The seven causes of cravings, part 1 – low minerals
Cravings can be a sign that your body is out of balance. So if you struggle with sugar, carb, salty & crunchy food cravings you may want to think about low minerals.
Low minerals
The most popular minerals that influence cravings are low iron and sodium. Let’s dig into the symptoms and causes.
Low Iron
Typically, someone with a low iron will experience cravings for ice, corn starch, dirt, baby powder, crunchy snacks like pretzels and chips.
However, you will likely also experience additional symptoms such as:
- hair loss
- bruising
- fatigue
- dizziness
- lightheadedness
- brittle nails
This is something your bariatric team can manage by checking a few labs:
- serum iron or complete iron panel
- ferritin
- hemoglobin & hematocrit on a complete blood count(CBC)
Low Sodium
A study in 2011 in the Journal of Neuroscience found that increased sodium levels actually blunt the stress response. The rats that received sodium chloride secreted fewer stress hormones.
If you’re struggling with cravings…
Are you struggling with cravings? I would consider working with a functional nutrition professional to get to the root cause and leave no stone unturned.
I’d love to work with you too! Check out my packages and schedule a time for a Free chat.
Your future health awaits…
Play-by-Play:
1:00 What are the signs of low iron
2:00 The connection with low sodium
4:00 Studies showing benefits of adequate electrolytes on stress response
Listen, Learn, Enjoy…
References & Links:
- A different kind of craving: Incidence & treatment of PICA after laparoscopic roux-en-y gastric bypass.
- Influence of mental and emotional stress on the levels of electrolytes in the saliva of senior school children
- Elevated levels of sodium blunt response to stress, study shows
- Gestational iron deficiency is associated with PICA in adolescents
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