CRAVINGS! What they mean?

Who hasn’t experienced the overwhelming desire to eat some­thing specific, whether it be chocolate, potato chips, a burger, or some other food? We’ve all experienced cravings, but we should be careful about the way in which we satisfy them. Cravings are not the same as hunger, in fact they couldn't be more different!  Hunger is controlled by the stomach, but Cravings are controlled by the brain.  Hunger is all about survival, but cravings are about your body communicating with you.

By understanding what your body is actually deficient in you can get to the root cause of the crav­ings, and eventually kick them all together.

There are numerous possible meanings of cravings, depending on the type of craving and your eating habits. Before you satisfy cravings, drink a tall glass of pure water. Quite often we misinterpret our body’s signal for thirst as a signal of hunger.  Some experts estimate that up to 80 percent of the population is chronically dehydrated, so start with water before you try to decipher your cravings.

Craving this:	Reason is:	Restore with this:
COMMON FOOD
Cheese	Essential Fatty Acids deficiency	Omega 3′s (EPA and DHA)- Flax oil, ground flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts
	Calcium deficiency	Sesame seeds/ tahini, broccoli, kale, legumes, mustard and turnip greens Calcium supplementation
Pasta, white bread, pastries	Chromium deficiency	Onion, romaine lettuce, tomato, cinnamon, grapes, apples, sweet potato Chromium supplementation
Bread and toast	Nitrogen deficiency	Foods containing proteins, i.e.. Green leafy veg, nuts, seeds, legumes, grains
Red meat	Iron deficiency	Beans, legumes, unsulphured prunes, figs+ other dried fruit, seaweed, spinach, cherries,  Vitamin C Iron
Popcorn	Stress hormone fluctuations	Meditation, breathing exercises, exercise, leafy greens, vitamin B and Vitamin C , Adrenal Support
Crisps	Chloride deficiency	Celery, olives, tomato, kelp, Himalayan sea salt
	Essential Fatty Acids deficiency	Omega 3′s (EPA and DHA)- Flax oil, ground flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts
FLAVOR
Burned Food	Carbon deficiency	Fresh fruits
Acid foods	Magnesium deficiency	Raw cacao nibs/beans/powder, whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, greens, fruit, Magnesium supplements
Salty Foods	Chloride deficiency	Celery, olives, tomato, kelp, Himalayan sea salt
	Stress hormone fluctuations	Meditation, breathing exercises, exercise, leafy greens, vitamin B and vitamin C
SWEETS
Chocolate	Magnesium deficiency	Raw cacao nibs/beans/powder, whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, greens, fruit,magnesium
Soda, fizzy drinks	Calcium deficiency	Sesame seeds/ tahini, broccoli, kale, legumes, mustard and turnip greens Calcium supplementation
General sweets	Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)	Fruit, high fibre foods (beans, legumes), complex carbs (grains), chromium (cinnamon)
	Tryptophan deficiency	Spirulina, pumpkin/sesame/sunflower seeds, raw cacao, oatmeal, sweet potato, spinach, raisins, Tryptophan
	Chromium deficiency	Onion, romaine lettuce, tomato, cinnamon, grapes, apples, sweet potato Chromium
	Sulphur deficiency	Cruciferous vege (kale, cabbage, etc), cranberries, horseradish, asparagus, carob powder, garlic, onion
	Phosphorus deficiency	Whole grains, pinto beans, pumpkin seeds, brazil nuts, lentils
STIMULANTS
Coffee or black tea	Sulphur deficiency	Cruciferous vege (kale, cabbage, etc), cranberries, horseradish, asparagus, carob powder, garlic, onion
	Iron deficiency	Beans, legumes, unsulphured prunes, figs+ other dried fruit, seaweed, spinach, cherries, Vitamin C Iron
	NaCl (salt) deficiency	Himalayan or Aztecan sea salt, Apple Cider vinegar, kombucha
	Phosphorous deficiency	Whole grains, pinto beans, pumpkin seeds, brazil nuts, lentils
Alcohol, recreational drugs	Calcium deficiency	Sesame seeds/ tahini, broccoli, kale, legumes, mustard and turnip greens Calcium
	Glutamine deficiency	Cabbage, beetroot, beans, spinach, parsley, vegetable juice Glutamine
	Protein deficiency	Green leafy vegetable, nuts, seeds, legumes, grains, beans Protein Powder
	Potassium deficiency	Citrus fruits, bitter green leafy veg, banana, tomato, pineapple, black olives, seaweeds Potassium supplement
	Avenin deficiency	Oatmeal, granola, cereals, whole grains
Tobacco	Silicon deficiency	Horsetail herb, nuts, seeds, oats, millet, barley, onions, whole wheat, beetroot. Avoid refined starches
	Tyrosine deficiency	Fruits (esp. avocado and banana), whole grains, oats, legumes, beans, nuts, seeds, Vitamin C Tyrosine
EATING HABITS
Lack of appetite	Chloride deficiency	Celery, olives, tomato, kelp, Himalayan or Aztecan sea salt
	Thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency	Whole grains, peanuts, seeds, beans, green and yellow vegetables B-Complex
	Niacin (Vitamin B3) deficiency	Peanuts, sunflower seeds, wheat bran and wheat germ
	Manganese deficiency	Walnuts, almonds, pecans, whole grains, green leafy veges, pineapple, blueberries Niacin Manganese
Often overeating	Tryptophan deficiency	Spirulina, pumpkin/sesame/sunflower seeds, raw cacao, oatmeal, sweet potato, spinach, raisins Tryptophan
	Tyrosine deficiency	Fruits (esp. Avocado and banana), whole grains, oats, legumes, beans, nuts, seeds, Vitamin C Tyrosine
	Silicon deficiency	Horsetail herb, nuts, seeds, oats, millet, barley, onions, whole wheat, beetroot. Avoid refined starches
Often snacky	No balanced diet, missing nutrients	Do a detox, substitute junk food for healthy meals
MORE BIZARRE
Crunching on ice	Iron deficiency	Beans, legumes, unsulphured prunes, figs+ other dried fruit, seaweed, spinach, cherries, Vitamin C Iron
Laundry starch	Iron deficiency	Beans, legumes, unsulphured prunes, figs+ other dried fruit, seaweed, spinach, cherries, Vitamin C Iron
Cigarette butts	Iron deficiency	Beans, legumes, unsulphured prunes, figs+ other dried fruit, seaweed, spinach, cherries, Vitamin C Iron