Food and drink cravings can mean a lot more than just hunger and thirst. They may be a way for your body to tell you what it needs in order to function well. If you crave certain foods, like chocolate or crisps, then check out our craving list to interpret what your body is trying to tell you.
Today we're sharing what your cravings say about you!
1. You crave chocolate
If you're craving chocolate, then your body is crying out for magnesium. This nutrient can help lots of the processes in your body, including blood sugar levels, blood pressure, regulating muscle and nerve function, bone and DNA. Magnesium can help keep your heart beating steadily and help build a healthy immune system.
Instead of chocolate, eat: vegetables, fruits, seeds, and nuts.
2. You crave oily snacks
You need calcium. This mineral is found in lots of different types of food and helps our blood clot, muscles contract and allows the nerves to send messages. It also helps build strong bones and keep them healthy.
Instead of oily snacks, eat: kale, dairy, legumes, mustard, cheese, sesame, and broccoli.
3. You crave bread & pasta
Like your loaves? It sounds like you need nitrogen. Nitrogen is an important component of amino acids and helps make proteins in muscles, blood, hair, nails, DNA and skin.
Instead of bread, eat: meats, nuts, beans, fish, and other high-protein foods.
4. You crave fizzy drinks
Find yourself reaching for lemonade? Sounds like you need calcium! As well as looking after your teeth and bones, calcium helps muscles and is one of the most vital minerals for your body functioning at optimal levels.
Instead of fizzy drinks, eat: kale, spinach, almonds, oranges, sesame seeds and broccoli.
5. You crave salty foods
If you like your salty snacks, then you need chloride and silicon. Chloride helps to transmit nerve impulses and regulates fluids in and out of body cells. Silicon is important for the healthy growth of hair, fingernails and skin.
Instad of salty foods, eat: tomatoes, lettuce, seaweeds, cashews, seeds and nuts.
6. You like to chew ice
Why do we like to chew ice?
Chewing ice is a sign that you need iron. Iron is needed for the production of red blood cells and the immune system is dependent on iron in order to function. It also helps to convert blood sugar to energy.
Instead of ice, eat: meat, fish, seaweed, poultry, black cherries and greens.
7. You crave sweets & sugary snacks
Got a sweet tooth? You need carbon, phosphorus, sulphur, chromium and tryptophan. Your body needs phosphorus for many different things, including creating energy, forming healthy bones and teeth and moving muscles. Carbon provides you energy, sulphur makes up amino acids used to create protein for hormones, enzymes and antibodies, tryptophan is used in growth, development and helps in the making of serotonin - that happy feeling. Chromium helps insulin and is involved in fat and protein metabolism.
Instead of sweets & sugary snacks, eat: broccoli, grapes, nuts, vegetables, fruits, cabbage, cauliflower, spinach, sweet potato, turkey and cheese.
8. You crave acidic foods
If you're after acidic foods, like processed food, then you need magnesium. Magnesium is used for treating ADHD, anxiety, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and more.
Instead of acidic foods, eat: fruits, nuts, seeds and legumes.
9. You crave tea & coffee
If you love a cuppa in the morning then it sounds like you're craving phosphorus, sulphur, salt and iron. Salt helps to look after your fluid balance and it helps control the ways your nerves and muscles work.
Instead of tea & coffee, eat: chicken, beef, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, egg yolks, red peppers, cruciferous vegetables, sea salt, meat, seaweed and more.
What food or drink cravings do you get? Let us know below!
I crave chocolate, sweet things especially in the evenings, like fizzy drinks but try to drink sugar free, take B12 1000mg each day to help but I am sure there are other things that would help. I do not sleep very well and always wake up tired and aching and wonder if I have to much sugar.
Hi Christopher, We have a couple of blog posts that might be able to help you with sleeping: https://experthometips.com/sleep-well-20-ways-to-get-a-better-nights-sleep https://experthometips.com/17-genius-products-to-get-your-best-nights-sleep-ever
I crave savoury foods like sausage rolls, crisps and toast. I have had cravings for jacket potatoe a lot more recently though, oh and salads! I Never get cravings for cakes or biscuits or anything sweet really, except chews every now and then (such as fruitella). I do like a cup of tea too, but it has to be PG tips decaf or I don't like it. Slightly odd, but I also don't like acidic food/drink or most of the things listed in your article as cravings. I am slightly partial to pasta though ?
Oooh I love a yummy sausage roll!
I crave milk. All the time I want to drink it. It's odd. Any ideas why ?
No I'm afraid I can't help you there Julie - but I would recommend asking your doctor who might know.
I do too, but it has to be cold. I drink pints.
Glad to know it's not just me that drinks lots of cold milk??I cant drink hot milk in any form.
I crave frozen fruit, ice cream, chocolate and more chocolate
Delicious!
A salt craving can also indicate thyroid deficiency - I suppose it's the tang of the iodine that the body is really seeking.
That's interesting Verity, thanks for commenting.
A lot of this advice is good, and perhaps my own guilty conscience is prodding me, but I'm sorry, if I need a cup of coffee, then trust me, a cup of coffee is just what I need, and NOT seaweed or egg yolks!
Very true Debbie - I hope you find some of it useful anyway!
Er... I crave all of these!
Ha!
I'm constantly craving cereal bars with a cup of tea! I can't have a cup of tea without cereal bars to dunk in it, like Nature Valley, Nutri Grain and Alpen bars..... Any idea of what I'm lacking? ?
Hi Tina, oooh I love a cereal bar (especially a chocolate one). I'm afraid I'm unsure what you're lacking, the best thing to do is speak to your doctor.
Cereal bars are loaded with sugar so I'd go with the sweet tooth alternatives ?