What do your cravings really mean?

What type of foods do you crave? According to an article I found, a craving for sweets could indicate a lack of minerals in the body OR and overgrowth of yeast in the lower intestines. EEEEW! I always crave chocolate...I'd rather think the cause is just my gluteny (when extreme), boredom, or seasonal. In a time where people turn to the web for self-diagnosis, I am cautious about this theory. However, if your cravings or eating is out of the ordinary, its probably not a bad idea to see a doctor.

The article, Seven things to know about food cravings, that says: "Food cravings can be the body's way of trying to correct a chemical imbalance or point to a lack of vitamins or minerals. Craving some foods may indicate a weakness in certain glands, such as the pancreas, adrenals or thyroid".

A craving for sweets may indicate a lack of minerals in the body. Are you craving sweets all the time? Your body may be looking for more minerals. If sweet cravings are especially difficult for you, try adding trace minerals to your diet and see what happens. What are trace minerals, and where do you find them?

People with an overgrowth of yeast in their intestines often crave sugar. Yeast that live in the intestines feed off simple sugars and an acid environment. Eliminating sugar and fruit from the diet and eating more vegetables makes the environment less hospitable for yeast and can decrease sugar cravings. Has anyone heard this before?

Hidden ingredients may be the cause of your craving. Oftentimes sugar, caffeine or other chemicals are added to foods to keep you coming back for more. This I can see...I tend to over eat or feel hungrier later when I have too much coffee or high sugar foods.

Craving salty foods may indicate low adrenal gland function or low thyroid function. Salt regulates water retention in the body through the kidneys and adrenal glands. It is high in iodine, which is a mineral needed for thyroid function. If you are craving salt, it may be your body asking for more iodine or potassium, or pointing to a fluid imbalance. Would drinking more water help?