Food Cravings? Here Is What Your Body Really Wants.

179 Comments

Join the discussion and tell us your opinion.

1. 

   HI there,
   I’ve been sent this link by a friend, it’s very interesting, would you be able to explain how this is determined or maybe a link to a site or a book where you got the information from? I’d love to know more, thanks.
1. 

   Hi ALan, there is a link at the beginning of the article.
   xo
1. 

   Hand, Watch the movie Food Matters. Our medical community refuses to acknowledge, even covers up, anything outside of it’s own drug based belief system.
   Thank you for reading. That was a repost as mentioned in the body of the article, you may want to contact him to get your questions answered.
2. 

   Great post! I found u from stumbling! I’ll be back for sure!
   ~Heather
   http://Www.livingonloveandcents.com
1. 

   Thank you Heather~
   I need to figure out Stumble Upon. My friend Laurie stumbled this and I’ve got to dedicate some time to it. I’ll also check out your blog! 😉
   xo
3. 

   It a common misconception that you crave certain foods because of specific nutritional deficits but there is actually no data out there to support this claim. For instance, when you need vitamin C you don’t crave oranges you just get scurvy. Getting vitamin C then alleviates the scurvy. You crave sweets because they cause a spike in blood sugar and you crave tobacco, drugs, and alcohol because of a physical or psychological addiction in which case the substance that your body is missing is indeed nicotine, drugs, or alcohol (in the case of the physical addiction.) It is tempting to believe someone who makes a claim like this because it seems to make so much sense but nutrition is an impressive science now and you don’t have to be a doctor or scientist to learn more about it! All of this is information available to the public and is easily accessed through your computer! Also, although it is the basis of life on earth, “carbon” by itself (as in graphite and diamonds) is not a nutritional requirement of the body.
1. 

   Quite a bit? There are two references. One is from a lecture by someone at a college of naturopathy, which means it is essentially untraceable as well as biased. The other is a book from 1983, and nutritional medicine has advanced drastically since even the 90’s. While there may be some truth in all of this, it is not verified nor is it scientific, and arguing that it is approaches absurdism.
2. 

   Uh… actually, if you check the original article, there’s only two references. In no universe does that count as “quite a bit of reference publications.” The average scientific article that would make the claim for ONE of these nutrition/craving links would have at least 30. In terms of the amount of scientific literature out on nutrition, two is practically nothing. It’s just nit-picking from individual articles instead of doing an analysis of all published research. Also, one article is only about healthy eating… the article that specifically points out cravings and deficiencies is from 1983. In terms of journal publications, unless it was a major article something that old is outdated.

   The doctor makes some good points, though I’ve never researched this myself. If you want to, you should head over to Google scholar and read through the literature. To some extent nutrition is about opinions, but legitimate biological research on human nutrition is done world-wide, and gets published in journals. There’s certainly already articles in the literature that answer these questions, though the body is such a complex mechanism I’d be surprised if there weren’t different answers for different nutrients.

   In short, since it’s an interest of yours, you should go into the literature and figure it out yourself! Educational and fun! =)
1. 

   Thank you Bio Grad.
3. 

   What reference publications have been listed? There’s a link that has this list verbatim but that’s all I see.
4. 

   Dr. Clark….there are lots of things out there in this world that have no scientific proof and cannot be explained…but are none the less true. Just a year ago I was severely anemic for almost 2 years due to heavy bleeding….long story…even though I was taking Fetrin Iron twice a day…my iron levels were staying very low. I started craving apples…about 5-8 a day!!! I gave into this craving and my iron level quickly returned to an acceptable range even though my bleeding problem persisted. I did some nutritional research and found that the pectin in apples holds onto iron in the body..thus helping me to keep more of the iron I was taking instead of it leaving as waste.

   Also the reason I was bleeding so badly was due to fibroid tumors….and due to extensive surgeries when I was a child…a hysterectomy was not recommended because of scar tissue. I did some more research and found that by taking 6000 mg of Vit.C spread out over the day and drinking Pau D’Arco herbal tea had been shown in the nutritional and supplimental fields to shrink tumors anywhere in your body. So, I proceeded on this course for 3 weeks ; and low and behold after a day and a half of severe cramping…I “delivered” a shrunken tumor….two days later ,the bleeding stopped after 6 months of constant flow. Took this tumor to my Dr. who said that what I had done was impossible…but sent it to the lab and indeed it was a fibroid tumor. I then over the course of 6 months “delivered” 2 more and my problem has not reared it’s ugly head since.

   So, despite “Proof” as if where….I am proof that nutrition plays a big part in lots of aspects of our lives. And it never hurts to add these foods to your diet and if it works for you…then it gains the “proof” that it needed to be valid.
1. 

   Debi Gouge…. Wow. That’s incredible. Aweing & inspirational. Thank-you very much for taking the time to share your personal experiences 🙂
1. 

   Wow Debi, that is an amazing story! I agree with you that you don’t need 30 scientific articles to back up something if it works for you. Our incredible body is the product of a designer and it has it’s own ways of fixing things. Last summer I had some unexplainable symptoms and I constantly craved lemon and garlic, I’m still not sure why but I think it is the course of wisdom to listen when your body craves something. Thank you for sharing that experience.
2. 

   I totally agree! The medical profession ( and I am one of them) has to have the scientific research backed by double blind placebo tests….when in actuality, the body will tell you what it needs. The old medicine people of the earlier years “Knew” this stuff and used it, but we have grown to such a state that we are discouraged, even ridiculed for truly allowing our bodies to work for us…not against us. Nutrition is the key!
1. 

   Thank you Trixie. So glad to hear that you come from both sides of the camp. I dream of a day when the medical profession as we know it, embraces the other side of the coin and vs. versa working together on holistic medicine. Treating the patient, the symptoms AND the cause on every level including the emotional and energetic. Happy New Year!! Thank you for writing.
1. 

   I like you will be glad when more physician realize that pharmaceutical based medicine is what should be considered “alternative”. The documentary Forks over Knives is a giant step in that direction!
3. 

   wow the old saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” wasnt a lie
5. 

   I’ve had 5 children. With each, I had an intense craving for ice chips or even
   strong menthol cough drops. The doctor knew to look for iron deficiencies
   because the cravings always coinsided with one. I would go on supplements and
   the craving would go away. I can not attest for all cravings but mine supports that
   others may be true as well.
4. 

   I agree with the doc on this one. I for one do not believe nutrition is a topic at all like politics. Yes, we do discover new things about nutrition quite often but that most of the information is backed up on facts. I can tell you right now that if I am craving sweets, my body will not be satisfied with the foods that were listed. Also, I have never craved burnt food. That’s a new one to me.
1. 

   i craved burnt food when i was going through puberty, i wanted to eat coal!!!
   I ate burnt toast instead, saying that, it was 26 years ago
   Jackie
5. 

   Awesome post. Never seen anything like this! I do know that that when I crave something bad something else that is healthier will usually fill the void, but now I have a better incline on what to reach for. Thanks for that!
6. 

   What an interesting idea. It would be a kick to see if these alternatives really work. I usually find that my cravings are based on the exact item, and even a fake won’t suffice. But, might be worth a try!
7. 

   i dont really agree with this. if i’m craving chocolate, some nuts arent going to cut. i just want chocolate. same goes for most of these.
1. 

   How about, chocolate covered nuts. 🙂
1. 

   ha ha. cure for pms. 🙂
8. 

   Hi Tamara,
   i got to your site thanks to stumbleupon. i found your post and proposals very interesting; although, I could not find an article on the internet that actually evidences these cravings and what they might stand for. I am a medicine student so i know some cravings do mean something like having low levels of sugar makes you hungry or having hypovolemia (low blood volume) makes you thirsty and most of these things are regulated by the nervous system, because of that there might just be some truth to what is being proposed in your post; the thing is i have not been able to find anything, i looked at the web-link at the top of the post and look at its references but i wasn’t lucky neither on pubmed nor google scholar. And i was wondering if you could give me some biobliography or articles, becuase i am really interested.

   tank you
9. 

   I had an intense craving for ice. Ice all the time for months. A little bit of liquid and a whole lot of ice made me very happy. Went to the doctor and blood work and labs were fine My only issue I have heavy cycles. I read up and started to take iron pills every day and my ice cravings vanished. So I do believe that some cravings do have a nutritional deficiency basis. I am not a doctor. I do know that some deficiencies are due to illness’s as well. For me though adding iron to my diet solved my really weird preoccupation with ice.

   Pagophagia
   From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

   Pagophagia is a form of the disorder pica involving the compulsive consumption of ice or iced drinks.[1] It has been associated with iron deficiency anemia,[2][3] and shown to respond to iron supplementation,[4][5] leading some investigators to postulate that some forms of pica may be the result of nutritional deficiency. Ice tastes better if the individual is iron deficient.[citation needed] Chewing ice may lessen pain in glossitis related to iron deficiency anemia.[6] However, the American Dental Association recommends not chewing ice because it can crack teeth; instead ice should be allowed to melt in the mouth. [7]
10. 

    This is provides AWESOME info! Thank you so much for sharing!
11. 

    As surprising as this is, I really must go with the doc on this one as well, for the most part at least. I know when I crave, say, Doritos, I can have anything else but I still want Doritos if that was not amongst the snack-a-thon. I can eat “healthy alternatives” but sometimes ya also just have to have soul food. “Bad foods” are not bad, as long as they are in moderation; something most people throw out the window. It’s part of being responsible, which is a fear of most people. While I do agree that sometimes a craving is your body asking for something that isn’t the craving target, for example a mineral or vitamin, I think the vast majority of the time a craving is just a craving. I say eat what you want to stave a craving, the rest of the time eat balanced, healthy, wholesome foods. Live happily!
12. 

    Not sure if I agree with the alcohol one, l could have a drink of gin to unwind, or eat some oatmeal?! lol
13. 

    This is more true for children and adults that have major health problems. I have a friend of mine that is literally allergic to meat (real protein like mushrooms and soy also). When she craves something she probably actually needs it. As for burnt food, I have, as well as my mother, have always preferred burnt toast and cookies.
1. 

   lol, me too. I love burnt toast with butter. 🙂
14. 

    Good advices Thx:)
1. 

   Thank you for stopping by Cloe
15. 

    The author did not mention that many allergy doctors maintain patients have cravings for certain foods because they are actually allergic to them.
1. 

   VERY true!
2. 

   I have many allergies, as well as food sensitivities that have been discovered by an allergist and a naturpathic doctor, and I agree with Gail. But maybe the cravings stem from the fact that I shouldn’t eat these foods, more physcological than biological
1. 

   You know Kim, I agree with you. Often times the foods that we crave routinely, we’re allergic to. I enjoyed the chart on cravings and found them very interesting. Thanks for reading.
   xo
1. 

   my lo craves cheese and milk products but doesnt tolerate them at all same with soy goat milk and flax seed. she is only 3. we can give her it more often if we use enzymes. but she seeks it out.

   her sis 16 mo old is allergic to soy beef dairy likely oranges… um what else…. i think she may be anemic she eats egg shells chalk wood chips rocks. i know kids put everything in their mouths but these items are her favorite most things she does it once or a few times and learns… with esp egg shells she will even go digging in the garbage for them.
1. 

   I craved milk on and off for years – I’d pour a glass, drink it, and pour another, etc. Almost uncontrollably. A nutritionist suggested I might be lacking in vitamin d. (This was years ago, before much info was out to the general public.) I started taking supplements, and lo and behold, the craving was gone. I have a sun allergy so I always wear sunscreen when I’m outside, in addition to living in Minnesota, where it’s dark and we spend a lot of time indoors. You can actually get your vitamin d level checked at the doctor’s.
16. 

    Hi tamara! You were in my email this morning from Stumble Upon also. That’s great this was great info and interesting comments! I will be back! 🙂
1. 

   Thank you Karen. I need to figure out Stumble Upon. I’m grateful for the traffic. Thank you for reading!
17. 

    ONE PROBLEM!
    Animal protein NO!
    The fact’s are succinct, as per The China Study.
18. 

    Hello All,

    I am not a Dr., Nutritionist, or have studied extensively, other than life experience. I can state that I am a mother of ten children and have seen more often than not, our bodies ‘crave’ many things, and at many times we misinterpret the cravings. How often is a craving actually a need for water? Or Sleep? And yet if I did listen to the needs of my children with in reason, they were quite happy. How often is a crabby child in the store in need of water and a hug. Not that candy bar they crave? Or they needed a good meal instead of a candy bar that was quick and now have an addiction to chocolate? I know this is a bit aside from the focus of this panel, and not a parenting site.
    I do also believe that some people are in tune with their bodies enough to crave foods they are lacking. I am one of them.. Once you figure out what your bodiy is actually asking for.

    Often craving soda, I actually am in need of some citrus. a quick glass of orange jucie fixes the issue.
    Nice site to come upon and I do hope we all find what our bodies need and have good health..!
1. 

   Thank you Kari. I couldn’t agree more with your water point!
1. 

   …and sleep! I don’t think people get enough sleep these days!

   I agree with Kari. I have been into nutrition and have avoided Doctors most of my life and believe there is a place for them but when it comes to nutrition, they haven’t got a clue (most of them). I believe their goal is prescription medicine where they make all their money. I have seen my life transformed by healthy eating and all my cravings disappear but you have to clean out your intestines to get rid of years of build up of ‘memory’ (cravings). Anyway, alcohol /junk food in moderation isn’t bad but if there are health issues then I would definitely consider better nutrition as an answer.
19. 

    ABSOLUTELY nutrition is like politics! Look at proponents of veganism vs. the Weston A. Price Foundation for example. Both are convinced they have a nutritionally superior way of doing things, both have studies they can call on to “prove” their point of view and they are in complete opposite directions! Or look at conventional “wisdom” about fats and whole food proponents. Or whole food proponents vs. conventional views on artificial sweeteners. Again, complete opposites, both can “prove” their point of view. We are extremely far from understanding everything about the body and even basic nutrition. It is hubris to say otherwise.
20. 

    I like the idea for this list however, if I’m craving sweets, liver isn’t going to do it for me. The only things that should have been put in that list would be Grapes, Fresh fruits, Cranberries, rasins (isn’t that a fruit and a grape?) and mabye sweet potato. While I understand that other food items have nutrients that my body want’s, if I want something sweet the majority of that list isn’t going to stifle my wanting for something sweet.

    And yes I am limiting my rant to just the sweets, however you get my point I’m sure.
21. 

    Medical science can’t even get a handle on why Americans are obese, diabetic, and cancer-ridden. Can’t be the stuff we eat! Doctors aren’t gods, they get things wrong and they are clearly missing something.
22. 

    Vanessa, The world likes to negate anything it doesn’t understand or might shake up the “system”. I’ve seen this list for years and I agree with it. Sadly, “modern medicine” doesn’t always follow modern science discoveries. Look at what physics has proven about energy yet our medical society denies anything that might shake up their own system.
23. 

    Sinan, The world likes to negate anything it doesn’t understand or might shake up the “system”. I’ve seen this list for years and I agree with it. Sadly, “modern medicine” doesn’t always follow modern science discoveries. Look at what physics has proven about energy yet our medical society denies anything that might shake up their own system.
24. 

    Nathan, try it before you knock it. The world likes to negate anything it doesn’t understand or might shake up the “system”. I’ve seen this list for years and I agree with it. Sadly, “modern medicine” doesn’t always follow modern science discoveries. Look at what physics has proven about energy yet our medical society denies anything that might shake up their own system.
25. 

    Thank you Mark! I’ve personally experienced many of these cravings and have found the chart to be quite accurate. I too see a naturopathic MD and get the best of both worlds. I’m saddened by the passionate defensive response of many here. (but glad for the traffic! ha)
26. 

    I believe the ice one craved it through out my pregnancy and what do you know i had low iron i still crave it now but only if i haven’t taken my iron supplements for the day. as for the “Recreational drugs” and the lack of protein yeah i don’t think your friendly addict at the methadone clinic would appreciate if you handed him a steak i think he’d want the drug somehow
27. 

    I’m pretty sure when I’m craving chocolate, I’m just craving chocolate. Eating raw nuts and seeds, legumes, or fruits instead isn’t going to make me happy. It’s still going to make me want chocolate because I don’t have the same emotional connection to those foods as I do with chocolate.
1. 

   And I would like to add to this that this list has completely ignored the psychology of it all. Eating and craving things has a very strong neurologic component to it. It’s not just about what your body needs, it’s also about how people relate emotionally with certain foods.
1. 

   Jenny I never thought of that. Thank you.
2. 

   I agree Jenny. But next time, if you find you’re eating chocolate every single day, eat a brazil nut. I love chocolate too but sometimes i notice if i’m really craving it i may need to check in. I’d never tell a girl to SUBSITUTE her chocolate 100% of the time. 🙂
   thank you for reading~
3. 

   As per your assessment of the psychological side of cravings and addiction, many of those are at least started, if not compounded by certain chemicals in said food item that our brain respo nds strongly and favorably to. As in chocolate, our cravings have alot more to do with its ingredients (added or natural) such as milk (full of addictive fat and a whole range of un-/natural hormones and amino acids such as tryptophan that’s converted into serotonin), sugar (HIGHLY addictive…try eating 75% cacao and up with no added sugar lol), phenylethylamine (one of the neurotransmitters released when we’re in love), theobromine (vasodilator and mild myocardial stimulant), and caffeine (positive effect on our affect, energy, and mood…also addictive).
28. 

    since when is tea not a healthy food?
    not to mention chocolate… dark chocolate actually has immense health benefits!
    even coffee, to some extent, can help, though usually decaf is the better choice
    and bread can be immensely healthy; it’s meant to be the main part of our diet
1. 

   Stargirl, I’m not sure where you’re getting the idea that tea isn’t a healthy food. I’m an herbalist and believe in the health benefits of tea. Decaf contains many chemicals and I never recommend using decaf. Always better to have everything in moderation. thanks for reading~
29. 

    Really interesting! I do have a problem believing that (no matter what the craving or underlying issue) the consumption of organ meat is healthful. Other than that some of it makes sense. My organic green tea is staying put though.
30. 

    I’m another StumbleUpon visitor. 🙂 This is definitely interesting and I’d be curious to hear if there have been any sort of experiments with these. But I do agree, that sometimes when you’re craving sweets/chocolate only sweets/chocolate will suffice!
31. 

    I love your post, but more I love your grace in handling the ‘opposition’. 🙂
    I do share your views as expressed here, and it is sad that so many can’t open up to see truth around them and dispel so much information that doesn’t come conformed to the usually biased medical and scientific evidence and literature of our current culture. Testimonials are so often not considered as evidence. How sad. Glad you had the ‘umph’ to post and gracefully reply to those who can’t see things that can most likely help them *yet*….. 🙂
    I would never want to encourage anyone to ignore a doctors labwork results and be the fool in that way. I do hope that many folks’ eyes can be open to the real truth of our bodies and our need for the nutrient blocks that occur natually in food, and how the deficiency in either people’s diets or in our food today that might not be as nutrient dense as it once was can be a major contributor to ailments and sicknesses.
1. 

   Thank you Kara. I agree, I would never suggest someone to ignore a doctor’s lab results AND we all need to open our minds and realize that our western medicine isn’t always the whole picture. Thank you for reading!!
32. 

    Hi Carly, We often, myself included, crave what we’re allergic to….My hunch, and this isn’t scientific is that you’re craving fat. I would eat something healthy and fatty like a raw brazil nut, almond, pecan or another dense raw nut like Mac nuts.
    xo
1. 

   or Avocado!!
33. 

    Great information – very helpful especially for those people looking to supplement their diet without just taking pills!
34. 

    lol guys seriously stop beating her up, she jsut posted something up cus she thought it was interesting. U don’t have to basically call her stupid in a nice way just because you don’t think this shit is true. How about u jsut stfu and try it to see if it works? Otherwise gtfo
1. 

   Thanks Nathan. 🙂
35. 

    I can always tell when my iron is too low, because of my ice cravings. Without fail, ice cravings in my own experiences have been low iron. after my iron levels are boosted back within normal ranges, I became intolerant to eating the ice again. My teeth are too sensitive, lol.
    Thanks for sharing, the information is very interesting, whether it is accurate enough or not 🙂
    I also stumbled you, by the way!
1. 

   Thank you Andie!!
36. 

    Very Interesting. Good site that I stumbled upon
37. 

    I found this on Stumble. I loved your post thanks for the wonderful information.
38. 

    This is one of the most accurate lists I’ve seen yet. It’s hard to suppress cravings when you don’t really know what your body needs. There’s even a cure for lack of appetite!
39. 

    What if you’re craving cheese? I have cravings for cheese a lot and end up having it for every meal is some way, I can’t see how this could be very healthy for me.
40. 

    I love this! I am new to stumble upon and it’s really awesome becasue now I found you. I have afternoon cravings and it’s usually chocolate or something sweet. I am going to use this list as a guide so I can get to the root of my cravings. Thanks for this!
41. 

    A great list, and sometimes takes a moment to understand that what our minds think our bodies need, can be jumbled a bit. We get so lost in what we think is right, sometimes we need to open our minds to new ideas, before we can be the change we hope to experience.

    Never has food been so unhealthy in our general restaurants and processed food industry. It is truly frightening! Take back your health with a little bit of wisdom shown here, and some great new information on fresh and chemical free living choices.
42. 

    Thanks for sharing, i like it
43. 

    You’ve done a great job listing down alternatives for specific cravings. I really think it’s important to realize what lifestyle changes can do to your health. Changing the way you eat is not merely changing WHAT you eat but also HOW you eat. Very informative, thank you.
44. 

    This is an interesting chart.
45. 

    While I am open to the idea that sometimes we do crave something specifically because of a nutritional deficiency, it certainly is not the whole story. Cravings often defy the explanation of modern nutritional theory. A good example is pregnancy. Women crave very specific and unusual foods when they are pregnant; sometimes foods they almost never eat at any other time. People will tell you that this is their body’s way of telling them what the baby needs. This might be true in some cases, but there is little consistent evidence to support this. While you do have increased nutritional needs in general during pregnancy, the specific foods an individual woman craves do not appear to be linked to observed nutritional deficiencies in either the mother or the fetus. It is likely that pregnancy cravings are a direct result of the way pregnancy hormones affect our brains (women tend to crave certain foods during PMS for similar reason).

    Its my personal opinion that cravings for most foods (and drugs, alcohol, etc.) are linked directly to brain chemistry. Sugar acts very much like a mood enhancing drug in the brain (sugar water is actually used as pain killer for babies because of the way it stimulates pleasure receptors). Likewise, chocolate, tea, coffee, and a host of other foods contain compounds such as caffeine and theobromine that have mood enhancing effects and have been demonstrated to be addictive in nature. Milk and cheese have opiate like effects in the brain. And on and on.

    Last but not least, you can’t discount the pure social and psychological aspects of food craving. You may have associations with eating certain foods at certain times based on your culture or upbringing, or you may crave something because you have pleasant associations with it.
46. 

    Hi Tamara,

    Love the healthy eating blog site. Keep up the great work. Health is about educating ones self and applying that which is learn. We appreciate you reaching out.

    Have a Blessed Day,

    Danny & Laura
47. 

    Interesting list! I love Cajun food so I wonder if this means I should eat more fruits!?
48. 

    That’s a lot of good information on how to change out diets. A lot of us are having these cravings without even realizing what it is that our bodies need. It’s time to change the diet, I think!
49. […] every now and then.  Those with an interest of a direct language with your stomachs, here is a chart explaining what mineral your body really desires when cravings arise. Did you like this? Share it: This entry was posted in Energizers by Andrew. […]
50. 

    I have to disagree with the doc on this one. In Chinese medicine one of the questions you ask your patients is what foods they crave. This is for a reason! I gives us a sense of that person and reveals a knowlege about their conditions. Once their condition is determined we also recommend types of food, along with Acupuncture and herbs to help that person achieve balance through out their body, to help them heal.
    Loved the site Tamara
51. 

    heyyy!! well thank u for this amzing post i get cravings well cuz imma teenager so i eat alot and then i loose it fast and now i know what to eat when im craving thanks! and they are great cuzz i doo alot of sports and the foods are really healthyy so thank you veryy much for this post:)
52. 

    what you’re referring to is called specific appetite. humans do not have specific appetite as animals do. this post is inaccurate. if you crave chocolate, you probably just want chocolate.
53. 

    Super interesting post! Found you stumbling and I’ll revisit often!
54. 

    It appears that some misunderstand that the foods listed would be expected to satisfy the craving; rather, the craving is a symptom that eating the foods listed might, when given time to be absorbed into the system, alleviate the cravings from happening in the first place. Eat what you crave, but when mealtime hits, try to incorporate the nutrition that you may lack so that the craving doesn’t keep happening.
    I’ve heard about the magnesium in terms of chocolate cravings, and when I tell people they get a wry smile and tell me they really don’t care to do away with the cravings. The funny thing is, even if they’re up on their magnesium, they can still eat the chocolate by choice.
    Perhaps these can’t be proven, but even if some were baseless, does it do any harm to try them? I doubt it. I think it’s great to have resources of information to consider besides potentially harmful drugs and pills when dealing with health issues.
55. 

    This is a very informative information. I’ve never heard any of these things before.
56. 

    Thanks for the post. Stumbled upon it. I have known about the cheese for sweets for a while, and it works. I was surprised about the ice, cuz I craved it so badly when I was anemic. I have always loved burnt cheese toast. Very interesting. Although carbon may not be a necessary nutrient according to one of the posted comments, if our bodies are made of so much carbon, there might be a valid connection. I think our bodies tell us much if we just listen. Yes, sometimes you do just WANT some chocolate, but that’s no reason to discredit healthy alternatives. Really, thank you for the list. I plan to use it as a grocery list and wean myself from the processed, unhealthily to the natural, healthy alternatives.
57. 

    nothin better than potatoes!!
58. 

    Great list! Thanks for sharing, that’s so useful 🙂 favourited to keep it handy!
59. 

    Hi there, I was really interested in your list, and can identify some things I’ve already seen in practice, eg the ice craving and iron. You can always find reasons to accept or dismiss this kind of thing. My philosophy is to give it a try and see what works. If someone has a craving, it is usually a combination of biochemical addiction, emotional association and neurological triggers – finding the reason for the craving might be like looking for a needle in a haystack, so I go for the experiential approach.

    I have a book I bought in the 1990s when I was training as a homeopath which describes macrobiotic food. I don’t particularly advocate any one ‘diet’ over another, but I am interested in some of the philosophies behind diets. The book, I think by Edward Woodward (an actor from the 1970s with a strong interest in macrobiotics, think he died very recently), talks about balance. And this is very interesting… He says that foods lies on a spectrum from the yin to the yang, from one extreme to the other extreme. He mapped out various food groups on this spectrum. At the yin end were drugs, chemicals, sugar, yeast, which all leave you feeling ‘spaced out’ (or gassed!)(eg E numbers!), and at the yang end were salt, meat, fermented foods and cheese, then to a lesser extent eggs. Tropical fruits were towards the yin end, and right in the middle were whole grains and vegetables. This theory also works with the way food is processed – raw food is more yin and cooked food is more yang. I worked with this theory for quite a while (but didn’t go macrobiotic). What I noticed in my own body was that when I had something at the extreme, eg alcohol, I craved something salty. It was as if my body was pulling me towards balance. It makes sense of the alcohol and salted peanuts combination in pubs! And if you think about processed foods like salted potato crisps (especially prawn cocktail ones!) where there is a sweet taste with a salty taste, it’s as if your body doesn’t know when to say no and keeps eating to try to get balance, but it never gets there! Maybe that is why people keep eating ready meals that are loaded with both sweet (corn syrup) and salty (meat) tastes and end up being obese. The best place for your body to be is in a place of balance where you consistently eat whole grain foods like whole wheat bread (although yeast is extremely yin! – best with soda bread and no yeast!), lentils, beans and vegetables, with only a small amount of extreme yin or yang foods. Boring, maybe, but our bodies are always telling us when we need balance – we just learned to override the messages at an early age. Babies often have their tastebuds perverted during weaning with processed foods. It’s great that lots of brands now have low salt, low sugar etc, but there is a long way to go. We haven’t done ourselves any favors here in the west by offering children their own menus in restaurants – pizza, fried breaded chicken nuggets, spare ribs, orange squash – we are feeding them a completely unbalanced diet that triggers a cry for more of the opposite . We would probably all do very well health-wise on a balanced, middle of the spectrum diet and our cravings might diminish. Who knows. I guess the only way to find out is by trial and experimentation, as we all individually process our foods differently according to our own metabolism.

    Don’t know if this helps the debate or not!

    And by the way, I’m a new stumbler and this was the first thing I stumbled upon!
60. 

    Well, I just joined Stumble and this is the first thing I came upon. Tamara you have started a very interesting discussion…LOL!!! Right or wrong I agree with some of the readers…inform yourself if the topic interest you. Tamara didn’t post this as the end all be all, or for anyone to follow every word blindly like a Lemming. She didn’t claim to be Jack LaLane or Jonas Saulk..lol!! That’s part of today’s society problem. People like what they hear; they believe it full blown, hate what they hear they hate it to the hilt….never once knowing the full details of the topic they love, hate. I workout pretty consistently, but still have ‘cravings’ for stuff and have found some of Tamara’s list to be true for me. I have found it very effective to curb a strong desire for sweets by eating grapes. Curbing a desire for salt has been more of a struggle. I generally don’t use salt at all so when a craving hits I have found it difficult to find a good substitute; so it becomes a will power struggle which I am getting better at. Bottom line is people you gotta read and inform yourself on any topic you agree or disagree with. Be it from holy manuscripts to Kim Kardashian’s wedding plans 😉 Keep posting Tamara, if this is the kind of stuff Stumble is going to send my way, I’ll keep checking in!!!
1. 

   Thank you Sandy~ welcome. I found it and thought it was very interesting. Just a small part of what I blog about but it did make me chuckle to see the responses! I wish something like “maybe we need to give our men a break” or “when life blows up in 30 days” would get stumbled like this one with that number of hits!
   🙂 Thanks for being here.
61. 

    This is a great chart! I have found when I crave sweets that fruit or 1 t of peanut butter will curb it quick. 😀 I am cooking with Stevia more and it has really help with the sugar cravings since I am not eating any processed sugars. Thanks for the post!

    Crystal Lee
    Tilapia Po Boy Recipe
62. 

    Hi,

    I think this is a great chart, my only query is that I eat a HUGE amount of fruit, and I do eat raw nuts and seeds also – but I am almost always craving chocolate so I am not sure this chart is full-proof… or maybe I am just a chocoholic podge.

    Thanks
63. 

    Thank you for this. Recently I started keeping track of my craving in an effort to overcome them. I am def going to try supplementing my cravings for the items you have listed! Great post!

    I found you on Stumbleupon…new to it.

    worldaccordingtoshia.blogspot.com

    Shia
64. 

    basically, nuts.

    😀 I’m a vegetarian, so I’ll keep more on hand for snacking.
65. 

    good post i should consider about eating it.
66. […] am not saying there is no such thing as a craving, because there is.  If your body is lacking in nutrients, your body will crave them. But as far as pregnancy cravings of weird and disgusting foods, I don’t believe it.  And […]
1. 

   hmm, i’m betting you’ve never been pregnant have you Sir?
67. 

    I was very interested in this article.
    I think that the body needs nutritional foods and they are much better for you than others but they are also necessary as well to counteract the effects of the mind.
    At different times as well, junk foods are necessary.
68. 

    About a month ago I craved chocolate and found out that I was very low on magnesium. Very interesting.
69. 

    I love this article. I can’t say I agree with all of it (especially the chicken liver etc), but the one thing it has achieved is lots of comments. Which means it’s got people thinking and talking about their thoughts. That’s a huge step in the right direction – at least it will make us think before we mindlessly eat whatever we happen to fancy at the time. The water comment was so true – if you do nothing else, increase your water intake and see how much healthier you feel! This site is definitely one of my better stumbles.
70. […] Red rose you might find this useful https://dailytransformations.com/…-really-wants/ […]
71. 

    Very good posting…it is really a very good health tips..
72. 

    Well there seems to be a lot of arguing whether the information is true or valid etc. All I know from myself is the better I eat the less I crave less desirable foods stuffs or if I do crave them I have the will power to resist temptation because I know how yucky they are going to make me feel. And just as a side note: when I stop drinking coffee I tend to crave chocolate because my body is looking for caffeine which chocolate has. Anyway folks, the bottom line is try to eat as healthy as you can. I think it was Hippocrates that said “Food is medicine.” When I took nutrition in college it was pointed out that the ten top diseases plaguing modern man are nutrition and lifestyle related.
73. 

    Funny how our bodies crave certain things seeking the nutrients our body needs… Whether this information is right or wrong I’m all about eating healthier and if it cures the crave and satisfies me, then its just another step in the right direction.
74. 

    How I love those tips sooooo much!! I have just lost a lot of weight and my weakness is sweets after every meal. This will definitely help! My husband always drink water with fresh lemon (he put both in vitamix) and tells me I need to drink them more often! I see on your post about this! Awesome! I will bookmark this! Thanks so much for sharing!
75. 

    Always a good idea to listen to your body and see what it needs. Am posting a link to this article. From an ayurvedic perspective, here are some other ideas about digestion as well as its connection to mental and physical well-being

    http://www.energyofmindtherapy.com/body-mind-connection/agni-digestive-power-key-to-health-and-happiness/
76. 

    Excellent information, will share it! (the chocolate vs magnesium correlation is fascinating)
    Aloha
77. 

    Tamara,

    At the top of this page you have a list of cravings and substitutions. I am wondering where you came across that information? I am also researching and helping individuals obtain superior health and wellness while addressing environmental issues.

    Thank You,
    Amanda at the Kafe
1. 

   Hi Again,

   I see you have a couple references available under your link. You can disregard the previous question submission. Thanks!
2. 

   Hi Amanda, Thank you for writing. This was not my article but a repost. See the bottom for the details. Best to you~T
78. 

    Well this seems controversial! But in MY practice when people tell me their cravings they muscle test usually as having some kind of deficiency. When that deficiency is repaired the craving goes away. No scientific studies but DUH! I believe there IS a reason why people are craving certain foods. A mentor of mine told me once that a craving can mean a nutritional deficiency or an allergy to the substance. Of course common sense should be used here. Here’s another list from No More Cravings (c) 1987 by Douglas Hunt M.D.: http://naturalhealthtechniques.com/diet_nutritionfood_cravings.htm
79. 

    Thank you … this is an awesome blog! I have learned to listen to my bodies cravings and it makes such a difference in my life~ when I give my body what it is craving, I can get on with my day and be more productive in everything that I do!
    Thanks again and have a great day!
    ~louella
80. 

    Wow! This is gold. I’m particularly intrigued by the Tobacco cravings and how they can possibly be alleviated by having certain healthy foods. What about nicotine addiction, though? Hmm…anyway, I will have to look into these. Thanks for the info!
81. […] especially if they aren’t the best for you? Daily Transformation’s post talking about what your body really wants when it craves certain foods sheds some light on cravings and what can do to satisfy […]
82. 

    This is a great post!!!! Definitely needed on my part!!!
83. 

    Great post, thanks . I will try to print this out to keep
84. 

    WOW! I love this, this is so full of good information…excellent news! Being a Vegan, this sure helps…..with sometimes “why do I crave”…thanks!
85. 

    I made an earlier comment about vitamin d and milk cravings, but I also wanted to mention I craved lobster with my first pregnancy. Of course, being young and starting out, and on a budget there was no way I could afford very much of that! It was constant craving, sometimes consuming my every thought; it went on for months and months. I literally thought I was nuts. One day I opened my cupboard, and happened to see a can of tuna – I opened it up, drained it and ate it standing right there at the kitchen sink with a fork out of the can – and lo and behold, the craving for lobster dissapeared. I’m assuming that whatever it was that was in the lobster that made me crave it so was also in the tuna fish – maybe salt, maybe some trace vitamin, mineral or enzyme – but fortunately (or unfortunately) the craving for lobster was kept at bay with plain old canned tuna. I, for one, believe we often crave what we need.
86. 

    Good post. Thanks! Will be recommending to my clients
87. 

    The science is constantly evolving. Read everything I can. Nutrify (I hope that’s an actual word) my body appropriately/responsibly/intelligently. Read some more. Then read some more. And then some more. Your information makes a thoughtful contribution. Thanx.
1. 

   i love the word nutrify. accurate or not~let’s run with it. Thank you for reading and for being here.
88. 

    I certainly do believe this… I craved ice when I was pregnant… Turned out I was serverly iron deficiant, almost needing a blood transfusion. Thankfully I didnt need one but now I know that when I crave ice… I need to do something about it!
1. 

   amazing isn’t it? Thank you for writing and confirming your experience. I’m always so surprised to read things like this and think back on my own cravings realizing, wow~that’s actually true.
89. 

    Great article. Found you with Stumble Upon.
1. 

   Thank you Beth. Glad you found me. Happy New Year.
90. 

    Valuable post. It is helpful for us.
91. 

    Clearly I want some more leafy greens in my life! ha ha ha.

    http://gigieatscelebrities.wordpress.com/2011/12/31/predictions/
1. 

   lol
92. 

    it’s very interesting and useful,I learned many names of food,thx for sharing and happy new year’s to you~:)
93. 

    I got here through Stumble Upon. Really neat information…
1. 

   welcome!
94. 

    I stumbled across this article and love it! Though a few of my cravings aren’t addressed here… I crave olives and pickles on occasion. I’m wondering what my body could be missing in having those cravings…
95. 

    Found you via Stumbleupon – and I rarely use SU!

    Interesting post. I ‘m not sure I buy if I want some toast what I really want is protein?! Seems pretty much the polar opposite to me
1. 

   Hi Bruce, glad you found me! Welcome.
   I think what they really mean is that when we’re craving carbs~and we’ve all had that feeling of “oh my gosh i need something white and crunchy right now”~our body is really wanting protein. When we crave empty calories it’s because our body is seeking nutrients and isn’t satisfied with what we’ve given it. Just my take. I found the chart interesting.
96. 

    What if you you’re taking a 1-a-day multi-vitamin? Would you still be craving in addition to that? Interesting list, but I’m not sure how it was derived.
97. […] Walnuts, almonds, pecans, pineapple, blueberries Zinc Manganese Food Cravings? Here Is What Your Body Really Wants~ – StumbleUpon […]
98. 

    Hi Tamara, thanks a lot for this publication, although maybe Dr. Clark can have his reasons to contradict the information, I also have experienced cravings that make perfect sense with the information you provided.
    Keep up the great job!
    Ruth
99. 

    Such a cool post! I always wonder why I am craving something salty or ice cream…now I know (and don’t have to be a pig! lol!) :p
100. 

     I enjoyed reading the posts above and one thread keeps coming up, and that nutrition has a big part of our health, and may I add another word- antioxidants. According to the CDC,the level of antioxidants in our bodies is in direct relation to our life-span.And another important factor is stabilizing our sugar. I recently had a bio-scan done, and the results were impressive, with no bacteria,viruses or harmful toxins present, nor have I been ill for almost 2 years. I attest these results from consuming products from monavie.com, and never felt better. If you would like more information, please feel free to contact me. Our bodies need the proper nutrition, and giving, will help our bodies heal itself.
101. […] https://dailytransformations.com/food-cravings-here-is-what-your-body-really-wants/ […]
102. […] or food group, your lacking in something. Here is a link indicating cravings and what they mean – https://dailytransformations.com/…-really-wants/ 5. Worries? – call your doctor, gp, NHS Direct immediately. There is nothing worst than paniking […]
103. […] Food Cravings? Here Is What Your Body Really Wants~ […]
104. 

     Dear Tamara,

     Much Peace & Love from Paris, France 🙂

     I stumbled over your blog when I typed “cravings for cheese” into Google… Thank You for this post ! I am back to nuts (fortunately I loooove nuts too)… I became a vegan, naturally and more or less effortlessly… slowly but surely when my life changed more than a year ago…

     That said, last night, when the cravings started, I ate delicious cheese, chocolate and ice-cream. And you know what ? I enjoyed it !

     I went on this morning: more cheese and I told myself “What the heck, it’s just a day and if your body wants some, then do it” I am not going to blame myself, I am not putting myself under pressure, as I feel my body very clearly, I am not afraid… And my body told me already last night, that it wasn’t really into digesting this sudden overflow of sugar and dairy products…
     Your list is super helpful and I will check out the link.

     As I said, here I am on the sofa, crunching cashew nuts, almonds, dried figs and apricots.

     I cross-read over your blog. I love it. I can relate to many things, due to similar experiences and many of your posts/articles resonate within.

     Great meeting you and thank you for sharing !

     Much Love,
     Caro
1. 

   Hi Caro, how nice to wake up with greetings from Paris! Welcome, I’m glad you found my page. You know, if your nuts are raw or tossed with olive oil and spices and dehydrated below 115 degrees C so the enzymes are alive~nuts are a fabulous and healthy treat. It’s when we eat the roasted standard nuts on the grocery store shelves that we consume the bad fats that make us unhealthy. Raw is good!
   And….I agree. Life is short. A day or two of indulging in something good that’s “quality” is what gives life it’s lovely flavor.

   🙂
   Love to you
105. […] (2) https://dailytransformations.com […]
106. 

     Since I was born I’ve had health problems all my life. As far back as I’m able to remember I can remember having horrible stomach pain and cramping. My entire childhood my parents just brushed it off and ignored my complaining and time and time again would just tell me to go to the bathroom. Well, when I hit 20 yrs old the pain had increased to the point I was running.to the emergency room on a weekly basis seemed like and no doctor could figure out what my problem was. Well finally a specialist, after doing extensive testing on me, discovered that I had an intermittent partial sigmoid volvulus, or an intestinal obstruction in my sigmoid colon, due to me.being born with a sigmoid colon that was nearly two feet too long. The way the doc explained the problem was, he said imagine my large intestine being like a water hose which would on occasion wrap itself around another part of itself and kink itself off, and not allowing any feces to pass through, kind of like a kidney stone or pregnancy. Well I had been dealing with this issue from birth so doc removed 18 inches of my sigmoid colon. Well I’ve had medical.issues off and on ever since. The stomach cramping has.stopped and subsided, but, about two yrs ago I started getting the worst cravings for ice cream that I’ve ever had in my entire life. Cravings for it so bad that. If I was broke I’d honestly probably try to rob a store just for a gallon of ice.cream. Well I knew by this craving and some other GI symptoms that, something inside me had to be wrong… So I went nd i saw a specialist, and after doing an ultrasound of my abdomen, they discovered that I had kidney stones. Now I had no clue anything was wrong. I didn’t have the abdominal pain that most people have when they have gallstones, the only major symptom I was having was that craving, BUT, since having my gallbladder removed, I no longer have to eat a gallon and a half of vanilla ice cream every day. However… And this worries me… A new issues came up. Everything after my gallbladder surgery was fine up until about 6 – 9 months ago. Now I can’tstop craving fruit. Would any of u guys happen to know why this is? I mean I’m craving fruit so bad I’d honestly murder someone for some fruit.if had.no other way to get it. It’s nearly as bad as nicotine withdrawal, buyt not quite as bad. Undoubtedly my body’s trying to tell me something again I just don’t know what. And far as u docs out there that say there’s no medical evidence to back up cravings of certain foods, well I can tell u this much… B4 having gallbladder surgery I had to have a minimum of one gallon vanilla ice cream every night or I’d mentally go off and get mad. Second… Once I had gallbladder removed cravings for ice cream vanished!!!

     Are one or two negative issues since having the surgery though. I can’ no longer eat anything that’s greasy, and now if I try to even eat a tiny amount of ice cream it shoots through me within 5 minutes of consuming it and gives me terrible diarrhea.

     But if anyone has any suggestions as to why I’m craving fruit so badly pls let me know. I’m mainly craving fruits like Strawberries, peaches, pluats, and sometimes grapes or watermelon, but mainly peaches and strawberries. Now if I run out of the above listed and get to craving frutisx I will eat whatever I can find. Also have cravings every night for chocolate I used to not have, but these cravings are nowhere near as severe as the fruit cravings. If u run out of fruit and had no way of getting it, I’d honestly prob steal it. Cravings are like narcotic withdrawals. Same, because I’ve had diff drug withdrawals before previously and they’re a lot alike.
107. […] https://dailytransformations.com/2011/05/05/food-cravings-here-is-what-your-body-really-wants/ […]
108. 

     Hi! Just want to say something about tea. Although decaf teas sold at stores do sometimes have chemicals, you can decaf your own tea at home. Tastes better, less expensive and healthy! In the first 30 seconds that tea steeps, 95 % of the caffeine exits the leaves. So, you take your tea, steep it in a little bit of the hot water for 30 seconds, dump that out and re-brew it and you have decaf tea. It still has 5% of its caffeine. You can never completely remove the caffeine, but this is as close as you get unless you drink teas (herbal) that never had any caffeine. An 8 oz. cup of coffee has 120mg. of caffeine while the same size cup of tea has only 40. All teas (Black, green. white and oolongs) all come from the same plant. There is a little bit of difference in how they are processed (in a wok, sauteed, roasted, dried and dry fermented). Black tea has the most caffeine because it is fermented. The rest have less. IN black tea, there are enzymes that are really good for your heart. In the process to make green tea, these are suppressed a little and you get more anti0oxidants. Neither one is better for you, just a little different. White tea is only dried and probably the closest to nature. BUt the bottom line is…they all come from the exact same plant.
     Anyway, my two cents about tea, if you want it decaf, do it yourself with water. 🙂
109. 

     Just wanted to drop a note and say that I have been trying this to help with my diet and healthy eating. While it’s not 100% the same, following this chart does seem to relieve my cravings and I am satisfied. I’m not saying that it would be the same as eating chocolate, but I don’t feel as if I HAVE to have it after eating the substitutes.
110. 

     Thanks
111. […] Healthy. Awesome. That's just off the top of my head. Also you might want to take a look at this. Food Cravings? Here Is What Your Body Really Wants~ | Daily Transformations Most importantly, if you have these cravings then just remove the availability of any less healthy […]
112. 

     I dunno. Anybody who advises never to eat bananas is suspect in my book.
1. 

   Hey Rick, Not sure where you read that. Bananas are wonderful for your health.
113. 

     I’ve recently given up carbonated and “sugar.” I say “sugar,” because sugar is added to almost everything in some form or another. This hasn’t been as difficult as I thought it would be and I’m eating healthier. I thought I would crave soda and desserts and I really don’t, not even chocolate and I was addicted to both. I tend to crave fruit now, but not often, just when I haven’t eaten any in a while. I think there is more to cravings than the scientific community knows.
1. 

   Good for you Jennifer!! That is a huge accomplishment. xo Tamara
114. […] Food Cravings? Here Is What Your Body Really Wants […]
115. 

     This is my first time to your site. So far, I really like what I see. I think, a long time ago, I read something about cravings and what you can swap for the “bad” cravings and still appease your body’s desires. Reading your article on the matter makes me really want to give this all a go! I’d like to lose about 10 pounds, and this seems like a great thing to add to my weight-loss plan! Thanks!! 🙂

     ~Stephanie
116. […] I’m sure lots of you have decided to give up chocolate, biscuits, crisps, alcohol, fizzy drinks or [insert personal vice here] for Lent. I don’t know about you, but I’m far more likely to eat well throughout the day if I start out right. After the whole juice craze that took over my Facebook feed in January, I started reading about the benefits of juicing. I won’t speak on juice cleanses here, (each to their own on that one) but I can say that having juices and smoothies as part of your diet seems a pretty good way to give your body the nutrition it needs. Often, when we think we’re craving junk food, our body is really asking for certain vitamins and minerals. You can read more about this here. […]
117. […] cravings also tell us what nutrients we are lacking. You can conquer cravings by consuming the healthy alternative so that you don’t fall off of track with you health and […]
118. 

     Awesome. From new zealand. Xxxxxx
119. […] craving odd foods, it could be a clue that your body is not getting enough vital nutrients. Try this chart to see what your body needs when you have certain […]
120. […] That list I found was pretty good, I like that it said what your body was lacking (magnesium or whatever) and basically if you are craving stuff (especially sugar…like I am a LOT), you need more REAL food.  It’s true, when I eat more whole (from nature, not processed) foods, I am full soooo much longer and feel so much better. […]
121. […] And chances are, after you’ve had your baby you won’t even be able to fathom why in the world you ever wanted to eat that! Following are some of the more unusual pregnancy food cravings and what they mean… […]
122. […] It might seem crazy, but anytime you feel the need to snack on something sweet, it is actually your body’s way of telling you that you want some chromium, carbon, sulfur, or tryptophan, according to Daily Transformations. […]
123. […] ice cream, cookies and chocolate then maybe what your body is really telling you according to Daily Transformations, is that you are missing Chromomuim, Carbon, Sulfur, or Tryptophan…A.K.A. Grab some turkey, […]
124. […] and cheese, actually have more calories than a full meal. Be careful with your snacking habits. This page tells you what you are actually craving. Want chocolate? Try some nuts. What you’re really […]
125. […] craving odd foods, it could be a clue that your body is not getting enough vital nutrients. Try this chart to see what your body needs when you have certain […]
126. Food Cravings? Here Is What Your Body Really Wants. – Daily Transformations

     […]Giving up sugar too rapidly may also cause conventional withdrawal signs.[…]
127. […] because it needs something that is in that food. To help understand this concept, I found this cool list of what our cravings are telling us we need. Take a look and see what things you may want to […]
128. Alcohol Rehab Centers

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129. 2liberals

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