Let your cravings tell you what your body is missing
Introduction: The US "Food Information Network" recently pointed out that taste is closely related to physical condition. Craving sweets indicates a lack of energy in the body; loving meat may mean an iron deficiency; eating too salty is a sign of over-fatigue. The saying "you crave what you're lacking" is indeed true.
The truth about "mouth cravings"
Dr. Harvey Winkler of the University of Calgary, Canada, has conducted extensive research on people's food cravings. He found that 96% of women and 68% of men have experienced "mouth cravings." In normal situations, we tend to follow our inner voice and satisfy our appetites. "In fact, 'mouth cravings' are significantly different from episodic hunger. When you're hungry, you want to eat anything; but when you have a craving, you specifically want to eat a certain type of food."
Mouth cravings are strongest from 3-6 PM. Dr. Marcia Levin Pelchat of the Monell Chemical Senses Center, a US taste and smell research institution, found that sudden, intense cravings for a specific food most often occur between 3-6 PM. This is because our blood sugar is dropping at this time, and people start to feel sluggish. To regain energy, eating becomes a choice for many people.
Stress and the premenstrual phase in women are the most common times for cravings. Multiple studies have shown that when stressed, people's resistance to food decreases, and they tend to overeat. Sweets, in particular, can stimulate the brain to secrete more serotonin, alleviating our anxiety and restlessness. The increased appetite in women before their period is also related to this. Women eat to relieve the bad moods or low spirits caused by premenstrual syndrome.
A preference for a certain taste means a nutritional deficiency
Actually, preferring a certain taste can also be a signal of nutritional imbalance or a health abnormality. Professor Cheng Yiyong, Chairman of the Chinese Nutrition Society, said, "Many taste preferences can be corrected by consuming a richer and fresher diet."
Constantly wanting to eat chocolate.
It may mean a deficiency in B vitamins, especially B6 and B. B vitamins help the body's metabolism; once deficient, people are prone to fatigue and low mood. Chocolate can make people feel happy by releasing serotonin.
Solution: Eat more foods rich in B vitamins, such as fruits like tomatoes, oranges, grapes, and pears. In addition, milk, legumes, nuts, and spinach are also rich in vitamin B.
Wanting to eat meat.
This indicates a lack of amino acids or insufficient minerals like iron in the body. Many people find it irresistible to the alluring aroma of meat and fats, leading to overeating and triggering metabolic diseases.
Solution: You can use aromatic foods like mushrooms and sesame as substitutes. Shiitake mushrooms contain various vitamins, polysaccharides, and other phytochemicals that can prevent chronic diseases; sesame is also rich in various vitamins, abundant protein, and antioxidants. In addition, peanuts and soybeans are also good choices.
Wanting salty food.
It's not because their bodies lack sodium, but because of too much stress. The more stressed and tired people are in life, the more they love salty food. And a heavy diet will dull the taste buds, leading to a vicious cycle of wanting to eat more and more salt.
Solution: In fact, many vegetables also contain a certain amount of sodium chloride. Even if you don't add salt when cooking, you can still taste a hint of saltiness if you pay attention. Cheng Yiyong suggests that everyone should consciously reduce their salt intake and maintain a light diet. It is recommended to add a little vinegar when cooking and use chili, green onions, ginger, and garlic to enhance the flavor.