Last updated on April 5th, 2023 at 01:41 pm
Food cravings can often take us by complete surprise. These cravings are simply a way for the body to communicate nutrient deficiencies. Today I wanted to share a little chart with you so that you can figure out what it means next time you have a food craving and how to support your body best. Remember, knowledge is power.
I always recommend and prefer that my family (and clients) get all their nutrients (minerals and vitamins) from whole food sources. However, sometimes that just isn’t as practical. If you are craving the same things repeatedly (and that craving will not go away) and have tried everything to satisfy those cravings with nutrient-dense food sources without success. Contact me to schedule a nutritional therapy session. That way, I can help you determine what supplements and real food combinations your body needs.
Food cravings and what they mean:
*I recommend organic fruits and vegetables, pastured or 100% grass-fed meats, poultry, eggs, organs, and raw or cultured dairy if feasible.
1. If you are craving chocolate.
– You might need magnesium.
Food sources: soaked raw nuts and seeds, soaked or sprouted legumes, cooked spinach and swiss chard, avocado, and ripe fruit.
Supplementation: A great (and relaxing) way to increase magnesium stores in the body is to take a magnesium salt bath for 20-25 minutes. This lotion is also a great option to increase magnesium levels topically. I always recommend getting various kinds of magnesium when supplementing – I love Smidge Morning and Evening Magnesium (available on my Fullscript dispensary) and this liquid form.
2. If you are craving sweets.
– You might need chromium.
Food sources: cooked broccoli, grapes, raw cheese, garlic, soaked or sprouted beans, calves liver, potatoes, chicken.
Supplementation: desiccated beef liver capsules or powder, bee pollen.
– You might need carbon.
Food sources: fresh fruits, meats, raw dairy.
– You might need phosphorus.
Food sources: beef, tuna, raw milk, soaked or sprouted nuts and seeds, soaked or sprouted beans, soaked grains, and fermented grains.
Supplementation: desiccated beef liver capsules or powder, bee pollen, colostrum powder.
– You might need sulfur.
Food sources: cranberries, horseradish, pastured eggs, cooked kale, cabbage, cooked cruciferous vegetables, garlic, and onion.
– You might need tryptophan.
Food sources: raw cheese, liver, lamb, raisins, eggs, poultry, raw dairy, seafood, sweet potatoes, and cooked spinach.
Supplementation: desiccated beef liver capsules or powder, spirulina.
Cravings for sweets can also indicate low blood sugar or adrenal fatigue.
3. If you are craving fatty foods.
– You might need calcium.
Food sources: raw milk, raw cheese, cooked kale, cultured yogurt, sardines, mustard, turnip greens, cooked broccoli, cooked kale, soaked or sprouted beans, and sesame seeds.
Supplementation: pearl powder, bee pollen, colostrum powder.
4. If you are craving coffee or tea.
– You might need phosphorus.
Food sources: beef, tuna, raw milk, soaked or sprouted nuts and seeds, soaked or sprouted beans, soaked grains, and fermented grains.
Supplementation: desiccated beef liver capsules or powder, bee pollen, colostrum powder.
– You might need sulfur.
Food sources: egg yolks, red peppers, muscle protein, garlic, cooked cruciferous vegetables, and onion.
Supplementation: living sulfur crystals.
– You might need NaCl (salt)
Food sources: sea salt, apple cider vinegar.
Supplementation: Icelandic flake salt, Quinton isotonic sea minerals.
– You might need iron
Food sources: beef, liver, fish, soaked lentils, poultry, seaweed, and black cherries.
Supplementation: desiccated beef liver capsules or powder, bee pollen, multi-organs.
5. If you are craving alcohol or recreational drugs.
– You might need protein
Food sources: meats, fish, seafood, soaked or sprouted nuts, soaked black beans, soaked lentils, poultry, and raw dairy.
Supplementation: collagen powder, gelatin, colostrum powder.
– You might need avenin.
Food sources: properly prepared oatmeal and soaked barley.
– You might need calcium.
Food sources: raw milk, raw cheese, cooked kale, cultured yogurt, sardines, mustard, turnip greens, cooked broccoli, cooked kale, soaked or sprouted beans, and sesame seeds.
Supplementation: pearl powder, bee pollen, colostrum powder.
– You might need glutamine
Food sources: meats, bone broth, cottage cheese, seafood, asparagus, and raw cabbage juice.
Supplementation: powdered bone broth, spirulina.
– You might need potassium
Food sources: sun-dried black olives, potato peel broth, acorn squash, soaked white beans, avocado, cooked broccoli, sweet potato, sardines, salmon, dried apricot, pomegranate, coconut water, banana, seaweed, bitter greens, beets, beef, and raw milk.
Supplementation: baobab powder, bee pollen, pine pollen powder.
6. If you are craving ice.
– You might need iron.
Food sources: beef, liver, fish, soaked lentils, poultry, seaweed, and black cherries.
Supplementation: desiccated beef liver capsules or powder, bee pollen, multi-organs.
7. If you are craving bread or toast.
– You might need nitrogen.
Food sources: high protein foods: fish, beef, chicken, eggs, cooked spinach, and soaked legumes.
8. If you are craving burned food.
– You might need carbon.
Food sources: ripe fresh fruits.
9. If you are craving soda or other carbonated drinks.
– You might need calcium
Food sources: raw milk, raw cheese, cooked kale, cultured yogurt, sardines, mustard, turnip greens, cooked broccoli, cooked kale, soaked or sprouted beans, and sesame seeds.
Supplementation: pearl powder, bee pollen, colostrum powder.
10. If you are craving salty foods.
– You might need chloride.
Food sources: raw goat’s milk, whitefish, sea salt.
Supplementation: Icelandic flake salt, Quinton isotonic sea minerals.
Cravings for salt or salty foods and snacks can also indicate adrenal fatigue.
11. If you are craving acidic foods.
– You might need magnesium.
Food sources: soaked raw nuts and seeds, soaked or sprouted legumes, cooked spinach and swiss chard, avocado, and ripe fruit.
Supplementation: A great (and relaxing) way to increase magnesium stores in the body is to take a magnesium salt bath for 20-25 minutes. This lotion is also a great option to increase magnesium levels topically. I always recommend getting various kinds of magnesium when supplementing – I love Smidge Morning and Evening Magnesium (available on my Fullscript dispensary) and this liquid form.
12. If you are craving liquids but not solids.
You might need to be hydrated.
Food sources: water with sea salt, water with lemon or lime, and coconut water.
Supplementation: Icelandic flake salt, Quinton isotonic sea minerals.
13. If you are craving cool drinks.
You might need manganese.
Food sources: pineapples, blueberries, soaked rice, soaked or sprouted walnuts, pecans, and almonds.
Supplementation: bee pollen, pine pollen powder.
14. If you are craving tobacco.
– You might need silicon.
Food sources: fresh ripe fruits, soaked or sprouted nuts, and seeds.
– You might need tyrosine
Food sources: oranges, green and red fruits, and vegetables.
Supplementation: acerola powder, camu camu, whole food vitamin C powder.
15. If you are craving nut butters.
– You might more saturated fat.
Food sources: butter, tallow, ghee, coconut oil, and raw dairy.
16. If you are craving cheese.
– You might need essential fatty acids
Food sources: butter, ghee, coconut oil, tallow, and olive oil.
17. If you are craving red meat.
– You might need iron
Food sources: beef, liver, fish, soaked lentils, poultry, seaweed, and black cherries.
Supplementation: desiccated beef liver capsules or powder, bee pollen, multi-organs.
18. If you are craving raw fish.
– You might need iodine.
Food sources: seafood and vegetables, cultured dairy, raw milk, eggs, raw cheese, and soaked lima beans.
In addition to food cravings, keep an eye out for the following symptoms and their potentially associated nutrient deficiencies.
Now that you know all about food cravings and what they mean, I wanted to share some common symptoms and associated nutrient deficiencies. Our bodies are so great at communicating with us if only we would take the time to listen.
If you experience pre-menstrual cravings.
– You might need zinc
Food sources: red meats – especially organs and lamb, seafood, cooked leafy greens, and root vegetables.
Supplementation: desiccated beef liver capsules or powder, bee pollen, multi-organs, Smidge oyster capsules.
If you experience general over-eating.
– You might need silicon.
Food sources: fresh ripe fruits, soaked or sprouted nuts, and seeds.
– You might need tryptophan.
Food sources: raw cheese, liver, lamb, raisins, eggs, poultry, raw dairy, seafood, sweet potatoes, and cooked spinach.
Supplementation: desiccated beef liver capsules or powder, spirulina.
– You might need tyrosine
Food sources: oranges, green and red fruits, and vegetables.
Supplementation: acerola powder, camu camu, whole food vitamin C powder.
If you experience a lack of appetite when waking.
– You might need hydrochloric acid.
Food sources: 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a little bit of water before each meal.
Supplementation: digestive bitters, Glucobitters.
Read about the importance of digestion here and why stomach acid is good for you here.
I hope this will be an excellent resource for you to combat some of those lingering food cravings with nutrient-dense whole-food solutions.
Disclaimer: This post is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and is for educational purposes only.
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