Cravings: Causes, Cures and What They Mean [INFOGRAPHIC]
Who Gets Cravings?? 100% of women and 75% of men report having cravings regularly each year.
Most Commonly Craved Foods:
- Chocolate: Consistently the #1 most commonly craved food among both men and women. Craved by 40% women & 15% men
- Pizza: Craved by 7% women & 14% men
- Salty Snacks: Craved by 8% women & 3% men
- Ice Cream: Craved by 6% women & 2% men
- Meat & Chicken: Craved by 3% women & 5% men
- Bread & Pasta: Craved by 3% women & 2% men
What Causes Cravings:
Cravings are essential messages sent to our bodies that something is missing. They are powerful cues that may assist in bringing and maintaining balance.
Common Causes:
- Dehydration: Dehydration often manifests itself as hunger.
- Nutritional Deficiencies: If the body doesn’t get enough nutrients, it will send messages in the form of cravings.
- Hormones: Pregnancy, menstruation, menopause, fluctuating testosterone & estrogen levels.
- Emotions: Stress, depression, anger, loneliness, anxiety, etc.
DID YOU KNOW: Dehydration often manifests itself as a hunger, so the first thing to do when you get a craving is drink a full glass of water.
SWEET FACT: Sugar is addictive! The less you eat sweets, the less you will crave them.
What Your Body is Actually Craving
| You’re Craving | What Your Body Needs | What You Should Eat Instead | |
| Chocolate | Magnesium | Nuts, seeds, veggies & fruit | |
|
Sugary Foods
|
Carbon | Fresh Fruit | |
| Chromium | Broccoli, grapes, cheese, chicken | ||
| Phosphorous | Chicken, beef, fatty fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, veggies, grains |
||
| Sulphur | Cranberries, horseradish, cabbage, cauliflower |
||
| Tryptophan | Cheese, raisins, sweet potatoes, spinach |
||
| Bread, Pasta & Other Carbs |
Nitrogen | High protein foods: meat, fatty fish, nuts, beans, chia seeds |
|
| Fatty & Oily Foods | Calcium | Organic milk, cheese, leafy greens, vegetables |
|
|
Salty Foods
|
Chloride | Fatty fish, goat milk | |
| Silicon | Cashews, nuts, seeds | ||
Take Control: How to Prevent & Control Cravings
- Tame Your Stress: Take time for yourself and relax, meditate or do yoga.
- Fight Boredom: Go for a walk, call friend, try a new hobby.
- Avoid Temptation: Don’t keep tempting treats around the house. Out of sight, out of mind.
- Don’t Deprive Yourself: Indulge every once in a while; Depriving yourself can lead to binges.
- Drink Water: Drink water first. Your body may just be dehydrated — not hungry.
- Snack Healthy: Keep healthy snacks on hand so you don’t opt for convenience foods.
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