Why Do I Crave Certain Foods?

June 9, 2020

Do you ever find yourself craving something sweet or salty?  Or maybe you’ve found yourself hankering for a nice piece of steak or some grease-laden French fries. Rest assured, you’re not alone in these cravings.  This could be your body’s way of telling you that you are missing out on some key nutrients.  It’s pretty interesting stuff, actually, when you get to know your body, how it works and how it sends messages to your brain.  The more balanced your diet becomes, the less you may crave certain things. So let’s take a look at cravings and what they might mean.

If You’re Craving…	You Might Be Deficient In…	Try Adding…
Sweet Foods (sugar)	Zinc, Chromium, Calcium, and/or Magnesium	Broccoli, dried beans, eggs, poultry, legumes, liver, whole grains
Salty Foods	Iron, Sodium, Chloride, Fluids (dehydrated)	Soup, olives, mustard, salted nuts, savory snacks, seaweed
Fatty Foods	Calcium	Dairy, dark leafy greens, chia seeds, fortified cereal or OJ
Red Meat	Iron	Red meat, clams, mussels, chicken, spinach, lentils, quinoa
Bread	Nitrogen	Fish, meat, beans
Ice to Chew On	Iron	Leafy greens, red meat, fish, chicken, black cherries

If you are having persistent cravings for certain things, there could be a more serious underlying issue, so be sure to consult with your doctor to discuss other possible concerns.