Or craving sweets, is it because the body lacks something? (2024)

This is an automatically translated article.

There are many types of sweets that you usually think of when you feel a craving. Depending on the type of food, cravings for sweets can be a sign that your body is suffering from a nutritional deficiency.

1. Lack of calcium and magnesium causes cravings for sweets

If you are craving sweets like carbonated soft drinks, you may be lacking in calcium and magnesium, making your body tired and not alert. The main ingredient of soft drinks is caffeine, so it can help you stay awake, but it is also addictive. However, consuming soft drinks does not help you supplement these 2 minerals, on the contrary, it also makes the body more deficient in calcium and magnesium.
In addition to carbonated soft drinks, if you crave a chocolate bar, your body may be deficient in magnesium. Or anxiety, stress, maybe even depression are manifestations of magnesium deficiency.
So, to be more alert and reduce cravings for sweets, you can eat chocolate. There have been studies proving that, if you eat about 100g - 400g of dark chocolate every day, you can improve depression. But it should be noted that it must be dark chocolate, not milk chocolate commonly sold in supermarkets.

2. Lack of chromium makes the body not have enough energy to function

When the body lacks chromium, it will affect the blood sugar balance, making you feel like you don't have enough energy to function. At that time, you will feel craving for sweets.
In the body, chromium and insulin play a role in blood sugar balance, weight control and appetite. Hypoglycemia or dysglycemia caused by chromium deficiency will prompt the body to seek out sweets.
However, to avoid consuming too much sweets that cause weight gain, diabetes, you should not eat candy. Instead, it should be supplemented with foods such as cereals, eggs, seafood such as oysters, fresh and dried fruits such as kohlrabi, cherries, grapes, ...

3. Vitamin B deficiency causes cravings for sweets

Sweet cravings when the mood is tense, moody, sad can also be because your body is seriously lacking in B vitamins. B vitamins including B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid) are vitamins involved in the production of energy.
When the brain does not receive enough energy to function, the mind is under pressure, which will cause the body to look to sweet foods to improve this condition. In addition, you also tend to eat more fat. Therefore, after a period of stress, you tend to gain weight. To avoid this situation, instead of consuming sweets, add foods such as soybeans, peanuts, fish oil and drink more orange juice.
If you often think about sweet foods, crave sweets with symptoms such as fatigue, anxiety, stress, lack of alertness, etc., you may be lacking in some important minerals such as calcium. , magnesium, chromium, vitamins of group B. Therefore, it is very necessary to visit a doctor to supplement micronutrients.

Please dialHOTLINEfor more information or register for an appointment HERE.Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

This article is written for readers from Sài Gòn, Hà Nội, Hồ Chí Minh, Phú Quốc, Nha Trang, Hạ Long, Hải Phòng, Đà Nẵng.

710reads

Or craving sweets, is it because the body lacks something? (2024)

FAQs

Or craving sweets, is it because the body lacks something? ›

If you often think about sweet foods, crave sweets with symptoms such as fatigue, anxiety, stress, lack of alertness, etc., you may be lacking in some important minerals such as calcium. , magnesium, chromium, vitamins of group B. Therefore, it is very necessary to visit a doctor to supplement micronutrients.

What is your body lacking if you crave sweets? ›

Sugar cravings are often caused by imbalances 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, and health conditions.

What causes craving for sweets? ›

Ghrelin, known as the hunger hormone, stimulates your appetite. And research shows that an increase in ghrelin levels may contribute to your sugar cravings. “Low serotonin levels can also trigger cravings for sugar,” explains Taylor. “So, if you're feeling down or stressed, sugar can be especially appealing.”

Are cravings caused by deficiencies? ›

It could be a sign that your body's trying to tell you something. While some people blame a sweet tooth for their urge to eat carbs and sugar, others suggest that nutritional deficiencies of magnesium, zinc, chromium, amino acids (tryptophan), or vitamins (vitamin D especially), may actually be the culprit.

Are cravings what your body needs? ›

Many of us believe that a food craving is our body's way of signalling that it needs a certain nutrient. But research shows that's unlikely to be true – with one possible exception.

What supplement helps with sugar cravings? ›

Overall, B vitamins are regarded as essential supplements to curb sugar cravings. Zinc is an essential mineral that plays a vital role in your metabolism and energy, as well as the digestion of your food. It regulates the production of insulin. A zinc deficiency may result in sugar cravings and an increased appetite.

What disease makes you crave sugar? ›

Many patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) report a change in eating behavior with an excessive craving for sweets [1,2], sometimes already occurring before the manifestation of the cardinal motor symptoms.

What should I eat if I crave sugar? ›

What to eat when you're craving sugar
  • Apricots and almonds. Dried fruits and nuts can help you have a healthy snack on hand when you're on the go. ...
  • Greek yogurt and cinnamon. ...
  • Peanut butter and an apple. ...
  • Cottage cheese and blueberries. ...
  • Hummus and raw veggies.
Aug 11, 2022

How do I stop my body from craving sweets? ›

Other Things That May Work
  1. Drink a glass of water. Some people say that dehydration can cause cravings.
  2. Eat a fruit. Having a piece of fruit may help satisfy sugar cravings for some people. ...
  3. Avoid artificial sweeteners. ...
  4. Eat more protein. ...
  5. Talk to a friend. ...
  6. Sleep well. ...
  7. Avoid excess stress. ...
  8. Avoid certain triggers.
Feb 10, 2023

What hormone imbalance causes sugar cravings? ›

Cravings seem to be closely related to your body's hormonal regulation. Any spike or drop in those levels leads to cravings. Rises in estrogen and progesterone levels tend to correlate with rises in cortisol (stress hormone) levels which lead to cravings for carbohydrates, including sugar.

What are the 3 types of cravings? ›

Cravings can be categorized into three main types: physical, emotional, and psychological, each with its unique characteristics and triggers.
  • Physical cravings: Hunger for specific foods. ...
  • Emotional cravings: Eating for comfort during stress or sadness. ...
  • Psychological cravings:
Feb 23, 2024

What is the root cause of cravings? ›

The brain regions responsible for memory, pleasure, and reward play a role in food cravings. An imbalance of hormones, such as leptin and serotonin, could also lead to food cravings. Cravings also involve the appetite centers of the brain, even though they tend to be separate from hunger.

Does vitamin D deficiency cause sugar cravings? ›

How do you know if you lack Vitamin D? Tiredness, low mood, anxiety, muscle weakness, insomnia, cravings for sweets, tooth decay and gingivitis can all be symptoms. Vitamin D is actually a provitamin that is involved in a multitude of processes in the human organism.

What am I lacking if I crave sugar? ›

Lack of calcium and magnesium causes cravings for sweets

If you are craving sweets like carbonated soft drinks, you may be lacking in calcium and magnesium, making your body tired and not alert.

What your body is telling you with cravings? ›

In general, a craving can signal something is out of balance, but it doesn't always mean you need a certain type of food. A craving might mean you're dehydrated, stressed or lacking sleep. If you crave a snack, and you eat it, but you don't feel any better, your body was never needing that food to begin with.

Why am I craving sweet things all of a sudden? ›

A Fluctuation in Blood Sugar

“If you're craving sweets all of a sudden, most likely you are experiencing blood sugar fluctuations,” says Goodman.

Does craving sugar mean diabetes? ›

Additionally, insulin resistance can have you craving carbs and sweets that instantly spike your blood sugar. If you've been experiencing strong food cravings lately — especially for sweets — make an appointment with a diabetes specialist to undergo blood testing.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Velia Krajcik

Last Updated:

Views: 5735

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (54 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Velia Krajcik

Birthday: 1996-07-27

Address: 520 Balistreri Mount, South Armand, OR 60528

Phone: +466880739437

Job: Future Retail Associate

Hobby: Polo, Scouting, Worldbuilding, Cosplaying, Photography, Rowing, Nordic skating

Introduction: My name is Velia Krajcik, I am a handsome, clean, lucky, gleaming, magnificent, proud, glorious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.