Who doesn't have food cravings? Whether it's hormones, pregnancy, or emotionally induced, your brain knows what your body needs!
However, in this technology age, you're more than likely disconnected from your body. You might often think you know better than what your body is trying to tell you... but is that really the case?
"Any craving is a good starting point, because we have several biological mechanisms for correcting specific nutritional deficiencies. When something is interfering with your ability to use sugar, you crave it because if you don't eat it you will waste protein to make it." Dr. Ray Peat, PhD
Causes of Food Cravings
Research tells us a few things about the reasons for food cravings. First, gender appears to play some role, with food cravings being more common among women than men. This is according to a study that showed 97% of women vs. 68% of men reported food craving episodes. [4]
Sleep also appears to play a part, as a lack of sleep can induce cravings for unhealthy foods. [3]
Another commonly suggested phenomenon is that food cravings are a way to self-medicate, "This theory postulates that, in essence, food is being used as a form of self-medication to ameliorate unpleasant affective states. This occurs through increases in the brain neurotransmitter serotonin, which is known to have a positive impact on mood." [4]
This may be in part why cravings are so prevalent among those with anxiety, depression, chronic stress conditions, and among pregnant women.
On the other hand, nutritional therapy ideology most closely correlates food cravings as intuitive nudges from the body to get more nutrients that one may be deficient in or need for optimal health.
What are your food cravings trying to tell you?
Fat cravings
Do you have enough healthy saturated fat in your diet (ie. lard, butter, coconut oil, cream, etc.)? What about omega-3 fatty acids (seafood, fish oil, microalgae, hemp, chia, walnuts and flax)?
Cravings for fat can be a sign of a fatty acid deficiency or poor digestion of fat indicating biliary insufficiency. This is especially important if you have ever been on a low-fat diet, struggle with chronic inflammation, weight gain, digestive issues, cardiovascular concerns and/or gallbladder removal.
Healthy fats are your friend — and they don't make you fat! You may have noticed that cravings for things like avocado, butter, and cream are common, but cravings for unhealthy oils like soy or canola are not common because your body is incredibly smart.
Take a hint from your cravings and choose healthy fats that your body actually craves. If this speaks to you, consider fatty acid testing to check in on your fatty acid balance or gut testing to assess fat digestion.
Salt cravings
Your body wants chloride. Your best bet here is to make sure you get some unrefined salt in your diet. Cravings for salt are also often a clue of chronic stress and/or adrenal insufficiency [2]. Under the stress response, you lose more sodium, and naturally want to consume more to compensate for the loss.
Listen to your body and salt your food as your taste buds see fit. But please, avoid Pink Himalayan sea salt (why here).
Sugar cravings
Sugar (glucose) is the body's primary source of energy and is needed to fuel cellular energy production. When your intake is not sufficient (often due to dieting, low carb diets, and starvation), your body starts the inflammatory process of breaking down fat and proteins to make glucose.
Fruits, root vegetables, and below ground veggies are among some of the best carbohydrate choices, along with honey, maple syrup, fresh fruit juices, and small amounts of sucrose (table sugar) used sparingly.
Chocolate cravings
Cravings for chocolate can be due to the need for magnesium. [1] If you want to be sure about your magnesium level, hair analysis is the tool I use on myself and with my clients (Hair Analysis is a very affordable way to find out what your body needs and shows 35 different mineral levels and available internationally).
Magnesium is lost rapidly under the stress response, so it's very common to have cravings for magnesium-rich foods. Try darker chocolates and seek out other sources of magnesium such as fresh fruits or transdermal sources. Magnesium spray and magnesium lotion are my personal favorites to aid in reversing magnesium deficiency.
You can also find some of my favorite magnesium-rich chocolate recipes here (double chocolate ice cream) and here (gluten free chocolate lava cake).
However, eating too much chocolate, particularly dark chocolate can get you into trouble. Dark chocolate is high in copper and getting too much is linked to mental health issues.
Lemon/lime/vinegary food cravings
If you commonly crave acidic foods like lemons, limes, citrus, or vinegary foods, you could be low in stomach acid. Strong stomach acid is your body's first line of defense and serves the purpose of sterilizing your food, disinfecting the stomach, and breaking down your foods (particularly proteins).
When your stomach acid isn't adequate from dieting, chronic stress, h-pylori infection or nutritional deficiencies, it starts a cascade of digestive dysfunction leading to digestive discomfort (read: bloating), food allergies, constipation, and more. Here's two of my favorite tips to increase stomach acid naturally.
Red meat cravings
You could be low in iron, zinc, or amino acids (building blocks of proteins). However, if you regularly consume red meat regularly, and still have cravings, you might not be digesting it adequately enough absorb all the nutrients.
Poor digestion is a common symptom of a slowed metabolism; often a result of dieting and ignoring your body's needs for a long period of time.
Additionally, if you find yourself having what I call a reverse craving, or a strong food aversion to red meat, it may be a good idea to get your iron levels checked. That way, you can rule out iron overload as the cause of your food aversion.
Thirst or hydration cravings
Excessive thirst can mean a lot of different things. Most typically, it's your body asking for more fluids in response to an increased water loss due to exercise or heat and eating salty foods. In extreme cases, excessive thirst can be a sign of diabetes. Certain medication can also increase urine output leading to increased thirst, so always check with your doctor if your thirst correlates with medication use or recent health changes.
One of my favorite thirst-quenching beverages is this super-simple ginger beer recipe.
Cheese cravings
Looking at the nutrient composition of cheese, it's a great source of calcium and phosphorus, so cravings for such could indicate your body needs more of either. Cheese is also high in the amino acid tyramine which can increase dopamine making you feel good, which also may contribute to cheeses addictive quality.
Junk food cravings
Do you crave pizza like there is no tomorrow? Could you live on potato chips or french fries? Is frozen cookie dough always in your freezer? I often correlate junk food cravings with the need for more calories; a common occurrence if you are on a restrictive diet of any kind. If you're not on a diet, and still craving junk food more often than you'd like, you could be low in minerals, not getting enough easy to digest carbohydrates in your diet, or being using high food reward choices to help cope with stress and emotions.
I'm a big fan of listening to my body over any external food programming. Finding a balance between listening to your cravings or re-directing them to something a little more nutritious is a life skill and the ultimate health balancing act.
I hope this post gives you some more insight into what your body is trying to tell you and what you can do about it.
Is Nutritional Debt Causing Your Food Cravings?
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What are your food cravings trying to tell you? Please share in the comments!
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References:
- Bruinsma, K, and D L Taren. “Chocolate: food or drug?.” Journal of the American Dietetic Association vol. 99,10 (1999): 1249-56. doi:10.1016/S0002-8223(99)00307-7
- Nicolaides, Nicolas C, et al. “Adrenal Insufficiency.” Endotext, edited by Kenneth R Feingold et. al., MDText.com, Inc., 14 October 2017.
- Lv, Wen et al. “Sleep, food cravings and taste.” Appetite vol. 125 (2018): 210-216. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2018.02.013
- Susan Yanovski, Sugar and Fat: Cravings and Aversions, The Journal of Nutrition, Volume 133, Issue 3, March 2003, Pages 835S–837S, https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/133.3.835S
Wade Wilson
I find your statement regarding the body turning fat into glucose being inflammatory, under the sugar cravings section to be interesting. Fat is our bodies preferred fuel, and I actually stay quite lean by limiting my carb intake and allowing my body to become a fat burner instead of needing that continuous every 3 hour influx of carbs. Where do you get that converting fat into glucose is an inflammatory process?
Catherine
Hi Wade,
I think excessive fat metabolism (ie, low carb or no sugar diets) is inflammatory.
Your body is able to produce energy from both fats and sugars. Energy from sugar provides quicker more efficient fuel. “Oxidation of sugar is metabolically efficient in many ways, including sparing oxygen consumption. It produces more carbon dioxide than oxidizing fat does, and carbon dioxide has many protective functions, including increasing Krebs cycle activity and inhibiting toxic damage to proteins,” Ray Peat, PhD.
Dr. Peat even goes on to say that sugar can safeguard us; increasing our resistance to stress, and providing anti-aging benefits when used properly in the context of a nutrient dense diet. “The protective effects of sugar, and the harmful effects of excessive fat metabolism, are now being widely recognized, in every field of physiology.” Ray Peat, PhD.
Thanks for reading!
Catherine
hawgdawg
Though I've only been revisiting this type of lifestyle, as healthy as I can possibly be in every effort to continue improving health in my own family, for the last two and one half years, I don't disagree with Catherine except in one regard: I believe that when we learn to listen to our bodies and indulge its primal instincts for self regulation, our nutrient dense and healthy carbs will eventually balance with our healthy fat intakes.
Synergy should be what we strive for in the homeostasis of our dynamic systems. Elst, we would not possess homeostasis. 🙂 Well stated young lady.
Cynthia
"carbon dioxide has many protective functions, including increasing Krebs cycle"
Carbon dioxide is a byproduct of the Kreb's cycle. It doesn't increase the forward reaction, high carbon dioxide levels would actually reverse the Krebs cycle. Krebs is increased by low energy signals from the body, including the lack of the enzymes/substrates created during the cycle. It is the mechanism in which we generate ATP from glucose, fatty acids, and amino acids. This statement makes me really question Peat's expertise in this field.
YoureAMoron
Sounds like your biology experience ended at high school. 🙂
Christine
sounds like you're rude, intolerant, and an intellectual snob. it is not possible for anyone to know it all, especially in depth. including you.
SARA
I would like to see the research showing sugars protect us when they in fact increase oxidative stress and inflammation, which is why people improve markers on a ketogenic diet. Carb centric diets seem to correlate to hypertension, cardiovascular disease (including dementia), and feed cancers.
Martin
Yes sugar causes cancer so I want to true reports where sugar helps out?
Maryeandean
Abnormalcravgorlemon,salt
Julie Lacy
Hogwash!
Vic
Several animal studies have shown that a diet high in added sugar leads to obesity, insulin resistance, increased gut permeability and low-grade inflammation (5).
Human studies confirm the link between added sugar and higher inflammatory markers.
A study of 29 healthy people found that consuming only 40 grams of added sugar from just one 375-ml can of soda per day led to an increase in inflammatory markers, insulin resistance and LDL cholesterol. These people tended to gain more weight, too (6).
Another study in overweight and obese people found that consuming one can of regular soda daily for six months led to increased levels of uric acid, a trigger for inflammation and insulin resistance. Subjects who drank diet soda, milk or water had no increase in uric acid levels (7).
Drinking sugary drinks can spike inflammation levels. Moreover, this effect can last for a considerable amount of time.
Consuming a 50-gram dose of fructose causes a spike in inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein (CRP) just 30 minutes later. Furthermore, CRP remains high for over two hours (8).
In addition to added sugar, eating too many refined carbohydrates has also been linked to increased inflammation in humans (9, 10, 11).
In one study, eating just 50 grams of refined carbs in the form of white bread resulted in higher blood sugar levels and an increase in the inflammatory marker Nf-kB (10).
SUMMARY
Consuming too much added sugar and refined carbohydrates is linked with elevated inflammation in the body as well as insulin resistance and weight gain.
kristy
That is actually very dangerous. Glucose is a required energy source for all cells. Without glucose your body will use proteins however this produces ketones, in addition to damaging muscles in many cases.
Kitty
Glucose is required for fuel, however if your body does not get it via carbs, it resorts to a process called Gluconeogenesis = making glucose from things that are not glucose. Our body is truly amazing and can do this very, very well.
Ketones, at very high levels are dangerous, yes. But your body can run extremely well on them. What you need to remember when limiting your carb intake is making damn sure you get enough protein and healthy fats for your body to use for this process, without having to eat away at muscles and organs to get what it needs.
Done properly, ketogenic diets are actually quite healthy. I'm on a ketogenic diet where my protein and fat intake is closely monitored and I feel AMAZING! Excess body and visceral fat is melting away, and I'm up 6kgs of muscle mass too.
Kassi M
Ketones from muscle wasting ketoacidosis and ketones from ketogenic diets and fat burning are not the same, and will not build up unused in the blood stream. Because ketones from ketogenic diets can be utilized due to adequate insulin levels, there's no risk involved the way ketone buildup would be in ketoacidosis. Comparing the two situations is inadequate. Blood sugar related ketones are caused by muscle and fat wasting from starvation, essentially, and there is not enough insulin available to convert it to energy.
SARA
There's are still clusters of humans who eat only fats and proteins and have less disease. Please stop reading research the sugar industry funded.
Catherine
If I was paid to write this post, 5 years later I'm still waiting on the check...
Kris
There seems to be some confusion among the common folk concerning sugars and white refined cane sugar. This might be best explained over some stewed beets or apples
Vic
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gluconeogenesis
Gluconeogenesis (GNG) is a metabolic pathway that results in the generation of glucose from certain non-carbohydrate carbon substrates. From breakdown of proteins, these substrates include glucogenic amino acids (although not ketogenic amino acids); from breakdown of lipids (such as triglycerides), they include glycerol, odd-chain fatty acids (although not even-chain fatty acids, see below); and from other steps in metabolism they include pyruvate and lactate.
Gluconeogenesis is one of several main mechanisms used by humans and many other animals to maintain blood glucose levels, avoiding low levels (hypoglycemia). Other means include the degradation of glycogen (glycogenolysis)[1] and fatty acid catabolism.
Gluconeogenesis is a ubiquitous process, present in plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, and other microorganisms.[2] In vertebrates, gluconeogenesis takes place mainly in the liver and, to a lesser extent, in the cortex of the kidneys. In ruminants, this tends to be a continuous process.[3] In many other animals, the process occurs during periods of fasting, starvation, low-carbohydrate diets, or intense exercise. The process is highly endergonic until it is coupled to the hydrolysis of ATP or GTP, effectively making the process exergonic. For example, the pathway leading from pyruvate to glucose-6-phosphate requires 4 molecules of ATP and 2 molecules of GTP to proceed spontaneously. Gluconeogenesis is often associated with ketosis. Gluconeogenesis is also a target of therapy for type 2 diabetes, such as the antidiabetic drug, metformin, which inhibits glucose formation and stimulates glucose uptake by cells.[4] In ruminants, because dietary carbohydrates tend to be metabolized by rumen organisms, gluconeogenesis occurs regardless of fasting, low-carbohydrate diets, exercise, etc.[5]
Jessica Boyd
Sugar craving can be an indication of candida and/or parasites
Victoria
This was the case for me I craved sugar for 20 years I had no clue I had parasites. I am now as clean as I can possibly get, and currected my nutrient deficiencies and can happily say Ive fully recovered but cravings and migraines were my first symptoms
yolisa koyo
Hi Victoria
How did you get rid of the parasites. Have been battling Candida for years now, and still not winning..
Thanx
Yolisa
Susan Minarich
Catherine,
Please watch this video series on nutrient-rich Paleo diets in its entirety. Extremely enlightening. I am on a low-carb, high-fat AIP (autoimmune protocol) Paleo diet intended to REDUCE inflammation in the body (especially in the brain and CNS).. Controlled tests are underway, but the anecdotal evidence on results is extremely promising and positive!
Susan Minarich
Yolisa,
I saw an alternative health care practitioner about candida overgrowth some years ago. There are a few things that you can do, but will require some effort and discipline on your part. You may have to go through a somewhat unpleasant process of 'starving off' the candida, which results in food cravings that you should not give in to (that's the candida bacteria wanting to be 'fed'). Please be sure to read up on this thoroughly before embarking on any sort of candida cleanse. The other thing that really helps the process along is colon cleansing, but only irrigative (water) and only through an experienced practitioner. The latter helped me a LOT. I now also regularly take molybdenum amino acid chelate when I feel it acting up on me occasionally (the sugar cravings that come with a certain type of stomach 'pain' that I've learned to identify). My alternative practitioner and also articles I've read state that once you are candida-sensitive, you may always have that tendency (for overgrowth). So something to watch for and to be being mindful of with respect to your bodily sensations. Hope this helps!
caroline
What is a craving for coconut indicative of? I cannot seem to get enough and am always looking for it.
Emma
I've been craving coconut as well -- the last five months or so, nearly any coconut/pineapple concoction I can make or get my hands on, coconut in particular. I drink it down, and I'm like "god that is so flippin' good." Comes back about 3-4 days later. My family things I'm crazy.
Scott
I would think that your body is wanting more fat, good fats, I am not up on the tech lingo, but I like good food 🙂 When I eat a young coconut, I usualy am desiring it when I get really stressed. it really helps to even things out for me. Iam sure they are very high in trace minerals, and the cocnut water is really good to hydrate you.
I am going to add this in here, because it is important.... God. When I find myself stressful, I see a lack up faith in Trust in my creator to take care of me, teach me to live a healthy life, through sites like these. I dont have a monopoly on God, I just happen to know him personaly, and from what I have found, there is no better life style change then to seeking to know Jesus.
I reccomend a little book, called Steps to Christ. And it is just that, steps, to Christ, they are easy 🙂 Money back guarunteed. i would even mail you a copy, but amazon would be your best bet.
I promise, that adding a relationship with God to your daily diet, will actually help in the healing of your body....thats the first thing he did when first meeting people, first the physical, then the spiritual. May a blessing be found in these words, I myself, too, once was lost, not knowing even that I was not who or where i was created to be. Then came Jesus, healing my drugged, abused, negglected body, by diet, by water, by temperence, by understaing who He is.....Thats really the point. Understanding Who God is, and when you get this, life changes.
Kate
Thank You Scott for Your testimony! Yes, God is our amazing, good, loving, merciful and tender Father!
Jeannette
What can be done if you are low in stomach acid? I always crave lemons.
Victoria
I take hcl or you can buy digestive enzymes at the healthfood store or online to help with that
Duke Shelton
You might try switching to lime juice. I used to drink lemon, but recently found out the lime more closely matches stomach acid. In particular, key lime. There is a brand, Nellie & Joe's key lime juice that is sold in pints at WallyWorld. It's about $2.40 each. I just keep it in the fridge and hit it after meals and before going to bed. Tastes great and works wonders.
Krystal
Crazy how myou body was craving lime juice. Not lemonade. This explains a lot. Thanks
Deb Genovese
I have had issues with severe GERD in the past and treated with Protonix. After discovering that it was a LACK of enough stomach acid, I underwent a search for a cure. I mix 8 oz. of good drinking water with 2 T. Bragg's Apple Cider VInegar (ACV) and sip it at the first sign of heartburn/indigestion. It goes away almost immediately. I have also incorporated buttermilk into my treatment regimen at night if I have a bout. I take about 2 oz. of farm fresh or Kate's buttermilk and drink it down. Learned this from a farmer who specializes in dairy. If I don't have buttermilk, a few ounces of a plain seltzer has helped as well.
Hope this is of some use to you. Heartburn/acid reflux is annoying and painful.
Dorothy A Warford
Apple cider vinegar helps me tremendously. And my husband drinks it and it lowered his cholesterol and hard. We use 1/4th cup water and 1/4 cup Apple cider vinegar. I add a little salt to mine, goes down easier, lol....
Marsha Woesner
Cravings for dark chocolate may also be due to head injury demanding it to heal. 🙂
Min
AGREE!! Sugar craving can be candida and needs to be addressed.
Colleen B
OK, so what do you think cravings for eggs mean? I have been having those lately.
Catherine
I see eggs as natures "multi-vitamin" so to me it would indicate a need for a wide variety of nutrients. Most notably saturated fat, cholesterol (necessary for hormone production), protein, Vitamin A, B vitamins & K2 😉
Thanks for reading,
Catherine
Libby
Organic popcorn made with coconut and palm oils with grassfed butter, real salt and kombucha to wash it down. 🙂
Catherine
Sounds delicious!!!
Mary
That sounds really good!
Lizzy Ford
So very fascinating! As is your entire blog. I have been craving salt quite a bit lately, which is very weird for me. I can't seem to get enough of it. I have been wondering why until I just happened to come across this today. Yep. I have been pretty stressed lately.
Carol
Salt cravings are also indicative of a calcium deficiency. It's a conditioncalled pica.
Healthy Notions
Wow, this is a cool short and to the point article. I love it! Yes, I crave the sour stuff and know I have low-stomach acid, but that's why we crave...to balance ourselves out and to get the needed nutrients into the system. I always trust my cravings for I know it is my body communicating to me and telling me what I need to eat next. Thanks for the info! 🙂 Eat well ~ Stay well
Dara
Love this post. I've been taking lots of extra magnesium lately and never even think about chocolate anymore. This, coming from a life-long chocolaholic! Also can't get enough salt lately and it correlates to my increased work schedule and less sleep. Bingo. When I don't eat enough starchy carbs, I get heart palpitations, don't sleep well, and crave sugar like a wild woman. When I eat enough carbs, my heart is calm, I sleep like a baby and no sugar cravings. When I go too long without having butter because I've been eating coconut oil instead, I feel like I could eat a whole stick of it. Everything is better with butter!
So I'd say your post is right on the money. Thanks!
Megs
I never really get cravings but I am hungry all the time (unless you want to call it just a craving for food in general - lol). I eat and then I'm hungry again within two hours for sure no matter how much protein or healthy fats I have. I can go all night without food though, I don't usually eat after dinner. I wish I didn't have to always think about what I have to eat next :-/
Patricia
What is it if you crave milk all the time?
Shai
I'm constantly craving fruit.. I'm not pregnant and no matter how much fruit I eat I always want more. I end up making myself sick from the fruits though.. What is my body trying to say?
I'm also constantly craving cold beverages (not soda or lemonade)...
Hannah
When I crave fruits, it's the sugar I crave. Making me overload! Another "mask" for Candida in my opinion. If I don't eat fruit, I don't crave it.
Shellie
It means your dehydrated. Make sure you're drinking half your body weight in ounces of water. (ie. 140lbs / 2 = 70 oz water)
Danny
I hope people don't take this seriously as it is completely wrong. For starters, animal fat is bad for you. Humans don't need to intake ANY sugar as in monosaccharides and disaccharides. And how do you expect our body knows what is in chocolate? It's simply an addiction that's caused by neurotransmitters like dopamine.
Source: Medical school
Catherine
Hi Danny,
I think we have to agree to disagree on this one! I hope medical schools will update their nutrition curriculum to to abolish the "saturated fat hating" advice that came out of poor scientific studies. It's ruining the health and lives of millions.
Abundantly,
Catherine
Sadeq
I too am a medical student and I totally agree with you. saturated fats taken in moderation (like everything else) helps the body grow and function. Testosterone (which is responsible for many things including muscle building) is made from cholesterol which is found in saturated fats. the problem is people don't balance their intake of saturated and unsaturated fats.
Susan Minarich
Catherine,
I agree that the Medical Community desperately needs to be FAR better educated on Nutrition, and I already see that happening, yet not fast enough. There are two sides to the statement that animal fat is not healthy. On the one hand, if you are on a ketogenic diet, burning mainly fat for ATP, then fat is 'good.' HOWEVER, all animals store toxins in their fat as a way to neutralize them. Unfortunately, in the US, non-organic and non-grass-fed animal fat consumption comes with some real risks, especially for those who have chronic diseases (I have a serious autoimmune disease). It has to do with our industrialized world, the harmful environmental toxins, and unnatural way of feeding and fattening up animals because the industry has become productionized. So if you're eating 'conventional' meats and MOSTLY creating ATP through glycosis (i.e. burring sugars) instead of ketosis (burning fats), animal fats will not only be harmful for the reasons just stated, but will also contribute to atherosclerosis and all of the other unhealthy effects that we currently understand stem from a high-fat diet. BUT, if your diet is mainly ketogenic (i.e. Paleo) with healthy fats (largely vegetable-based, but also healthy animal fats) and low sugar intake, we are now learning that you will NOT suffer the health risks that the medical community has come to associate with high fat diets(!). The Science is being proven as we speak.. This is an exciting time for the Field of Optimal Nutrition and related research! 😉
YL
I do believe many cravings are trained that's why we have obesity, diabetes, heart diseases, and people who die by indulging in too much of something. I used to exercise and have balanced diet without a lot of sugar, fat and salt. After a change in profession, I don't do exercise much. My appetites for salt, sugar, spicy and sour foods grow and I am getting more sick. Yeah there is difference between habits and needs if only we know how to tell the difference.
dudu khanye
i came across this today,an i sometimes crave raw honey,what does this mean to my health?
Rebecca Vance
I crave lemons with sat all the time! I've been eating 2 lemons every night. I peel them like an orange, section them, and salt them, then eat them. I can't get enough! You would think that I was pregnant or something. I've always loved lemons this way, but I didn't crave them. Now I have to have them..I don't understand it. I am not low on stomach acid either--in fact, just the opposite...
Henriette
hi rebecca, not sure why you say you are high in stomach acid but I just recently found out that if the stomach acid comes in your throat or mouth this is NOT a sign of too much stomach acid but the opposite: this is a sign of LOW stomach acid, hence that would explain your cravings for the lemons and salt. The salt dissolves in your stomach in natrium and chloride which are components for building stomach acid.
Never underestimate the intelligence of the body, it exceeds the mind completely! 🙂
So very good to give in to your cravings and follow the needs of your body!
cathy
For no reason I was craving cubes of raw beef, I do not eat much red meat mostly poultry and fish and never have I eaten raw beef, why am I craving raw beef. I see it and it looks appetizing. Won't do it cause I know its not smart
Jenny
I find that each individual varies on what they can eat, the results and causes of food cravings, and what is good for them to some extent. I find that for me if I get enough healthy fats my sugar cravings go down to zero and I am able to stay lower carb in my diet to control Candida issues. I basically have no adverse symptoms, have not or never needed to take any medications (which in my opinion is one of the leading causes of people being overweight, since almost everyone seems to be on one type of med or another these days) , and have never been overweight. Listen to your body, make healthy choices, and be willing to be flexible, experiment a little, and keep an open mind. I have seen healthy things work for other people that would never work for me, but that goes right back to the beginning of this paragraph, everyone is different!
Jordan
i read this and literally said "HA" out loud when I got to the acidic food craving. I have always craved acidic foods, even as a little girl. My mom always comments on it and lately I've discovered my digestive woes probably stem back to low stomach acid. I've been telling my mom this and after showing her the article, she's a believer!! Now my question is: white potatoes. I ALWAYS want them. Is that a sugar or carb thing?
jodi
Sugar cravings can also be mixed up body signals for dehydration. Next time you have sugar cravings, reach for a bottle of water instead.
Starniq
Hi Catherine and Everyone,
I have been craving Avocadoc's for two weeks and don't understand why Avocados? I never really crave anything in particular, and now instead of buying one of two, I buy a bag of them. (Which comes 3 in a bag),
Anne
I've been craving them too! I drizzle them with lime juice and a small sprinkle of Morena sugar, and eat them diced and tossed in this mixture. I only have this about twice a week, but each time, it tastes AMAZING. I still haven't figured out why the combination hits the spot.
I AM of Brazilian heritage, and my father used to include avocado and lime juice in MANY meals during my childhood. Now, I'm married to an all-American, southern man, whose culinary basis is country cooking. So, my main hypothesis is that this change is affecting my body's nutrient availability, and inspiring the cravings.
My only other craving is chocolate, so I self-medicate with spicy dark chocolate bars for munching on, and the occasional spoonful of raw, organic cacao powder in some fresh coffee. So indulgent! Both can be a great escape to a stressful day.
sheri
I have just discovered with skin testing that I was actually allergic to many of the foods that I crave such as potatoes, apples, celery, and fish.
Jen
What if I crave cooked grains like rice corn or buckwheat? Usually premenstrual times....
I normally eat AIP paleo or a modified AIP . Every once in a while I crave gluten free grains like crazy.
Ash
What do pear cravings mean?
Sally
The problem with this article is that you assume your readers are generally healthy, non-addicted people with generally healthy eating habits. You completely ignore the elephant in the room--addiction. No, not all cravings are a body's healthy way of telling you to eat more xyz. Some cravings are caused by addiction.
Christine
Sugar cravings: Sugar (glucose) is the body’s primary source of energy and is needed to fuel cellular energy production. When your intake is not sufficient (often due to dieting, low carb diets, and starvation), your body starts the inflammatory process of breaking down fat and proteins to MAKE glucose. Fruits, roots, and below ground veggies are the best choices, along with honey, maple syrup, and small amounts of sucrose (table sugar).
I think you need to update this part of your post. Your response is incomplete. You only address the effect due to "dieting", "low carb intake" and starving one's self. Adding sugars is only a temporary fix and fraught will ill effects down the road. There is a lot of recent information on the benefits of a low sugar diet and losing weight by INCREASTING the fats and proteins and LOW CARB vegetables so the body can SAFELY convert the fat to energy Especially for diabetics like myself. There are lots of testimonials as to it's veracity.
I think this post should be retired until you've done some homework on the subject.
Julie
A lot of conflicting information would make anyone scratch their heads. Every winter I crave orange juice followed by milk. Why? Potassium and calcium work together otherwise you get no therapeutic absorption value.
Tristan
Hey, Uh,,, Idk if there is something wrong with me or not But I'm always Craving limes, it's more for the Buzz I get after I conume something for it, I jut cannot get enough of the taste
Casey
There are so many foods that I only enjoy in as much as I enjoy the lemon and salt I liberally put on them (especially vegetables). I've loved acidic foods for as long as I can really remember. And I've had acid reflux since I was a little girl eating lime-flavored hot cheetos with lime beer salt sprinkled on them! Yikes. It's on and off and I don't necessarily see a correlation with acidic food (except tomato sauce, that really does it). I would even love to eat tons of kimchi but I'm afraid I might have a histamine issue.
I tried taking HCL and actually my acid reflux got much worse. Wish I could understand why I love acidic food so much.
T
I was so excited when I heard how to satisfy your sugar craving with a healthy food. Just infuse water or plain sparkling water with fruit. the sugars from the fruit help crave off cane suagr and other sweeteners and it's a great weight loss tool.
I am going to try it this week