Food Cravings

What are cravings?

A signal from your body; your body is trying to get your attention that something in your body is out of balance

What causes cravings?

• ​Lack of nutrients we should be obtaining from food, or an imbalance in nutrients
• imbalance of our basic needs involved with our emotions such as love, acceptance, security or peace of mind
• genetics
• poor gut health​

Lack of or Imbalanced Nutrients

• unbalanced meals – the body likes to keep a strict balance, a meal that is too salty may lead to sugar cravings, or acidic foods can lead to cravings of alkaline foods and vice versa
• poor blood glucose balance (you don’t need to be diagnosed with diabetes to have poor control of your glucose levels)
• Food Addiction or allergies – both can actually make you crave foods even though they make you feel bad (can be immediate or delayed)
• Detoxing – can release stored “memories” of potentially toxic foods

Emotional Wellbeing as a Basic Need

• ​Pressures from society
• How we’ve been ‘wired’ – use of food as treats or rewards starting in childhood
•  Trying to fill an emotional need (i.e. cravings for chocolate can indicate the need for love or feelings of rejection)

Short term solutions for cravings

Cromium, which is a trace mineral, helps regulate blood glucose levels, and can help eliminate cravings for sugar. Good food sources include shellfish, nuts, eggs, broccoli, brewer’s yeast, barley, oats and whole grains.
Chromium can also be supplemented – especially useful if blood sugar management is a known issue, dose is 500mg daily with meals
**(please check with your primary health care provider before starting any new supplements to make sure they are right for you)

Other nutrients that help support the elimination of cravings include zinc, L-glutamine & B Vitamins. 

Long Term Solutions for Cravings

Eat a balance diet that has been tailored to your unique needs and situation - it  may be necessary to consult a nutritionist (like myself) and/or have blood work done to determine any deficiencies. 
It's also important to address and work on emotional ties to foods – you may need to enroll a professional to help you with this. Improving gut health is also crucial because if our gut is not functioning optimally, then this affects all other parts of our body.

​ Resources ​

Book – Food and Healing by Annemarie Colbin
Stephanie Dodier -   https://www.stephaniedodier.com/crave-cure/​

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