How To Determine What Food Cravings Mean And What Nutrients You Need To Counter Food Cravings
Managing Food Cravings: What Do Your Food Cravings Mean? How can you minimize food cravings?
Cravings can be very difficult to overcome. Sometimes it feels like you will do anything to satisfy the urge for chocolate or a bag of potato chips. When you crave to eat, your body is talking to you. Indicates that you are missing one or more vital nutrients. For women especially, our monthly cycles deplete our bodies of certain key nutrients and minerals, and as you can see from this list, there is a direct correlation with desire and our low mineral levels.
I use this in my practice with my clients and find that as we begin to make small adjustments, the body responds well and the cravings subside and balance is restored.
Check out the list of common food cravings and how you can add nutrients to minimize cravings.
If you yearn …
Chocolate
YOU NEED: MUST EAT:
Magnesium: raw nuts and seeds, vegetables, fruits
Chromium: broccoli, grapes, cheese, dried beans, beef liver, chicken
Carbon: fresh fruits
Phosphorus: chicken, beef, liver, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, legumes, cereals
Sulfur: blueberries, horseradish, cruciferous vegetables, kale, cabbage
Tryptophan: cheese, liver, lamb, raisins, sweet potato, spinach
Toasted bread
YOU NEED: MUST EAT:
Nitrogen: high protein foods: fish, meat, nuts, beans
Oily snacks, fatty foods
YOU NEED: MUST EAT:
Calcium: mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, greens, cheese, sesame
Coffee or tea
YOU NEED: MUST EAT:
Phosphorus: chicken, beef, liver, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, legumes.
Sulfur: egg yolks, red peppers, muscle protein, garlic, onion, cruciferous vegetables
NaCl (salt): sea salt, apple cider vinegar (in salad)
Iron: meat, fish and poultry, seaweed, vegetables, black cherries.
Alcohol and drugs
YOU NEED: MUST EAT:
Proteins: meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, nuts
Avenin: granola, oatmeal
Calcium: mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, greens, cheese, sesame
Glutamine: Glutamine withdrawal powder supplement, raw cabbage juice
Potassium: sun-dried black olives, potato peel broth, seaweed, bitter greens
Chew ice
YOU NEED: MUST EAT:
Iron: meat, fish, poultry, seaweed, vegetables, black cherries.
Burnt food
YOU NEED: MUST EAT:
Carbon: fresh fruits
Soft drinks and other carbonated drinks
YOU NEED: MUST EAT:
Calcium: mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, greens, cheese, sesame
Salty foods
YOU NEED: MUST EAT:
Chloride: raw goat milk, fish, unrefined sea salt
Preference for liquids over solids.
YOU NEED: MUST EAT:
Water: Season the water with lemon or lime. You need 8 to 10 glasses per day.
Preference for solids over liquids.
YOU NEED: MUST EAT:
Water: You have been so dehydrated for so long that you have lost your thirst. Season the water with lemon or lime. You need 8 to 10 glasses per day.
Cold drinks
YOU NEED: MUST EAT:
Manganese: walnuts, almonds, walnuts, pineapple, blueberries
Premenstrual cravings
YOU NEED: MUST EAT:
Zinc: red meat (especially organ meats), shellfish, leafy vegetables, root vegetables
Overeating in general
YOU NEED: MUST EAT:
Silicon: nuts, seeds; avoid refined starches
Tryptophan: cheese, liver, lamb, raisins, sweet potato, spinach
Tyrosine: vitamin C supplements or orange, green, red fruits and vegetables
Lack of appetite
YOU NEED: MUST EAT:
Vitamin B1: nuts, seeds, beans, liver and other organ meats.
Vitamin B3: tuna, halibut, beef, chicken, turkey, pork, seeds and legumes.
Manganese: walnuts, almonds, walnuts, pineapple, blueberries
Chloride: raw goat milk, unrefined sea salt
Tobacco
YOU NEED: MUST EAT:
Silicon: nuts, seeds; avoid refined starches
Tyrosine: vitamin C supplements or orange, green, and red fruits and vegetables