Do people actually crave the foods they require?

Question

I always crave salt and have low blood pressure Coincidence?

Answer 1

I believe this holds some truth. In my first pregnancy, I craved watery fruits like watermelon and oranges, because I believe I wasn't getting enough water. Later in the pregnancy I craved red meat (which never appealed to me before) and then found out I had iron deficiency anemia. I think my body was looking for what it needed.

Answer 2

I think that is partially true. Most likely your body will crave the foods you need if you are missing out on certain nutrients. However, when you get cravings for sweets and other junk food, that is just because that is what sounds appealing to you or you might want for other reasons. For example, when you crave chocolate it is actually because you are feeling insecure. I don't think your body actually needs the salt, salt can just be addicting; that is why they add salt to processed foods. Unless your blood pressure is extremely low, it could actually be a good thing.

Answer 3

Usually cravings do signal nutritional deficiencies. When nothing but a big steak will do, you may need iron. When all you want is tomatoes, it's Vit. C or potassium you probably need.

But only about 1/3 of people w/ high blood pressure are sodium-sensitive, meaning cutting back on sodium will reduce their BP. That also works the other way, meaning 2/3 or people have blood pressure that is probably NOT affected by salt.

Most likely, you are retaining water, and your electrolytes are a bit out of whack, so your body craves salt. And things that are noramlly salty enough probably don't taste salty righ tnow. Just a guess, tho.

Answer 4

That is true, our bodies almost always lets us know what is going on. ie=when we are sick, when we need to purge,(sick at the stomach) when we need to drink,when we need to eat, ect. sometime when some people iron is low they seen to crave ice, or sometimes non eatable foods, such as corn starch, flour. clay dirt etc, because the body is begging for that iron that these thing contains, and I do mean people eat this stuff right out the packages, or off the grown/hills. The body is an amazing thing, if only we learn when and how to listen to it, there would be less doctor visits.

Answer 5

Yes I believe there is some fact to that. I always crave chocolate and it makes me happy. I must need to be happier.
Guess that's why I'm eating chocolate right now.