Cravings that are a sign of a health problem

FROM time to time we crave our favourite foods, and that’s perfectly OK. And then at other times we may crave strange things with no nutritional value, cravings that may require a trip to the doctor. Below nutritionist Donovan Grant shares a few.

Salt

Grant said intense salt cravings could point to Addison’s disease, which occurs when the adrenal glands don’t produce enough hormones. “These hormones are important because they include cortisol, which helps the body respond to stress, and aldosterone, which keeps blood pressure balanced,” he said. If untreated, Grant explained that this disease has the potential to lower your blood pressure to dangerous levels. He also said salt cravings could mean you are lacking minerals such as calcium, sodium, magnesium or zinc, or that you’re dehydrated as salt keeps water long enough in our bodies to hydrate cells.

Water

“While consuming water is good, excessive thirst is a symptom of diabetes. This thirst is not just what you feel on a hot day or after an excessive workout, rather it is more evident and also goes in tandem with frequent urination,” he said. “Diabetes causes an extra sugar build-up in the blood, which stresses the kidneys resulting in frequent urination, which is excess loss of water, leading to thirst.”

Ice, coal, chalk

Ice, coal, chalk

The nutritionist said craving ice and other non-nutritional things such as paper, clay, sand, coal and chalk could be a sign of an eating disorder known as pica, linked to an insufficient supply of iron.

Sugar and carbohydrates

Sugar and carbohydrates

Grant said this could be a sign that you are heading to diabetes or lacking rest as sugar and carbohydrates tend to give a boost of energy. He added that if you’re not resting, your hunger hormones, leptin and ghrelin, are thrown off, causing you to eat more.

— Kimberley Hibbert

— Kimberley Hibbert