Have you ever changed your way of eating and one day, BAM you are hit with a craving out of left field? What about needing to have foods so badly that you drove out of your way to get it? Have you woken up with a craving for foods that you have not had in years?Scenarios like these are perfect examples of vitamin and mineral deficiencies that many of us suffer from.
During my last two pregnancies, I craved raw almond butter like crazy. Through research I found that certain deficiencies cause certain cravings. Cravings are different from hunger. Hunger is controlled by the stomach, whereas craving are controlled by our brains and our body’s chemistry.
Below is a chart with the most common cravings I have come across in my research, the deficiency associate with each craving and all the foods you can eat to restore your body back to optimal function.
Craving |
Deficiency |
Foods to Repair With |
|
Essential Fatty Acids deficiency | Omega 3 Fatty Acids (EPA and DHA) such as flax oil, fish oil, ground flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts |
|
Calcium deficiency | Sesame seeds/ tahini, broccoli, kale, legumes, raw almonds, mustard and turnip greens |
|
Chromium deficiency | Onion, romaine lettuce, tomato, cinnamon, grapes, apples, sweet potato |
|
Nitrogen deficiency | Foods containing proteins, meat, poultry, fish, leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, grains |
|
Iron deficiency | beans, legumes, prunes, figs/dried fruit, seaweed, spinach, cherries, Vitamin C |
|
Stress hormone fluctuations | Leafy greens, vitamin B and C |
|
Chloride deficiency | celery, olives, tomato, kelp, Himalayan sea salt |
|
Carbon deficiency | Fresh fruits |
|
Magnesium deficiency | Raw cacao nibs/beans/powder, Whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, greens, fruit |
|
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) | Fruit, high fiber foods (ex. beans, legumes), complex carbs (whole grains), chromium (cinnamon) |
|
Tryptophan deficiency | Spirulina, pumpkin/sesame/sunflower seeds, raw cacao, oatmeal, sweet potato, spinach, raisins, raw almonds |
|
Sulfur deficiency | Cruciferous vegetables (ex. kale, cabbage, etc), cranberries, horseradish, asparagus, carob powder, garlic, onion |
|
Phosphorus deficiency | Whole grains, pinto beans, pumpkin seeds, brazil nuts, lentils |
|
Sulfur deficiency | Cruciferous vegetables (ex. kale, cabbage, etc), cranberries, horseradish, asparagus, carob powder, garlic, onion |
|
NaCl (salt) deficiency | Himalayan sea salt, Apple Cider vinegar, kombucha |
|
Phosphorous deficiency | Whole grains, pinto beans, pumpkin seeds, brazil nuts, lentils |
|
Glutamine deficiency | Cabbage, beetroot, beans, spinach, parsley, vegetable juice |
|
Protein deficiency | Green leafy vegetable, nuts, seeds, legumes, grains, beans |
|
Potassium deficiency | Citrus fruits, bitter green leafy vegetables, banana, tomato, pineapple, black olives, seaweeds |
|
Oat deficiency | Oatmeal, granola |
|
Silicon deficiency | Horsetail herb, nuts, seeds, oats, millet, barley, onions, whole wheat, beetroot. Avoid refines starches |
|
Tyrosine deficiency | Fruits (ex. Avocado and banana), whole grains, oats, legumes, beans, nuts, seeds, Vitamin C, vegetables |
|
Thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency | Whole grains, peanuts, seeds, beans, green and yellow vegetables |
|
Niacin (Vitamin B3) deficiency | Peanuts, sunflower seeds, wheat bran and wheat germ |
|
Manganese deficiency | Walnuts, almonds, pecans, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, pineapple, blueberries |
Sources:
Alekseeva, T., What Do Food Cravings Say About You (Chart)?:
Georgiou, C., Reboot with Joe
Shifko, R.,Cravings & Vitamin Deficiency
