Have you ever woke up in the middle of the night and found yourself on the hunt for your favorite snack... almost mindlessly looking through the cupboards, even though you already know exactly what is in there?
I'm sure we have all experienced strange cravings at times, but did you know that these cravings may have a deeper meaning and there are things that may even help to curb these cravings and get your body what it really needs?
Here are just a few cravings that may mean your body is in need of something else.
Chocolate - This could mean that your body needs more magnesium. You can get magnesium from other things such as nuts, seeds, legumes, veggies and fruit.
Sugar - This may mean that you are in need of chromium, carbon, phosphorus, sulphur or tryptophan. You can get these compounds form things like broccoli, grapes, cheese, and various other sources.
Bread, Pasta, Carbs - This could be a lack of nitrogen and you might do better getting this from meat, nuts, beans or chia seeds.
References:
https://www.lifecoachcode.com/2016/05/30/what-food-craving-mean-eat-instead/
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/food-cravings-listen-to-y_b_664561
These are just a few of the cravings that have been tracked back to deficiencies and it may not always apply in every situation. In fact, sometimes it can be quite tricky to differentiate the needs of the body and the desires of the mind. Just because something is your favorite food does not mean that you have a specific nutritional deficiency tied to it.
There is also an emotional component that we can not forget about. Marion Woodman, an author and Freudian analyst who’s well known for her writings on addiction and eating disorders says: “The longing for sweets is really a yearning for love or sweetness.”
So, the next time you are craving a cupcake, it may be that you need a hug. :)
As you can see this is a very complicated and multifaceted problem that can take time to figure out.
Whenever I approach something like this I try to look for patterns. Is this a common thing, do I know what my nutritional deficiencies are and does this craving correlate? Or do I just need someone to be sweet to me?
Whatever it is, have fun trying to identify your bodies signals. The more you tune in the more it will tell you.
