Cravings Communicate What Your Body Needs
The number one thing that I have learned from having hypothyroidism and hormonal imbalance is that we have become removed from trusting our bodies. We aren’t aware of the many messages that our bodies are giving us. Most of all, we don’t have a clear understanding of what they even mean. My thyroid and hormonal issues were sirens to me. Furthermore, this was an indication of dysfunction that was occurring on a deep level within me. Physically, mentally, and emotionally I was out of whack. Learning how to deconstruct my cravings and respond to them properly has been a major factor in my healing.
Sugar
So, let’s start with the good stuff; sugar! Who craves sweets? (The ocean of hands raises.) If you are craving sweets, then there’s several things going on:
1. You are not drinking enough water.
Dehydration will cause you to want sweet stuff. Consequently, we need an ample amount of water each day; roughly half your body weight in ounces. I’m the queen of dehydration. I love it. I’ll just totally neglect myself into a dehydrated oblivion, and then be like, “Oh my God! What’s wrong with me?” Yeah, I need water! I’m a health coach, you’d think this would click, but ever since I was a kid, I just wouldn’t drink enough water. No lie, I’m going to get some water right now. I need some. Excuse me.
2. You need more relaxation and sleep.
Pffff….yeah no kidding! For all the mommas out there, you need to ask for your own time outs. This is something I was afraid to do, and I felt guilty asking for my own time. Well guess what? I explained to my husband what I needed and why, and he said, “Sure.” If you’re married to a reasonable human being, it will seriously be ok. If your husband is in the military, or he works a very crazy schedule (which I know all about), then seek a family member, neighbor kid, or a friend willing to swap time. I’m not talking spa dates or anything crazy. I’m talking about a nap, having a bath in the evening before bed, going for a pedicure, or just having someone get your kids in bed or take them for the night so you can sleep! Speak up girls. Ask for what you need.
3. You need more love and more sex.
Now you’re really laughing, huh? There’s a lot of sexual deprivation going on, and many couples who have “lost that loving feeling.” Consequently, children, career, household, finances, health challenges, annoying family members, and other things throw a damper on the passion within any relationship. How do we fix this? How do we get back to being the lovers we once were with our significant others? To be honest, I don’t know that we can really go back to what we had. What we can do is take what’s still burning and fan that flame. One of the biggest breakdowns of love and sex that I see is the lack of, or loss of consistent communication. Couples stop talking, and then trouble starts brewing.
I read several books before I had my first baby, and one of them was Babywise. One of the things that I really love from their perspective is that you should sit down with your spouse in front of your kids everyday and have a private conversation. Tell the kids to play, and that you and Daddy or Mommy are going to talk. This shows the kids that your relationship matters, and it’s prioritized. It also gives you two much needed connection and a check-in. Then, after the kids are in bed, you don’t have to do all the catching up with talking, but maybe you could catch up with something else. 
Healthy Sweets
When you just need something sweet, go for foods that are both sweet and actually nourish you:
fruits: Fruits are best when eaten in the morning and early in the day for lasting energy.
natural sweeteners: Raw honey, maple syrup, monk fruit, and stevia are my favorites.
dates: Not only are dates packed with a major nutritional punch, but they are delicious. Here’s a great article with 17 ways to use dates in desserts and other yummy dishes.
frozen bananas: If you’re craving ice cream, try blending a couple frozen bananas with some coconut milk, a little peanut butter, and then add some dark chocolate chips on top. Yum!
dark chocolate: Get the good stuff; 60% cacao or higher has major health benefits.
The Bottom Line with Sugar Cravings
In conclusion, if you can stay hydrated, incorporate more relaxation and sleep into your routine, and create more time for you and your partner, you’ll notice that the sweet cravings will drastically reduce or even go away. The next time you want a piece of cake at 10:00 p.m., go get a piece of something else….
Salt and Breads/Pastas
I’ve always been more of a fan of salt and bread-based things, and it’s no wonder. These cravings indicate a need for more minerals and nutrient-dense foods. As a kid, I ate a lot of processed foods and I’m sure I had a poor constitution. When I say I had a poor constitution, I mean that from the first ten years of my life, my nourishment was sub-par. At that time we didn’t have the knowledge of food like we do now. I ate, but the quality of the food I ate was not too good. I grew up in the 80s and 90s when everything was about portions, but there wasn’t a focus on quality. We had a lot of processed foods and things like Kool Aid. Hey, that’s what all the coupons were for! Who can blame anyone?
It’s Always Nutritional
I really believe my vitamin and mineral levels were probably always low from the time of growing up. I also drank soy formula as a baby, and this has been linked to having an under active thyroid (hypothyroidism) later in life.
Fast forward to when I became hypothyroid after having my son. I was depleted in many vitamins and minerals. Pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding takes a major toll on women physically, and I find that to be greatly UNDERESTIMATED. The proof is in the outcomes we see after birth: thyroid dysfunction, depression, and infertility. Newsflash; your body can’t make hormones if it 1. doesn’t receive proper nutrition and 2. it can’t assimilate the nutrients you eat by way of digestion. If you’re not digesting food properly, then your body is missing out on many nutrients. If you sign up for my newsletter, you will receive a free eBook that explains more about this. You can also visit Free Resources to find out more about what I’ve done, as well as what my clients have done to heal.
The Bottom Line with Salt Cravings
Once I learned about what these salt/bread cravings mean from working with my health coach, I started to really focus on eating mineral-dense salt, adding trace minerals to my water, and making every meal an opportunity to load up on as many nutrients as possible. Furthermore, I began experiencing more energy, less fatigue, better moods, and….less cravings for bread/pasta!
Crunchy Foods/Snacks
I call these the “crunchy munchies.” If you’re craving crunchy snacks and foods, then you probably need a better outlet for your frustration. Yep. I’m not kidding. I learned from the best at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, and when my head teacher Joshua Rosenthal explained this, I thought it made perfect sense. How could you relieve that frustration aside from eating crunchy snacks? There’s kickboxing, running, weight lifting, and other exercise that would help you alleviate that.
Maybe you exercise, but you’re not speaking up for yourself. Perhaps there’s disconnect between you and your partner, or you’re having trouble with a co-worker. In conclusion, it may be time to schedule a conversation, and get to the root of your problem.
The Bottom Line with Crunchy Cravings
If it’s not these things, then it’s most likely something else. As a result, it’s time to check in with yourself. It’s either that you’re not expressing your desires, something that’s important to you isn’t working in your favor, or you’re lacking a physical release of tension.
Grease or Fat
French fries, fast food, fried food, and the list goes on and on. Are you getting hungry yet? I’m about to go into labor any day now, so this sounds good. Here’s the thing, have some french fries if you want them, but get some good ones at a farm to table restaurant, or a good grocer like Whole Foods. Better yet, make your own potatoes fried in tallow or lard. Add some sea salt or pink salt, and BAM!
The Bottom Line with Cravings for Grease or Fat
If you’re craving something greasy or fatty, then you need more fat! The key is that you need to eat healthy fats. Think coconut oil (non-virgin doesn’t taste like coconuts), olive oil, organic, grass-fed butter (you should try raw from a farm like this), avocados, wild salmon, and organic, pasture-raised eggs. Try cooking a whole, pasture-raised chicken in the crock pot and use the juice/drippings to make a sauce or gravy. Slather that meat with those drippings, and your body will thank you for the healthy fats, protein, and ability to absorb all the vitamins and minerals from your meal. Yes, many people are not getting enough healthy fat, so make sure you’re getting a little bit each day. Consequently, your cravings for the junky, greasy stuff will melt away.
Cravings for Specific Vegetables and Fruits: An Important Message
This is a true story that just happened yesterday afternoon, and it’s why something in me delayed finishing this post yesterday.
I have a client, who is a beautiful, sweet, young woman struggling with Lyme Disease and gut dysbiosis. She’ll tell me the cravings she’s having, and it’s been for specific fruits. Due to her gut issues, she has blood sugar issues. After she eats, her blood sugar will sometimes drop pretty badly. This is of course scary for her, and she hates the way she feels when this happens. Because of that, she tends to stay away from fruit. As she’s been having intense cravings for fruit, I’ve encouraged her to eat them. Little by little, she’s been eating more, and feeling ok. Yes, there’s times when her sugar drops, but she’s moving right along.
During our last session, she told me she really wants tangerines, berries of all varieties, and citrus. Guess what fruits are bolded on her detox food plan that she received from her holistic doctor yesterday? Tangerines, berries of all varieties, and citrus. Need I say more? She knows herself best. You know yourself best. Follow the messages my friends.
The Bottom Line on All Cravings
If you are craving a salad made of watery romaine lettuce and cherry tomatoes. Eat it. Your body is talking to you. It needs something from those foods. Craving a piece of chocolate cake? Ask yourself if you’re tired, need relaxation, or need some loving. Try those things first, and I will bet that you need at least one of them badly. Consequently, after you get your satisfaction, then the want for the cake or the other sweet comfort food will fade.
How do I know? I’ve lived this. Over the past 2-3 years, I’ve had to focus on the ROOT CAUSES of my health issues. I haven’t always been very good at “feeding” myself in ways outside of eating. Consequently, the deprivation lead to poor choices that made me feel awful, and caused major dysfunction in my body. Everything is connected, so be kind to yourself.
From my heart,
Lindsay
P.S. If you just want some cake, then try a recipe like this that has quality ingredients and is super delicious.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Leave a Reply