Why do our bodies crave certain foods?

Question

Like, pickles, bread, chocolate, salt... and sometimes picnic ham with peas and mashed potatoes.

Answer 1

MAYBE this will answer part or all of your Q: It may have to do with the body’s chemistry: How many and what kind of enzymes, hormones and chemicals are put in the bloodstream by different organs and how the brain reacts with those enzymes, hormones and chemicals.

Another very strong influence is how that person is brought up or raised.

AND I think some HUGE contributing factors are culture, ethnicity and belief.

When a person is raised near the ocean, large bodies of water or lakes, fish becomes a significant part of his/her diet.

When a person is raised with pasta, sauces and savory dishes as part of his/her culture, those dishes and that cuisine becomes a significant part of his/her diet.

When a person is raised with lox, bagels, matzo balls, kugel and other dishes as part of his/her culture, those dishes and that cuisine becomes a significant part of his/her diet.

When a person is exposed to and is taught a more particular way of thinking and eating is healthier than other ways AND that person believes it, decides to try it and likes it, those dishes and he/she becomes a significant part of his/her diet.

You could do this with every culture, ethnicity and cuisine in the world..

Its your turn to fill-in the blanks:
“Due to the fact I was raised with ------------- as part of my culture, those dishes and that cuisine are a significant part of my diet."

"Due to the fact I was exposed to and taught a more particular way of thinking and eating: --------- is healthier than other ways AND I believes it. I decided to try it and I liked it. Those dishes and that cuisine became and are a significant part of my diet & culture/my new/current way of living."

AND/OR: To s-t-r-e-t-c-h my answer a little further:
If a person's parents or the people he/she is living with and who are raising that person is/are terrible cooks OR simply don't know how to cook and those people know it, the person may be raised on "junk food".

OR another way: if that person is exposed to being a "dumpster diver" and goes through others' trash and garbage for "some thing to eat".

It all comes down to one's environment:
1] What that person is taught;
2] How that person learns;
3] What that person sees;
4] What that person thinks;
5] Why that person make the choices he/she makes.
6] What that person does.

There may be other possibilities.

Thank you for asking your question. I enjoyed taking the time to answer your question. You did a great job - not only for your information, but for every other person interested in reading my answer.

I wish you well!

VTY,
Ron B.

Answer 2

Sometimes it's because of an addictive substance in the food, like the caffeine in chocolate. Sometimes it's just your body's way of telling you that you're missing on some nutrients, like fiber from bread, protein from ham, etc.

Answer 3

Sometimes when it comes to certain foods it can also mean that we are deficient in vitamins too. As an example, I love peaches, but a few years ago or so I was craving peaches for a whole week straight. It turned out that my body was deficient in a vitamin that was in peaches. After that week I was filled up on that vitamin I needed because after that I didn't eat peaches as many of them anymore.