Do you have any idea what may be the cause of your food cravings?
You may be surprised to know that your food cravings have nothing to
do with being physically hungry. Whether it's chocolate, a bag of
salty chips, or big greasy cheese burger, we are all stricken with
cravings for certain foods at one time or another. Craving's in many
cases may not be what they appear. Sometimes it's about listening to
your body and determining what it's really asking for. The body
requires macronutrients (protein, fats and carbs) as well as
micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) to function optimally. If the
body is deficient in a nutrient, it will likely show a sign. In many
cases, that sign is a food craving.
For example, if the body does not receive enough omega – 3 fatty
acids in the daily diet, it may que us to eat more of the wrong kind
of fat. We'll likely eat the greasy cheese burger or slice of cheesy
pizza, or bag of chips. Unfortunately, those foods are not going to
give the body what it is looking for. This can turn into a huge
over indulgence, which is never good. Once the body is given the
right kinds of fats such as the omega – 3s, the cravings may go
away.
Craving's can also be a more complicated problem. Sometimes those
cravings are an indication that something may be wrong internally,
maybe even a health concern. Salt is a great example of that. If
you find yourself craving salt or salting food before even tasting
it, this may be a sign of electrolyte imbalance. This may also be a
sign of adrenal fatigue, which if not addressed can lead to other
hormonal imbalances, affecting cortisol, DHEA, estrogen,
testosterone, the thyroid, melatonin and many others.
Sugar cravings are another one that in many cases are attributed to
adrenal fatigue. Adrenal fatigue can interfere with cortisol
production, leading to blood glucose depletion and hypoglycemia. As
blood sugar levels drop, this cues a person to eat sugar in an effort
to raise those levels. For women, food cravings tend to be at their
greatest during pre-menestration. Those cravings can be caused by
something as simple as the need for zinc. But it can also be
something more complicated.
The chemical changes within a women's body combined with stress and
emotions, trigger those cravings for chocolate, ice cream and french
fries. Unfortunately consuming these processed foods leads to
additional bloating and water retention.
Here is a list of common cravings and the possible deficiency
associated with them.
Food craving: Fat. Common deficiency: Calcium.
Food craving: Bread. Common deficiency: Nitrogen.
Food craving: Soda. Common deficiency: Calcium.
Food craving: Chocolate: Common deficiency: Magnesium.
Food craving: Salt. Common deficiency: Sodium, chloride.
Food craving: Sugar/sweets. Common deficiency: Chromium, phosphorous,
tryptophan, sulfur.
Food craving: Coffee. Common deficiency: Phosphorous, sulfur, sodium
chloride, iron.
If you are experiencing chronic cravings for certain food types,
where adding in the nutrient containing foods doesn't help, then you
may have some internal imbalance present, like hormonal or digestive
issues. It may be a good idea to contact a functional or holistic
nutritionist or a naturopathic doctor.
By
performing a bio-individualized assessment, and possibly running lab
tests, a naturopathic doctor may be able to uncover the underlying
causes of cravings, then prescribe the appropriate nutrition and
nutraceuticals regimen required to correct the underlying causes,
halting the cravings before they turn into something more severe.
