasted pumpkin seeds in the supermarket, but they weren’t as widely available ten years ago as they are now. I started eating more veggies because I figured, hey, they come out of the earth, and for the most part the first two cravings subsided. Still get those pumpkin seed cravings from time to time.
Just want to add eating every three hours is not a good idea for every one – not all of us have speedy digestive tracts!
Hi,
I was wondering if you could reference the sources that you used to compile this information.
Thanks!
Great article. Answers a lot of my questions. Clear and easily understood. Great information. Thank you.
I had a craving for almonds
I find if I’m craving almonds, I’m actually craving a mix of carbs, fats and sugars…maybe that’s the case?
I recently found out I have an iron deficiency. I had a blood test and my ferritin level was outside the normal range. I have been craving peanuts and peanut butter for months. I would eat a whole 375g bag of peanuts in one sitting, and do the same the next day. I’ve been supplementing iron for the past 3 days, and my cravings for peanuts are subsiding. Peanuts contain iron, not a great amount, but enough for my body/mind to make the association somehow I think.
Anyone wondering about their cravings I suggest you get a range of blood tests for vitamins and minerals, liver, kidney and thyroid function tests, and a blood sugar test.
Hello!
As far as I know Medjool dates have a lot of iron… and many leafy greens aswell.
but the most important thing is to provide VITAMIN C wich helps in the absorption of the iron. Check it out! (leafy greans already have vit C if you eat them raw)
Why do I crave liver and onions and here lately anything that is iron based? My iron count usually runs high. Thanks
Zinc, do you also crave sea oysters?
I really enjoyed reading this article and I thought it was very well written.
Can’t stop eating really hot and spicy picked onions adding lots of green an scotch bonnet in the jar
I saw ice cubes listed on here. I have been craving all types of iced foods for a couple of years now and its causing me to spend quite a bit in dessert foods and drinks, ice cream, iced coffees, cheesecake and other cakes i can have half frozen. I munch on ice cubes a lot, and will have cold food way more than a warm meal
You should check with an oncologist if you are also tired all the time. You may need Iron transfusions… and B12 shots.
?? Jean
You think this person’s cravings could point towards cancer???
That’s a heck of a strong statement to make, and I’m pretty sure it must be a mistake, but this kind of mistake could be very damaging if read by someone with health anxiety for example. With respect Jean, If you do read this, I’m hoping you’ll correct it or explain why you’re recommending an oncologist (cancer specialist). 😉
Oncologists don’t just treat cancer they treat other things as well which WAS stated in the commentSa
Actually, with how prevalent cancer is in American society – it’s not a bad idea to check up with an oncologist and have your tumor markers checked, if all other solutions to remedy fatigue have been exhausted. I had dealt with underlying fatigue for many years before cancerous masses were found throughout my body.
It was not directed towards anyone. It was just a factual comment.
Ate Ice chips ate work non stop…..found out I had iron deficiency from my natural path … soon as i began iron supplements and it stabilized, I didn’t crave ice anymore. Please do not take iron unless monitored….
Pickles ! And not just any kind of pickles…I raid all the dollar stores in my town for baby kosher dills…it’s to the point every employee knows me and knows what I’m there to buy…last month I bought 110 jars ! Help ! It literally changes my mood if I don’t have them..I need to fix this…lol..per my husband…what vitamin am I lacking…?
I have to have atleast a jar a day. I have cirrhosis and am supposed to watch my salt intake. I found a reduced sodium brand I like..
What causes this? My brother also eats a jar of pickles a day. I have tried to limit them but I get grouchy!!
I’m pregnant and have suffered 14+ weeks of morning sickness and it still continues on….. only craving I’ve had is lobster rolls. Don’t want/can’t eat anything else. I do force myself to eat things bland I can sometimes handle for the baby. But so bizarre this little better thing just came out of nowhere. Is it the omegas my body needs? This article has been so helpful, thank you.
Hi Kiera,
Thanks for the comment! Yes, I would definitely get on an EFA/Omega supplement if you aren’t already on one. 😉
I like the article.but my problem is not with specific food craving .it has to be food any form but not fruits.hope u can help me.
Loved the article! I use to always, always, always want something sweet. Chocolate etc. But recently…… I’ve been wanting any and everything sour, and salty! Lots and lots of salt!!! I read up on what the underlying cause could be, and all I found was some sort of condition. It’s weird, because I never really eat anything sweet anymore. I currently started a daily vitamin regamin…. It makes me feel so much better! But… Every since I started taking them, i want the sour and salty all the time, every day!
This was a great post and very informative. Unfortunately I did not see what I was looking for. I crave vegetables all the time. Is that a good thing? Yes, I have medical issues maybe I will futher explain once I can get more information if needed. Thank you for your time.
what about a craving for buffalo sauce, since I started craving it I put it on everything
Buffalo sauce would fall under the spicy foods listed above.
Craving shrimps?
I have really enjoyed all the comments on carving, I carve milk every day,or pasta w/seafood. I gave up a big portion of sugar an salt,I dont drink beer anymore,quit about 14 yrs ago,never smoked,trying to eat healthy,I love steam vegs. nuts,fresh fruit,Ive tried almond milk,just cant do it…ugh..lots of organic foods I do not like,Ill keep trying 🙂 🙂 🙂
Hi,
I found your blog because I was wondering why I’m craving fuji apples. I usually have at least 1 a say. I have Hashimotos Disease and have been trying to eat right to get my thyroid working right. But I have been craving apples. I would eat apples all day except for the amount of natural sugars. What does my body need? Help.
I came here looking for an answer about apples as well. Best I can figure from the information in this article is a magnesium deficiency. Under the chocolate part is says they are a good source of magnesium to use instead of chocolate. Hope this helps.
Wow a few months ago I started craving fuji apples. I sometimes have one next to my bed. Another weird craving is dill pickles. Both cravings started around the same time. I have never been a huge apple or pickle eater to now I can’t get enough of them. I’m 52 so no I’m not pregnant. A few months ago I was diagnosed having mites, this has been a terrible terrible event in my life. I had read something about PH. I’ve been wondering if that has something to do with my cravings and mites. Dermatologist act as if I’m crazy.
My mother craves radishes. She has been visiting me for 1 week and so far she has eaten 8 bunches. She takes them in a ziplock bag with her and even takes them to bed. She likes other root vegetables like turnips, carrots and beets but craves radishes. She has asked a couple of doctors about it and their remark is always….. It’s OK it’s good for you. Well her cravings annoy her and interfere with her life somewhat. We have to go to the store every 2-3 days to stock up. We just got back with 4 bunches. Plus she smells like a radish. What mineral is she missing?
Radishes are high in iodine. She should talk to her Dr. and ask to get a thyroid test.
Correction on the previous comment, radishes are a goitrigenic food. They deplete the production of thyroid hormones. The interfere with the absorption of iodine.
Well one of two things may be happening to your mom, either she really needs the nutrients that the radishes provide or she may still need to see the Dr. for her thyroid.
Wow, this is a really interesting read. Cravings are very real and can be overpowering sometimes. It’s important to understand what’s really happening and why in order to control your cravings and maintain willpower. Nice work! Thanks for sharing!
What’s my deal I’ve been craving onions most of the time its just red onion. Also avocados. Garlic, onions, avocados. Whats my deal?
Sulfur and good fats. 🙂
I crave nuts,and though I say nuts I’m thinking almonds. Omg it’s currently raining wear I am and all I can think about is going to get me a big bag of almonds. I read the article and the comments. It’s just weird cause lady week all i wanted was boiled eggs.
I crave for salty things and spicy things bit I don’t like celery is there any thing I can store and eat and which is healthy
Me too!! I’m here searching for the same thing.
I’ve had an extreme craving for vegetables lately. I mean it’s not exactly a problem but I do worry that there’s an underlying problem.
This is a good craving to have! Vitamins and minerals my friend. 🙂
I crave Dill pickles every day! Its crazy lol
I crave peanut butter, peanuts, and nutty things like crazy. Why could this be?
Peanut butter is a craving for Vitamin B, protein and good fat. Other nuts are craving for other things, possibly.
Walnuts, for instance, are recommended for a number of ailments including sciatica
I am craving a lot of seafood. Not sure why.
Healthy fats and protein!
potassium and good protein. Also, iodine, which can help balance your thyroid
Hi , I go to the gym 5-6 times per week. I only eat fibrous carbs and high protein foods. Feel very good and strong. I have been getting incredible cravings for nuts nuts and more nuts. I was eating almonds but lately over the last two months the cravings for macadamias and cashews is over whelming. What am i Missing in my diet to be causing such powerful cravings?
Good fats. 🙂
I have recently read that many nuts are toxic in high amounts, like daily consumption can build them up also.
What she said: Good fats. If you’re objective is to reduce body mass, make sure you have your BMR (basil metabolic rate) done (the formula is available online) and find out how many grams of fat you can take in and still reach your goal weight.
Same thing happened to me!!! I was doing a keto/paleo diet and doing great until all of a sudden I couldn’t stop craving nuts. Like you, I previously ate mostly almonds and sometimes peanuts or walnuts, but suddenly all I wanted was cashews and macadamia. I couldn’t get enough. I agree it has to do with your body needing more healthy fats. I thought I was getting enough through coconut, avocados, olive oil, fish, nuts and such but when I became ravenous for these things I realized I was still lacking. Hope you are able to get what you need 🙂
Count me down as a person who absolutely does crave salmon and avocados over fried foods or candy. And liver… good lord sometimes I’ve just got to have liver! One added thing about alcohol: all alcohols contain SUGAR. Highly refined form of it too the body metabolizes in seconds flat! This is why many former alcoholics begin snacking on candies. What a great list of cravings! My body thanks you for this map to its crazy needs…
I have been leery of eating liver for years, due to it being the filter of toxins, and all the crap that cows eat and get medicated with. I love liver though. Is eating organic calves liver a healthier choice? It seems it would be. If it can be found for sale anywhere.
Craving liver is your body wanting IRON. Black beans also have high amounts of iron, if you are trying to be vegetarian/vega .
Excellent site and good info. One comment about cravings, Having had a very serious eating disorder, (abstinent a long time) Its important to “translate” the craving in a healthy way, the brain learns CONSTANTLY. When re-learning how to eat, I smelled fast food burgers cooking and then craved them. So whenever I needed iron, or protein, my interpretation was Burger King. Which I then proceeded to purge. Much later, I became vegetarian and learned what the craving was. Hence, the brain learns, if it cries iron, and you feed it fast food burgers it will cry for more, if you feed it broccolli, when you need iron, or fiber, or…. it will crave BROCCOLLI !! 😉
Sodium is an element. It is not “naturally rich” in anything except sodium.
In one of the greatest early, successful public health interventions, the government began requiring salt producers to add iodine to salt (“iodized salt”), in an effort to reverse (then-common) preventable developmental disabilities and debilitating diseases resulting from iodine deficiency in children. The successful practice was adopted nearly worldwide.
However, this iodine is added by the manufacturer, not naturally occurring! Just to be clear.
You’re absolutely right; iodine was added to table salt to help lower issues of Gout. I’m glad you mentioned that!
It was added to prevent goiters. 😉
Actually, the MAIN reason iodine was originally added to salt was due to war, & the ongoing threat of nuclear bombs. It was discovered that iodine could help to reduce radioactive isotopes from accumulating in the thyroid. It was thought it would prevent radiation poisoning.
Iodine can be helpful if you are having thyroid issues as well. ALso, seaweed and blue green algae have naturally occuring iodine if you need to lower your salt intake.
Personally, my salt intake is low. I need to take salt supplements in the summertime and often crave potato chips.
Dairy depletes calcium out of your bones so that’s a big no to that being the reason you crave it. Dairy contains Casein (casomorphins) which acts like a opiate and it’s addictive. Why some people have withdrawals ditching dairy. Cows milk is for cows, it’s there so the CALF comes back to feed. There’s foods with plenty more calcium than cows milk like almonds and almond milk for one.
and leafy greens. Also, exercise, specifically resistance exercise as in swimming, weight lifting or calisthenics, is the absolute BEST way to support bone density.
umm no dairy puts calcium IN your bones, with activity….
I’m REALLY craving chips. Is that bad? How do I make it go away and be gone forever?
You need salt, and possibly the fat and carbs in potatoes and the grease the chips are fried in. I crave chips and it’s usually a salt deficiency.
If this might be what you’re missing, you can buy salt pills OTC
If it’s fat and carbs, try avacados or other sources of healthy fat. Maybe salted almonds.
Or try adding soy sauce to your meals – very high in sodium if you don’t buy the low sodium one, of course
Good fats and sodium.
Don’t touch soy. The Asians used to ferment it for 5 years before they would eat it; we can’t get this kind of tofu today. Incompletely fermented soy wrecks havoc with your endocrine system. Please do some research, don’t just believe what we are being told by the sales engine of soy manufacturers. They only reason they sell you on the purported “health benefits” of soy (there are none if you factor in the harm it does to you) is the fact that big companies own patents on the seed that’s used on 95% of soy grown worldwide, plus soy is cheap to grow. Like real cheap. Soy, however, is not human food (unless your country is waging a war and you are starving).
So very true. Soy is very harmful to our bodies. They lied again.
I respectfully differ on alcoholism being genetically causative. Like all food cravings, most are due to excessive binging and can contribute to deficiencies that portend be connected to something other than the original problem. You correctly state that diving into a chip bag will only cause more cravings since the chips themselves cause the nutritional deficiency. You are still hungry because your nutritional needs are not met. I don’t claim to have the knowledge of of you in this area so I will bow to your overarching research. But I want you and everyone to know that I used to drink pretty heavily. I liked it. Never had any issues really in terms of functioning, working, etc. Never drank in the morning or during work. But I decided to quit cold turkey about 9 months ago. I was experiencing some issues that intuitively I knew was connected to this excess. I lost about 25 pounds, started working out seriously, and made tremendous strides in a recurring back issue that I’m still dealing with but it was because of a more recent injury due to working out. Just being a bit careless. But the main point I want to make is that when I stopped drinking, I didn’t have any need to drink. I just chose to not drink. And now, I do drink, but much more in moderation. I didn’t have withdrawals, at least no physical:-) and never felt that my issue was based on my genetics in spite of my mother wrongly believing that the incessant drunks in her lineage were destined to be always with us. I just don’t buy it and I have proved that this.
Very respectfully,
James.
P.S. I had one glass of pinot grigio while writing this. Just kidding. I am drinking coffee. But I could have just limited to one glass. I’m better for it and more healthy and it was a choice I made.
Haha, thanks James! Have you ever had a genetic test done? I did (and I have a lot of my clients get them also) and they’ve done extensive research on the the genes and neurotransmitters connected to alcoholism. Obviously they still have a lot more to discover! It was interesting because alcoholism runs in my family and when we finally had the genetic tests back we were able to see which gene was being passed down and that gene was only in the family members who struggled with alcohol. I think people with neurotransmitter imbalances are more prone to addiction (of all sorts) in general so the fact that you started working out and lost weight and saw improvement doesn’t surprise me. 🙂 Congrats to you!
Thanks for the congrats.
Yes, I have had a genetic test done about 2 months ago. However, I never had the results interpreted because I have concluded that the tests are inconsistent and widely divergent in terms of how potential disease is correlated to actual genes. Even if you look the most optimistic estimates of genetic disease causation, it is less than 5% of attributable risk. Other major risk factors, like lifestyle, mental outlook, environment, all play a much more substantial role in disease likelihood in my view.
More than this is that I see a pattern developing in the mainstream medical pharmaceutical cartel whereby one day gene testing will not only dictate but will completely be responsible for how one receives healthcare. Imagine for moment that you have the gene that is supposed to cause breast cancer. The doctor says, “Megan, we identified X4325Y gene and we know it will cause you breast cancer. Since you have a death sentence, the best we can offer you is to remove your breasts, cut our you ovaries and basically reduce your womanhood. We know what’s best for you. We are the experts.”
This isn’t really far fetched when you consider that Angelina Jolie has essentially gone through this horrific treatment and who knows what else.
Here is excerpt from an article I researched: “The human genome, therefore, is not the entire blueprint of human development. Although some genes do obviously code for some physical characteristics (such as eye color), genes alone do not contain the full blueprint. There must be something else that also contributes morphological information in addition to DNA.
The Human Genome Project, to the shock of nearly all materialists, ultimately proved exactly the opposite of what scientists had hoped. It proved that genes alone do not explain inheritance.”
The materialists comment refers to the lofty thinking that everything can be explained in the material universe through science, which just isn’t possible at this moment in time. Ref: http://www.naturalnews.com/042260_genetics_myths_Human_Genome_Project_morphic_resonance.html#
While this piece focuses more on physical characteristics and something called morphic resonance (the intelligence to shape the physical body in simple terms), I place distrust on the medical cartel who want to ultimately control every aspect of human health and even existence itself, or try to. It’s in part, why vaccinations is such a heated and controversial topic. But it’s especially vile if you oppose vaccines. The elites think they are smarter than the rest of the population. Like Jon Rappaport says,
“The awareness you have, at this moment, of being alive is not a function of DNA or the brain. Nothing contained in those structures can account for such awareness. Not the atoms, the electrons, the protons, the nuclei, the quarks, mesons, wavicles…
But genetic research can be used a cover story to demand a planet with one huge underclass and a few “enlightened” rulers. Which is what is happening now.”
I don’t know about you, but I’m betting on myself and my decision making ability to move me in a more healthy direction, mental and physical.
By the way, your statement “I think people with neurotransmitter imbalances are more prone to addiction (of all sorts) in general so the fact that you started working out and lost weight and saw improvement doesn’t surprise me.” What connection are making between imbalances, addiction and my lifestyle change and consequential results? Sorry, I am obtuse about this one.
Regards,
James
Memes are the answer. They are the counterpart to the DNA framework. They are the transmissible, evolving ideas that use social species like humans as “hosts”, and in return, aid us (or hinder us) in our bid to survive and reproduce.
James, I tip my hat to you. Your statements about the medical mafia are spot on. Spot on is an understatement.
DNA is not deterministic; in fact there is proof that, to a certain extent, we can determine our DNA: how it is being expressed, repaired, and even… modified during the lifetime of an individual.
In this story, GreenMedInfo reports a horrific example, but the same principle occurs in nature, as a result of exposure to a certain lifestyle or an environmen:
http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/gm-wheat-may-damage-human-genetics-permanently
Congratulations on attaining moderation on your own, James! Europeans understand “harm reduction” while most Americans believe it’s “all or nothing” due to popularity of AA … The founder of Moderation Management only “relapsed” in a tragic way after she believed she could never reduce her harm-level drinking and joined AA … After 90 days “sobriety” she had a relapse of such magnitude that she caused a traffic accident that killed two people and she later killed herself because after being released from prison she couldn’t find work in her field, in spite of fact the woman who’s husband and daughter she’d killed due to mistake of driving while intoxicated had forgiven her and co-authored a book with her. And you are correct, the medical industry scares people into believing they need to worry about every ailment anyone in their family had when “genetics” is only 1 in 12 factors relevant to whether or not someone will develop an illness! Lifestyle, diet choices and other factors influence our health much more, as you prove. Also, studies show that those who do best with limiting or abstaining from alcohol are those who quit on their own, as you did : ) Good for you!
For the past month I have been craving rice krispie treats. No matter how many ibeat I can never get enough! What could this be?
CARBS!!! Your body runs on carbon, hydrogen and oxygen = carbohydrates. You need to add more grains and vegetables to your diet. Try eating some potatoes. You clearly need the starch!
Tracy is on to something. I would have said glucose from high quality complex carbs. 😉
Hi, I enjoyed reading your articles! I stumbled across this one because I have had cravings for prawn crackers. Prawn crackers are made by mixing prawns, tapioca flour and water, then fried. I’m buying shop bought ones.
I’m very emotionally and mentally happy. It’s a definite physical craving. I’m very fit and healthy, no medical conditions, not pregnant.
I seem to be getting enough protein, I’ve tried eating small amounts of many other things, to see what might curb the craving! I am wondering what it might be. Nothing yet has curbed it BUT prawn crackers, which is exactly what my body wants. I’m taking a multi-vitamin supplement with vitamins and minerals every morning.
I’ve tried small amounts of eggs, water, sea salt, protein (tuna) rice flour, yeast, bread, olives, milk. Pecan nuts, sesame seeds. A variety of greens, veggies I eat a very healthy and varied diet. I’m mostly vegetarian, I have occasionally eaten fish on my birthday, it’s maybe once a month. I get all the fibre and protein I need from various types of beans etc.
I don’t eat any sugar, the sugar I get is from natural foods I.e. fruit (with exception of these prawn crackers)
It keeps my weight low and balanced, great a skin etc. I’m getting balanced amounts of healthy fats, protein, fibre, carbs. I use an app to make sure I’m eating enough of the right foods, keeps the balance right.
Hmmm..
All I want is prawn crackers haha!?
I just tried eating tuna to see if it would curb the craving. It hasn’t worked. I tried eating some sugar in my tea, it didn’t work. Not sugar.
The only thing I haven’t tried is prawns.
Any suggestions welcome 🙂
Giggly x
Almost 2 months ago I quit smoking cigarettes. I vape with a low content nicotine. Also, for the past month I have craved and literally wanted nothing to eat except low fat strawberry yogurt mixed with granola. I wonder if there is a connection between these two things.
i agree wid megan u can go 4 omega 3s sup…
Well that might be the reason why I downed 5 cans of tuna in like 10 seconds. I got a blood test and my doctor said I need more fatty acids
When my husband goes through chemo he craves avocados and colored bell peppers (red yellow orange) a lot. Since it pretty much happens every time I figure his body wants something and let him have at it. Seems to work for him so far..
Hmmm… Maybe his body needs more vitamin C from the peppers? There is also vitamin C in avacado and B and E.
Avocados also have folate which helps with cell repair. So maybe thats why?
Hi I’m 25 and for the past few weeks all I have been wanting to eat is garlic I can’t get enough of it why is this ……
Sulfur deficiency typically or craving because of a gut bug. 😉
I’m craving shrimp all the time or lobster or crab legs. I could eat those everyday for the rest of my life. What does that mean to crave shrimp all the time?
I’m coming at this from the other perspective. My whole life I have hated seafood (minus tuna and fish fries..LOVE THE FATS!). I recently discovered how extremely magnesium deficient I’ve been my whole life too (my fav snack food always been corn tortillas!). I’m suspecting there is a correlation between these two. Any ideas on this? Thanks.
I’m craving kettle korn. ? pop corn can you please tell me why please
Every 3 or more months I crave liver and onions I eat it and I’m good for a couple of months.I’m the only one in my family who will eat it.what does it mean to crave liver
Probably iron
Hi there.
I don’t know if I missed out if there is cravings for salmon fish. Raw.
I eat tons. I feel like I am a cat.
What do you think I’m lacking?
B12 maybe or zinc and copper?
This article looks a bit like this one from 2011: http://www.examiner.com/article/what-really-causes-food-cravings-serotonin-fluctuations-or-mineral-deficiencies
is that where I read it.. this morning eating COD and spicy cole slaw for breakfast? That was my question, Cod, no other fish, and cabbage, even for breakfast. I had two plain grass fed beef burgers this weekend forcing a switch, its normally a favorite. Didn’t even taste good.
And Megan, could you answer, if I wanted Tracy’s answer, I would read HER blog. I read about your education before I even read more than two or three paragraphs. I don’t have a clue what hers is, and before I try something involving my heath I like to know where the information comes from.
Tuna’s not a fatty or oily fish, so it would never fulfill cravings for omega 3s. Gotta go for kippers, sardines, or flax toast.
Factoids are not facts. They are newspaper fillers that were thrown in to get line counts right for printing. It is still not a proper use of the word to substitute factoid for fact.
I crave something sour such as sour pickles. What can that be about?
you may be needing to get your ph levels in balance
Stomach acid ph could off or vitamin C.
**CHILI.. I meant chili.. (ugh)
Would a child craving be apart of the spicy craving?
Yes, or protein…assuming you put meat and beans in it. 😉
I have cravings for avocado all the time … And while I was pregnant all I wanted was cheese, tuna with lemon and heeps of avocados
Good fats. 🙂
Hi for the last two weeks ive been craving spicy, Ive been like wanting Hot sauce on everything and jalapenos or just anything spicy I want it. What does this mean? Should I be scared?
Usually related to the liver. No need to be scared…jalapenos are good for you! 😉
maybe you can help me with this, it’s been something I’ve been wondering about. I drink plenty of water, take a multivitamin and whatnot, but lately I’ve just been craving apples. mostly the fuji/gala/braeburn split colour type, but those are the ones I like best anyways, so that doesn’t bother me, I’m just curious as to why I could be craving apples.
If you are craving chocolate,you can eat dark chocolate,those with 60% or more cocoa couse they are good source of magnesium too.
Completely agree Mirza!
Hi there. I’m 18 years old and for the past 3 months I have been craving pickles. Not any pickles though because I hate sweet pickles, I keep craving the really salty and sour ones, To be honest besides chocolate I hate sweet stuff. Is that normal? Any alternatives to the salty pickles?
thanks
I, too, have had cravings for fish that have lasted for a month or more, despite eating it regularly. I thought I was the only one! So here’s another weird craving-I have been craving vegetables for the last 2 days, not certain ones, just lots of vegetables! What does that mean?
Maybe omega 3 fatty acids?
Hi. I just turned 21. I have never liked tuna. In fact the smell of it would make me vomit. I’ve always hated the texture and taste. But recently out of nowhere I ate some and can’t get enough.. I eat it almost four times a day!! I don’t understand how something I hated so much is now the only thing i seem to want period!
Well I love tuna but one time I was going to make tuna for a tuna sandwich for a couple days with about 5 cans of tuna it was all made and ready for the sandwich and it just looked so delicious that I ate all the tuna in like 10 seconds. A little while later I needed to get a blood test for different reasons and my doctor said I was low in omega 3 fatty acids. So I’m guessing that’s why I ate all that tuna. He said I should be eating more salmon.
Be careful with tuna. You’re not supposed to eat too much canned tuna per week because of mercury poisoning.
Hello to you there. I’m a 24 yr old healthy young lady. For the most.
Lately I’ve been having this craving for tuna fish. Not weird for the most part, but I absolutely 100% HATE fish.well all seafood.just don’t like it. But the craving isn’t intense but its enough to make me wonder what’s happening. Yesterday while at work I took a dinning customer their plate of garlic butter sauteed shrimp, and my mouth got so watery for the shrimp I damn near drooled on their food.(not literally) I’m unsure about a pregnancy?? But if u can help me out with some feedback that would be lovely. Thank u for your time. -Tashi
Tashi,
Thanks for checking out my blog! It sounds like you’re either craving protein or essential fatty acids like omega 3’s, EPA, DHA, and ALA. Although I don’t recommend shrimp (because shrimp are bottom feeders) or tuna (because of the high mercury content), you could try wild caught salmon, halibut, mahi mahi, or cod and see if that clears up the craving and if you don’t like fish maybe try an omega 3 fish oil supplement to see if that helps.
I’m confused, if my body remembers food profiles, when I’m lacking healthy fat, why would I crave fried food rather than salmon or avocado?
To me, it makes sense that food cravings can also be related to serotonin deficiency. I think it should at least be mentioned as it also has healthy and easy fixes.
Mere, thanks for your comment! You’re absolutely right, you might crave salmon or avocado if you’re lacking good fats; however, most of the American population doesn’t consume healthy fats and no one has ever asked me what caused their “avocado” craving. This list isn’t all inclusive but when I put it together I listed the cravings I receive the most questions on. If that’s what you crave when you’re lacking good fats then you clearly have a good food profile! 🙂
Some food cravings can be caused by a serotonin imbalance – I will add that to the list!