Those crafty cravings and what they can mean!

Crafty cravings and what they mean

You know that feeling when you have been trying to clean up your diet and then you suddenly get an attack of munchies for a certain type of food.  This is your body crying out for vital nutients/minerals that it just isn't getting.  But that doesn't mean we should give into the cravings, just improve our diet and where appropriate use supplements.

Crave Chocolate
Chocolate is rich in magnesium so strong cravings could indicate a deficiency in this mineral.It's probably one of the most commonly craved food, particularly "around the time of the month" due to an increased demand by the body systems during the 2nd half of your menstrual cycle. If you’re a chocoholic and suffer from PMS symptoms such as irritability, headaches, cramps and bloating, it may be worth trying a magnesium supplement, such as Natures sunshine Magnesium (90 capsules, £11.95).

Eat Nuts are actually a richer source, particularly Brazils. Leafy green veg are also good, as are brown rice,  and pumpkin seeds — though not quite so moreish.

TRY: If it has to be chocolate, opt for dark chocolate that contains at least 75 per cent cocoa, as this will contain more magnesium and less sugar.

‘Drinking too much alcohol, tea, coffee and fizzy drinks can also deplete levels of magnesium,’

Crave Bread And butter
Usually lacking in the essential fats, often as a result of the "low fat diet" approach. Essential fats are well...essential for weight management, fluid levels, skin/hair/mail health, hormone balance to name but a few.  Every cell in the body needs essential fats to keep healthy.

Eat   oily fish, nuts, avocados, seeds, particularly flax/linseeds.

Here are a few more common ones, what could be lacking and foods to include to top up! 

Crave Cheese,  EFA, calcium
Eat  oily fish, nuts,seeds as above and green leafy veg, broccoli, kale, legumes, sesame seeds/tahini


Crave Red Meat, iron
Eat Beans, legumes, unsulphured prunes, figs+ other dried fruit, seaweed, spinach, cherries, Vitamin C rich foods for iron absorption

Crave Crisps/salty foods,  ChlorideEat fish, celery, olives, tomatoes

Crave Pasta, pastries, white bread, ChromiumEat, onion, apples, sweet potato, grapes, cinnamon, romaine lettuce and tomatoes

Crave fizzy drinks, calciumEat green leafy veg, brocolli, kale, legumes, sesame seeds/tahini

Crave coffee/stimulants,  phosphorous, sulphur and ironEat Whole grains, pinto beans, pumpkin seeds, brazil nuts, lentils Green leafy veg, broccoli, kale, legumes, sesame seeds/tahiniBeans, legumes, unsulphured prunes, figs+ other dried fruit, seaweed, spinach, cherries, Vitamin C rich foods for iron absorption.



Hope this helps, it pays to listen to what your body needs and fill it with the best food source rather than giving in to those cravings that are often full of sugar, toxins etc and which generally only make things worse in the long run.

It is also important to recognise that minerals and vitamins work together so I tend not to supplement singularly (except in  the case of magnesium, b vits and c occasionally) dependent on what lifestyle factors are involved.  always aim to eat a balanced diet, foods first, supplement to fill any gaps.

My go to is a daily multi vit/mineral which provides 100% RDA for most vits and minerals.  As I've said before not all supplements are created equal and you do get what you pay for. I use natures sunshine products which you can find out about here