What do food cravings say about you? (CHART)

Hey you. Yes you!

Have you ever wanted a chocolate cupcake so badly, you didn't catch a single word during that meeting just salivating over it?

Or a burger so desperately, you were willing to drive 1,5 hours just to make sure you got it?

Have you ever left everything you were doing, and at the most inconvenient time, and during the worst weather conditions, to get to a cafe no matter how far it may have been, just to get a cup of coffee?

So you are probably familiar with food cravings then.

Cravings are not quite the same as hunger, in fact they couldn't be more different. Hunger is controlled by the stomach and craving by the brain. Hunger is all about your survival mechanism and craving is all about your body communicating with you.

Next time you have a craving like something sweet, ask yourself- "is it just sugar I am craving? I mean, will I be satisfied by sucking on a sugar cube or is it something more specific? Perhaps chocolate?" If the answer is indeed chocolate,  it is your body's way of letting you know you may be deficient in Magnesium, because raw cacao is the highest source of magnesium. Knowing this you can find all the foods that have high content of this nutrient and by slowly adding them to your diet, you can rid of recurring cravings for good.

And just take a look at what I have for you!!! Below is a chart of all the common cravings I come across with clients, the reason behind each craving and all the foods you can eat to mineralise!

Have fun...

FOOD CRAVINGS

Craving this:.........	Reason is:........................................	Restore with this:......................................................
COMMON FOOD
Cheese	Essential Fatty Acids deficiency	Omega 3's (EPA and DHA)- Flax oil, ground flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts
	Calcium deficiency	Sesame seeds/ tahini, broccoli, kale, legumes, mustard and turnip greens
Pasta, white bread, pastries	Chromium deficiency	Onion, romaine lettuce, tomato, cinnamon, grapes, apples, sweet potato
Bread and toast	Nitrogen deficiency	Foods containing proteins, i.e.. Green leafy veges, nuts, seeds, legumes, grains
Red meat	Iron deficiency	beans, legumes, unsulphured prunes, figs+ other dried fruit, seaweed, spinach, cherries, Vitamin C for iron absorption
Popcorn	Stress hormone fluctuations	Meditation, breathing exercises, exercise, leafy greens, vitamin B and C
Crisps	Chloride deficiency	celery, olives, tomato, kelp, Himalayan sea salt
	Essential Fatty Acids deficiency	Omega 3's (EPA and DHA)- Flax oil, ground flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts
FLAVOUR
Burned Food	Carbon deficiency	Fresh fruits
Acid foods	Magnesium deficiency	raw cacao nibs/beans/powder, Whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, greens, fruit
Salty Foods	Chloride deficiency	celery, olives, tomato, kelp, Himalayan sea salt
	Stress hormone fluctuations	Meditation, breathing exercises, exercise, leafy greens, vitamin B and C
SWEETS
Chocolate	Magnesium deficiency	raw cacao nibs/beans/powder, Whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, greens, fruit
Soda, fizzy drinks	Calcium deficiency	Sesame seeds/ tahini, broccoli, kale, legumes, mustard and turnip greens
General sweets	Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar)	fruit, high fibre foods (beans, legumes), complex carbs (grains), chromium (cinnamon)
	Tryptophan deficiency	spirulina, pumpkin/sesame/sunflower seeds, raw cacao, oatmeal, sweet potato, spinach, raisins
	Chromium deficiency	Onion, romaine lettuce, tomato, cinnamon, grapes, apples, sweet potato
	Sulphur deficiency	cruciferous vege (kale, cabbage, etc), cranberries, horseradish, asparagus, carob powder, garlic, onion
	Phosphorus deficiency	whole grains, pinto beans, pumpkin seeds, brazil nuts, lentils
STIMULANTS
Coffee or black tea	Sulphur deficiency	cruciferous vege (kale, cabbage, etc), cranberries, horseradish, asparagus, carob powder, garlic, onion
	Iron deficiency	beans, legumes, unsulphured prunes, figs+ other dried fruit, seaweed, spinach, cherries, Vitamin C for iron absorption
	NaCl (salt) deficiency	Himalayan sea salt, Apple Cider vinegar, kombucha
	Phosphorous deficiency	whole grains, pinto beans, pumpkin seeds, brazil nuts, lentils
Alcohol, recreational drugs	Calcium deficiency	Sesame seeds/ tahini, broccoli, kale, legumes, mustard and turnip greens
	Glutamine deficiency	Cabbage, beetroot, beans, spinach, parsley, vegetable juice
	Protein deficiency	Green leafy vegetable, nuts, seeds, legumes, grains, beans
	Potassium deficiency	citrus fruits, bitter green leafy veges, banana, tomato, pineapple, black olives, seaweeds
	Avenin deficiency	Oatmeal, granola
Tobacco	Silicon deficiency	horsetail herb, nuts, seeds, oats, millet, barley, onions, whole wheat, beetroot. Avoid refines starches
	Tyrosine deficiency	Fruits (esp. Avocado and banana), whole grains, oats, legumes, beans, nuts, seeds, Vitamin C, veges
EATING HABITS
Lack of appetite	Chloride deficiency	celery, olives, tomato, kelp, Himalayan sea salt
	Thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency	whole grains, peanuts, seeds, beans, green and yellow vegetables
	Niacin (Vitamin B3) deficiency	Peanuts, sunflower seeds, wheat bran and wheat germ
	Manganese deficiency	walnuts, almonds, pecans, whole grains, green leafy veges, pineapple, blueberries
Often overeating	Tryptophan deficiency	spirulina, pumpkin/sesame/sunflower seeds, raw cacao, oatmeal, sweet potato, spinach, raisins
	Tyrosine deficiency	Fruits (esp. Avocado and banana), whole grains, oats, legumes, beans, nuts, seeds, Vitamin C, veges
	Silicon deficiency	horsetail herb, nuts, seeds, oats, millet, barley, onions, whole wheat, beetroot. Avoid refines starches
Often snacky	No balanced diet, missing nutrients	Do a one week detox, substitute junk food for healthy meals
MORE BIZARRE
Crunching on ice	Iron deficiency	beans, legumes, unsulphured prunes, figs+ other dried fruit, seaweed, spinach, cherries, Vitamin C for iron absorption
Laundry starch	Iron deficiency	beans, legumes, unsulphured prunes, figs+ other dried fruit, seaweed, spinach, cherries, Vitamin C for iron absorption
Cigarette butts	Iron deficiency	beans, legumes, unsulphured prunes, figs+ other dried fruit, seaweed, spinach, cherries, Vitamin C for iron absorption

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"Tanya Alekseeva is a Wellness Coach who specialises in Raw Food Nutrition and Detoxification options.  Tanya works with a variety of clients ranging from corporate organisations through to individuals and schools, to educate and ensure they achieve their most desired wellbeing and ultimate health objectives. She is the founder of Better Raw and Corporate Créme in London, travelling nationally and internationally to provide seminars, workshops, detox programs and one-to-one coaching. Tanya is also an author of various books available on http://www.betterraw.com/"