Quenching Your Cravings

Most people assume that they were born with their sweet tooth, or that an addiction to coffee is due to lack of sleep. While either of these may hold some truth, there is also some science behind why your body craves the things that it does.

Based on an infographic found on freeformfitness.ca, here is a list of some common hankerings and what they really mean you might need, so that next time you can nip those crazy cravings right in the bud:

Craving: Sweets

What you actually need (and a healthy way to get it):

• Chromium (broccoli, grapes, cheese, dried beans, chicken)
• Carbon (fresh fruit)
• Phosphorus (chicken, beef, liver, poultry, fish, egg, dairy, nuts, legumes)
• Sulfur (cranberries, horseradish, cruciferous vegetables, kale, cabbage)
• Tryptophan (cheese, liver, turkey, sweet potato, spinach)

Craving: Coffee

What you actually need (and a healthy way to get it):

• Phosphorous (chicken, beef , liver, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, legumes)
• Sulfur (egg yolks, red peppers, muscle protein, garlic, onion, cruciferous vegetables)
• Salt (sea salt, apple cider vinegar)
• Iron (meat, fish, poultry, seaweed, greens, black cherries)

Craving: Fatty Foods

What you actually need (and a healthy way to get it):

• Calcium (mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, cheese, sesame)

Craving: Bread

What you actually need (and a healthy way to get it):

• Nitrogen (fish, meats, nuts, beans and other high protein items)

Craving: Carbonated Drinks

What you actually need (and a healthy way to get it):

• Calcium (mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, cheese, sesame)

Craving: Salty Snacks

What you actually need (and a healthy way to get it):

• Chloride (Raw goat milk, fish, unrefined sea salt)

Craving: Tobacco

What you actually need (and a healthy way to get it):

• Silicon (nuts, seeds)
• Tyrosine (vitamin C supplements, oranges, green and red fruits and vegetables)

Did you know that drinking Kombucha can help fight those sugary cravings, too?

FeelGoodNow Contributor: Maureen McGuire
Though she loves uncovering cultural and historical factoids behind various wellness topics, there is much more to this gal than meets the virtual eye. Outside the office, this blogging maven is usually painting up a storm, brushing up on her Spanish skills or soaking up Colorado’s 300 days of sunshine.  This native New Mexican loves to travel, and as green chile aficionado, she brings a certain spice to the FGN team.


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