Five common food cravings and what they mean

I’m sure we have all experienced food cravings at some point in life. It’s that period where your body starts to crave and intensely desire a certain meal or beverage.

During these times, it might feel like you can’t seem to get those thoughts out of your mind until you get what you want. And, sometimes, getting what you want only leaves you craving for more.

It’s important that we learn more about cravings. This type of sensitization could shed a lot of light on the underlying causes of your cravings and this will help you be more in touch with your body. To get you started, let’s find out what the food cravings you normally have actually mean.

Craving something sugary

Sugary foods normally hit the spot. They trigger your happy emotions and could often make you crave more. Whether it’s a doughnut, chocolate or cake, craving sugary foods usually mean that your body wants magnesium. Emotionally, you could subconsciously be seeking happiness and that could lead you directly to the doughnut shop by the corner.

The best thing to do, if you don’t want to sabotage your diet, is to eat foods that are filled with magnesium like green veggies and peanuts, or calm that sweet tooth by eating fruits which contain natural, healthy sugars.

Craving something salty

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m guilty of getting salt cravings from time to time. Snacks like salty chips are my go-to option whenever I urgently want something salty to eat. What you may not know is that when your body demands salt, you are probably dehydrated or even stressed. Salt tends to soak up the water in your body and, the problem is that salt itself can be very addictive.

Too much salt is harmful to your health so, if you’re craving salty snacks, just reach for a glass of water instead. Also, work on maintaining a good emotional environment so that your body doesn’t crave salt to cope with stress.

Craving dairy 

Dairy cravings are actually a thing. You might develop a love for milk or even yoghurt for a period of time. So, what exactly is your body trying to tell you? A craving for dairy is a sign that your body lacks essential nutrients like calcium, zinc and vitamin A.

You should definitely continue drinking milk to offset the calcium deficit, but you’ll need to balance that with foods rich in vitamin A, magnesium, zinc and other minerals associated with dairy cravings.

Craving red meats

Not everyone is a fan of red meat. Sometimes, however, even those who don’t eat much red meat find themselves craving a juicy steak. The underlying cause for this type of craving is protein and iron deficiency. Green veggies, nuts and beans are some of the foods you can eat when you find yourself thinking of red meat.

Craving soda

There’s nothing like an ice-cold soda on a hot day. Sometimes, they even quench your thirst more than water because they’re fizzy, full of sugar and satisfying. We often run for soda and other carbonated drinks when we are thirsty because our bodies actually need hydration.

Choose water to quench your thirst whenever you’re craving an ice-cold Coca-Cola. It’s the best option for your body because it comes with actual benefits. Besides, after the first few sips of soda, the excitement usually dies down anyway.

That said, there’s nothing wrong with satisfying your cravings as long as things don’t go overboard. Sometimes, trying to block off those thoughts only makes the craving worse.

So, the next time you’re craving something ask yourself if it’s truly what you want. Perhaps it’s your body that’s lacking a certain mineral, vitamin or other essential nutrients.