We’ve all fallen victim to those uncontrollable cravings that have us dashing out to the shop come rain or shine!
Whether it’s sweets, chocolate, crisps or fizzy drinks – we all seem to have a vice we just can’t lose the taste for. But could our cravings actually be our bodies telling us they want something entirely different?
It’s thought that the foods we crave actually represent a mineral deficiency in our diets. Whilst our brain might think it’s the food itself we want, it could actually just be the minerals it contains.
We’ve put together a table to help you work out what your cravings mean, and which healthy snacks can satisfy them instead.
|
If you crave this… |
What you really need is… |
Here are healthy foods that have it… |
|
Chocolate |
Magnesium |
Raw nuts and seeds, fruits |
|
Bread/Toast |
Nitrogen |
High protein foods |
|
Oily Snacks, Fatty Foods |
Calcium |
Mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, cheese, |
|
Ice |
Iron |
Meat, fish, poultry, seaweed, greens, black cherries |
|
Pre-menstrual cravings |
Zinc |
Red meats (especially organ meats), seafood, leafy vegetables, root vegetables |
|
Fizzy Drinks |
Calcium |
Broccoli, kale, cheese and sesame seeds. |
A lot of these craving replacements contain amazing skin-loving ingredients too, so swapping them into your diet will be better for your health and your complexion in the long run.
Curb your cravings
As well as mineral deficiencies, there may be other biological causes of your cravings.
If you don’t eat regularly (every four hours) for example, a craving may just signify a drop in blood sugar.
Dehydration also plays a part, as many people mistake thirst for hunger. Next time you’re struck by a craving, have a drink of water, wait 10 minutes and see if it subsides.
So what do you think? Would you replace your craving with a healthy alternative, or do you prefer to give in to temptation?!
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