Decoding Cravings: What Your Body Is Really Telling You | The Raw Kitchen UK

We’ve all been there. It’s 3 p.m. and an overwhelming urge for chocolate hits. Or it’s late at night, and the only thing that will satisfy you is a salty bag of crisps.

For years, we’ve been taught that cravings are just a lack of willpower. But the truth is—cravings are your body’s way of speaking to you. They are signals, not failures. By learning to decode them, you can understand what your body is missing and how to respond in a way that nourishes, instead of sabotages, your health.

The Blood Sugar Rollercoaster 🎢

When meals are heavy in refined carbs or sugar, your blood sugar spikes then crashes, leaving you desperate for quick energy.

Signs:

• Cravings for sugar or carbs shortly after a meal

• Energy dips or feeling “hangry”

What to do: Build balanced meals with protein, fat, and fibre to stabilise blood sugar and keep cravings at bay.

When Cravings Mean Nutrient Deficiency 🥑

Your body is intelligent—it often craves what it’s lacking.

• Chocolate cravings? Could signal low magnesium. Swap milk chocolate for dark chocolate (70%+), almonds, or even a calming Epsom salt bath.

• Salty food cravings? May indicate a need for trace minerals/electrolytes. Try olives, salted nuts, or mineral-rich water with a pinch of sea salt.

• Craving bread or pasta? Often linked to tryptophan—your body seeking comfort and serotonin. Balance it with protein-rich foods.

• Fried or fatty foods? Could mean a need for healthy fats. Go for salmon, avocado, walnuts, or extra virgin olive oil.

Gut Health and Cravings 🌱

Your gut microbiome can influence your cravings. Overgrowth of yeast or “bad” bacteria feeds off sugar, tricking your brain into wanting more.

Tip: Support your gut with probiotic foods (yoghurt, kefir, sauerkraut) and prebiotics (garlic, onions, asparagus).

Stress, Sleep, and Emotional Eating 😴

• Stress: High cortisol drives cravings for quick comfort foods.

• Lack of sleep: Upsets hunger hormones (ghrelin and leptin), making you crave sugar and carbs the next day.

Fix: Prioritise rest and build stress relief into your day—dhikr, mindful breathing, short walks, or switching off screens at night.

Responding with Wisdom, Not Willpower ✨

✅ Drink water first—sometimes thirst is disguised as cravings.
✅ Identify the root cause: hunger, stress, or boredom?
✅ Make healthier swaps: dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate, olives instead of crisps.

An Islamic Perspective 🌿

Islam teaches mizan (balance) and warns against israf (excess). By treating cravings as signals rather than sins, we practise mindful self-care. Honouring the body as an amanah (trust) means nourishing it with balance and intention.

The Takeaway

Cravings aren’t your enemy. They’re your body’s way of saying: “Something’s missing.”
When you stop fighting them and start listening, you’ll feel more in control, energised, and connected to your health.