What your body is telling you
We have all experienced food cravings before. Usually it’s something sweet, salty, or creamy — something you just have to have. So, what are your food cravings really telling you? Here are a few of the most common cravings and the nutrients your body may be lacking.
If you crave this: Chocolate
What you really need: Magnesium
Healthier alternatives: Raw nuts and seeds, legumes, fruits
If you crave this: Sweets
What you really need: Chromium
Healthier alternatives: Broccoli, grapes, cheese, dried beans, calves liver, chicken
What you really need: Carbon
Healthier alternatives: Fresh fruits
What you really need: Phosphorus
Healthier alternatives: Chicken, beef, liver, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, legumes, grains
What you really need: Sulfur
Healthier alternatives: Cranberries, horseradish, cruciferous, vegetables, kale, cabbage
What you really need: Tryptophan
Healthier alternatives: Cheese, liver, lamb, raisins, sweet potato, spinach
If you crave this: Bread, toast
What you really need: Nitrogen
Healthier alternatives: High protein foods: fish, meat, nuts, beans
If you crave this: Oily snacks, fatty foods
What you really need: Calcium
Healthier alternatives: Mustard, and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, cheese, sesame
If you crave this: Coffee or tea
What you really need: Phosphorus
Healthier alternatives: Chicken, beef, liver, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, legumes
What you really need: Sulfur
Healthier alternatives: Egg yolks, red peppers, muscle protein, garlic, onion, cruciferous, vegetables
What you really need: NaC1 (Salt)
Healthier alternatives: Sea salt, apple cider vinegar (on salad)
What you really need: Iron
Healthier alternatives: Meat, fish and poultry, seaweed, greens, black cherries
If you crave this: Chewing ice
What you really need: Iron
Healthier alternatives: Meat, fish, poultry, seaweed, greens, black cherries
If you crave this: Burnt food
What you really need: Carbon
Healthier alternatives: Fresh fruit
If you crave this: Soda and other carbonated drinks
What you really need: Calcium
Healthier alternatives: Mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, cheese, sesame
If you crave this: Salty foods
What you really need: Chloride
Healthier alternatives: Raw goat milk, fish, unrefined sea salt
If you crave this: Acid foods
What you really need: Magnesium
Healthier alternatives: Raw nuts, and seeds, legumes, fruits
If you have preference for liquids than solids
What you really need: Water
Healthier alternatives: Flavoured water with lemon or lime. You will need 8-10 glasses a day
If you have preference for solids than liquids
What you really need: Water
Healthier alternatives: You have been so dehydrated for so long that you have lost your thirst. Flavoured water with lemon or lime. You will need 8-10 glasses a day
If you crave this: Cool drinks
What you really need: Manganese
Healthier alternatives: Walnuts, almonds, pecans, pineapple, blueberries
If you have pre-menstrual cravings
What you really need: Zinc
Healthier alternatives: Red meats (especially organ meats), seafood, leafy vegetables, root vegetables
If you experience general overeating
What you really need: Silicon
Healthier alternatives: Nuts, seeds; avoid refined starches
What you really need: Tryptophan
Healthier alternatives: Cheese, liver, lamb, raisins, sweet potato, spinach
What you really need: Tyrosine
Healthier alternatives: Vitamin C supplements or orange, green, red fruits and vegetables
If you lack appetite
What you really need: Vitamin B1
Healthier alternatives: Nuts, seeds, beans, liver and other organ meats
What you really need: Vitamin B3
Healthier alternatives: Tuna, halibut, beef, chicken, turkey, pork, seeds and legumes
What you really need: Manganese
Healthier alternatives: Walnuts, almonds, pecans, pineapple, blueberries
What you really need: Chloride
Healthier alternatives: Raw goat milk, unrefined salt
Original Article at EATWISE
