Health Matters: What You Crave Reflects On Your Health

If you crave sweets, you may be suffering from fluctuations in your blood sugar levels. Reaching for a quick fix like a cookie or candy will cause your levels to spike. Instead, pick a piece of fruit that's packed with natural sugars. Craving chocolate? You may have a magnesium deficiency. And you're not alone. Nearly 80 percent of us lack magnesium in our diets---so choose nuts, seeds, leafy greens and dark chocolate with 75 percent or more of cacao. If you crave salty foods like chips, you may be stressed out. And if you crave red meat, it may mean you have an iron deficiency. Do you crave cheese or pizza? You may be lacking essential fatty acids. An easy fix is to add salmon, walnuts or flaxseed oil to your diet. Most food cravings is our body's way of telling us we are dehydrated---which can be easily mistaken for hunger pangs. So before going for food, drink a glass of water.