• Vitamins & Supplements
  • Food & Drink
  • Sports Nutrition
  • Free From
  • Natural Beauty
  • Weight Management
  • Offers
  • Summer Shop
  • The Health Hub
  • Learn more Healthbox
  • Account
Track your order Delivery & Returns Help Centre My subscriptions

Customer Service

  • Contact us
  • Site map
  • Site map
  • Store locator

About us

  • Who are we
  • Working at Holland & Barrett
  • Press releases
  • Privacy & cookie policy
  • Terms & conditions
  • Holland & Barrett More
  • Holland & Barrett International
  • Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Modern Slavery Statement

Connect with us

Store
0370 606 6606
My account
Rewards
  • Sign in
  • How do I join?
  • What are the benefits?
  • FAQs
Holland & Barrett :: the good life
  • Menu
  • Account
  • Store
  • Basket
    Search for
    • Vitamins & Supplements
    • Food & Drink
    • Sports Nutrition
    • Free From
    • Natural Beauty
    • Weight Management
    • Offers
    • The Health Hub
    • Healthbox

    Home / Food & Drink / Nutrition / What do your cravings mean?

    A women looking at a number of cakes and tarts
    A women looking at a number of cakes and tarts

    What do your cravings mean?

    Food cravings usually mean your body is trying to tell you something. Here’s how to listen.

    Are you craving certain foods on your diet? There could be a physical reason for your cravings. Here are some of the most common cravings explained.

    A need for energy

    One of the main reasons the body craves extra food on a diet is that it wants more energy. Calories are a unit of energy. So when you diet and start losing body fat, your body will do everything in its power to maintain balance. This includes sending out powerful signals to make you want to eat. But this isn’t helpful if you are overweight and need to reduce your weight for health reasons. Don’t forget we have another powerful source of energy available to us, and it’s calorie-free. Extra sleep and rest are very useful when you are on a diet.

    If you are having cravings on your diet, look at what you have been eating. Choose foods which replace key missing vitamins, minerals, or micronutrients. When you are in a calorie deficit, you need to be careful about nourishing your body and making good food choices.

    Craving fatty foods

    If you are craving cheese, fried foods, or other high-fat options, you could need more essential fatty acids. Introduce oily fish, whole eggs, avocado, or take a good quality fish oil supplement.

    Chocolate cravings

    Chocolate is a combination of fats and sugars (carbohydrates) but it also contains significant vitamins and minerals. So your body might be asking for magnesium, chromium, or B vitamins as well as essential fats. Try 90% chocolate or 100% cacao. Buy a small bar, or better still try cacao nibs which are pure chocolate. Raw chocolate can be useful because it has more minerals than normal chocolate. Chocolate cravings can indicate a need for happy hormones like seratonin. Consider a non-food treat like an early night, a cuddle with your pet, or some quality time with a loved one.

    Craving starch and carbohydrates

    If you are cravings savoury carbs, it’s a sign that you are low on energy. To an extent, this is to be expected. An energy imbalance is the only way to lose unwanted weight. But carb cravings can also indicate blood sugar fluctuations. Fill up on fibre-rich carbohydrate foods like fruit (apples and bananas are a good choice), root vegetables, and cruciferous vegetables.

     Cravings for sugar

    Sugar is a difficult craving to manage. Sugar is totally lacking in essential nutrients, so in this example your body is not crying out for nutrition. It’s more likely that your body is asking for fast energy, or that it is replaying an old habit loop. Giving in to sugar cravings will make dieting much more difficult. Don’t get back onto the sugar spiral. Try fruit or berries, ideally combined with some protein to fill you up. Real Greek yoghurt or cottage cheese, with frozen berries and some 90%+ dark chocolate, is a great idea. And drink some water. Experts think we crave sugar more often when we are slightly dehydrated.

    Salt cravings

    Some people crave salty foods like crisps, chips, and savoury snacks. This is linked to low levels of electrolytes, dehydration, and stress. Add electrolyte drops or tablets to your water. And eat more Vitamin B foods like nuts, seeds, whole grains, fruit, and vegetables.

    Unusual cravings

    Are you craving things like ice, clay, chalk, or dirt? It’s not as unusual as you might think. These types of non-food cravings point to a mineral deficiency. Make sure you’re eating lots of dark leafy greens, green vegetables, nuts, and seeds.

    Tweet
    Follow on Instagram
    Nutrition Sugar Cravings

    You may also like

    The benefits of healthy eating

    Article

    The benefits of healthy eating

    What is healthy eating? Healthy eating is not: a weight-loss diet a temporary fix something..

    READ MORE...
    Dandelion benefits: Why they’re good for health & ways to use them

    Article

    Dandelion benefits: Why they’re good for health & ways to use them

    What do dandelions make you think of? Puffing away at the wispy balls of seeds..

    READ MORE...
    9 easy and delicious keto snacks you can enjoy at home or on the go

    Article

    9 easy and delicious keto snacks you can enjoy at home or on the go

    Who doesn’t love a snack? On the keto diet, snacks make up an important part..

    READ MORE...

    Connect with us

    • Log in Register
    • rewards for life

    Customer service

    • Store locator
    • Contact us
    • Site feedback
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Delivery & returns
    • Site map
    • My account

    About us

    • Who we are
    • Working at Holland & Barrett
    • Press room
    • Privacy & cookie policy
    • Terms & conditions
    • Holland & Barrett More
    • Holland & Barrett International

    Brands

    • Holland & Barrett
    • Bootea
    • Dr Organic
    • Precision Engineered
    • Manuka Doctor
    • Good n Natural
    • Miaroma
    Register
    Click to verify if this website is operating legally

    Copyright © Holland & Barrett Retail Limited, 2017. All rights reserved. hollandandbarrett.com is a trading name of Holland & Barrett Retail Limited,. Registered office: Samuel Ryder House, Barling Way, Nuneaton, Warwickshire CV10 7RH. Registered in England: company no. 2758955. Registered VAT no. 211727395.