What do your cravings mean?

image:gratisography.com

We all have cravings. Salty, fatty and sweet foods tend to top the list of foods we crave. Have you ever considered what your body might be communicating to you with cravings?

Your body is smart, so stop ignoring it

In a previous guest post about learning to trust your body and its cravings, Courtney Wyckoff from momma strong.com pointed out that "Your body knows what it needs to survive. Every second, every day, its incredible web of communication and its interconnected system is in a constant pursuit of equilibrium. So when it comes to eating, it calls upon emotions and sensations at times to get the nutrients it needs." For example, when your body craves salt, it might be because your adrenal system is out of balance due to stress in your life, and salt can actually help heal that imbalance.

I like to imagine that your cravings are similar to the signs we see on the highway which warn of us of wrecks and slow downs up ahead. We can ignore them, but it is not in our best interest. Heeding the signs can help us adjust our plans, so we can get where we want to be. Learn to listen to and trust the signs from your body. Ignore them at your own peril.

Cravings 101: The cheatsheet

Courtney put together the handy guide below to help you understand and respond to your cravings in a healthier way. Apologies if the graphic is not particularly clear; I couldn't figure out how to improve the image. But the content is very helpful.

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