If you have thought that your sudden urge to eat certain foods could be due to stress then you might be wrong!!
Truth is that the sudden urge to eat certain foods could also be due to lack of some nutrients or nutrient deficiency. It is learnt that when the food cravings are persistent and not just sweet or salty etc then it could be due to lack of a particular mineral or vitamin etc.
We would have come across few people who have food cravings due to the absence of minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium etc. It has been confirmed by a dietician that lack of vitamin B12 could also result in certain food deficiencies in us. Vitamin B12 deficiency would also be revealed when a person has got an urge or craving to eat meat. Having the urge to eat fish or eggs would reveal vitamin B12 deficiency in us.
Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are irritation, memory issues, dementia like changes etc.
These are the 5 common food cravings that would indicate a particular nutrient deficiency.
Cravings for chocolate:
Persons who have a huge desire to eat chocolates might have magnesium deficiency.
Cravings for red meat:
Low iron level would be indicated by cravings for red meat. It must be taken into account that this is common in those with frequent headaches.
Cravings for ice:
Point is that those persons with iron deficiency anaemia would have ice cravings or urge to chew ice.
Cravings for cheese or dairy products:
Deficiency for calcium and vitamin D would lead to cravings for cheeses and dairy products.
Cravings for salty foods:
Electrolyte imbalance is usually shown if a person has cravings for salty types of foods.
4 stages of vitamin B12 deficiency are
First is early serum depletion, cellular depletion, damaged metabolism and clinical damage. It is worthy to mention here that decreasing vitamin B12 levels would lead to metabolic issues, neurological and physical symptoms etc.
Importance of clinical test:
It is learnt that food cravings could be an indicator to vitamin B12 deficiency. This must not be the sole basis for diagnosis. It is necessary to do blood tests also.
Important sources of vitamin B12 are
For nerve function, red blood cell formation etc, vitamin B12 is essential. Non vegetarian food eaters could get vitamin B12 by eating foods like red meat, fishes like salmon etc and liver etc. By eating dairy products and eggs etc, vegetarians can get vitamin B12.
