Sugar cravings for certain food groups are usually a sign that your body is trying to tell you something, whether it’s that you’re not eating enough or you have a vitamin deficiency in a certain vitamin or nutrient.
Sugar cravings are often caused by an imbalance in blood glucose levels. Low blood sugar levels might cause you to crave something sweet in order to bring up these levels. Other factors that can play a role include psychological stress, medications, hormone imbalances or health conditions.
It’s not usual to crave carbs, sugar and especially chocolate when you are stressed or dealing with depression. Cravings can be your body’s way of letting you know it’s not getting something it needs, such as a specific vitamin or mineral. This can result in you craving certain foods such as for chocolate or other sweets.
Why do we get food cravings?
A food craving is basically an intense desire for a specific type of food. Majority of people experience cravings a one time or another. There are many factors that can influence your food cravings. Such as:
- Emotional or psychological stress
- Certain prescription and over-the-counter medications
- Hormone imbalance (especially in relation to pregnancy or menstrual cycle)
- Physical and mental health conditions (such as type 1 diabetes, depression and eating disorders)
Why do you crave certain food groups?
Salty foods
Some people crave salty foods such as crisps, chips and savoury snacks. This is linked to low levels of electrolytes, dehydration and stress, which may be shown in symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and an inability to concentrate. Eat more vitamin B foods like nuts, seeds, and whole grains, fruit and vegetables.
Chocolate cravings
Chocolate cravings can indicate a need for happy hormones like serotonin, therefore being in a low mood can result in you craving chocolate. This sweet is a combination of fats and sugars (carbohydrates), but it also contains significant vitamins and minerals. As a result of craving chocolate your body could be needing magnesium or B vitamins.
Sugar cravings
Craving for sugar is a difficult craving to control. Sugar lacks any essential nutrients, so it’s more likely that your body is asking for fast energy, or that is craving an old habit. If you are currently on a diet, giving into sugar cravings will making dieting much more difficult.
Conclusion
Overall, sugar cravings are more intense when you’re hungry as well as thirsty. If you go long periods of time without a meal or a snack, your body will start looking for energy from your stored body fats. When your hungry, it’s important to choose nutritious foods that will address your hunger and provide your body with energy it needs.
If you give into your cravings every now and again, it’s not the end of the world. You shouldn’t beat yourself up over it. To satisfy your cravings but also prevent you from feeling guilty about the food your eating, you can eat the food in small amounts.
If you have tried addressing your cravings yourself but have been unsuccessful, you can arrange to talk to your GP about an alternative method to help you fight your sugar cravings without it affecting your diet.
You can find some diet tips and advice on Manchester Pharmacy’s blogs if you are struggling with your diet, which may also help you overcome sugar cravings.
