While occasional cravings for certain types of food may not be a reason to be worried about, some cravings indicate serious, underlying health issues. The food you crave may not contain the nutrients that your body is asking for and you probably end up eating unhealthy food as a response to that. Here are five such cravings that reveal deeper health conditions.
Water = Diabetes
Being thirsty all the time isn’t just a sign of dehydration; you need to check if you are diabetic. Excessive thirst and frequent urination are early signs of diabetes. The sugar build-up in your blood force your kidneys to take extra time to process. This transfers the extra sugar into urine, which makes you thirsty more often.
Chocolate = Depression
The constant urge to binge on chocolate isn’t just your love for cocoa. In fact, it’s a possible sign of depression. A good dose of chocolate boosts the serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain, which are known as the feel-good chemicals. Chocolate also contains magnesium and theobromine, which reduce stress hormones and promote muscle relaxation.
Ice = Iron deficiency
Have you ever noticed some people chewing ice? It’s a sign of anaemia and directly linked to low iron levels. Chewing ice (temporarily) increases your blood flow to the brain, which disguises the slowdown that iron deficiency causes.
Fries or Chips: Omega 3 deficiency
Craving those fried, salty chips that are often blamed for increasing your calorie count? It’s a sure shot sign of low levels of healthy fats like omega 3. The body doesn’t manufacture fatty acids on a daily basis and so, to get our daily requirement we need to eat foods like fish, nuts and olive oil.
Cheese: ADHD or concentration issues
Cheese is one of the most popular comfort foods, which contains l-tryptophan. This compound is a mood booster and relaxes the body. But in some cases, craving for cheese is a sign of cognitive problems with concentration and memory. In fact, there are also studies which say that craving for cheese is associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Save
