The Lowdown on Food Cravings
Have you ever wondered why you crave all things salty while your friend can’t go without her sweets? The body craves specific tastes when certain organ systems are out of balance.
Your body knows best, and left to its own devices, it sends messages based on what it needs to thrive. Since all foods have an energetic essence, the foods you’re drawn to can actually help rebalance the organ systems that are not functioning optimally. So, instead of ignoring your cravings, listen to them carefully. This is your body’s way of asking for what it needs.
Here’s a quick breakdown of why you may be drawn to certain foods over others.
Sour Cravings (Liver):
Sour supports Liver function, the main organ responsible for women’s health and the organ most affected by excess stress or emotions. Are you often irritable? Do things stress you out easily? Your Liver is telling you that its function is becoming out of balance.
Honor your craving! Support your Liver by enjoying pickled foods or squirt lemon on your roasted veggies. Want another way to ease your frustration? Chew on something crunchy, like dill pickles! Your Liver will thank you.
Salty Cravings (Kidney):
Salt stimulates Kidney function, which is tied to the body’s energy reserves. Think about the times you normally crave chips or pretzels. Is it usually late at night? When you’re running low on energy, salt is a go-to.
Honor your craving! Snack on salted nuts, wasabi peas, or seaweed crackers. If you crave salt throughout the day, add more seafood to your diet to give your Kidney energy a boost. Of course, the best remedy for being low on energy is to recharge your batteries. Get lots of sleep and try to lighten your daily load.
Sweet Cravings (Stomach):
Sweet boosts Stomach function, and is usually a sign that your digestive system needs some extra TLC. Listen to your body. Are you using the bathroom regularly? If not, are these the times when that chocolate craving just won’t go away?
Honor your craving! Snack on some fresh or dried fruit or stir a spoonful of honey into your tea. For something more substantial, bake pears or apples with honey, cinnamon, and walnuts. Of course, indulging every so often isn’t all that bad. Feel free to have chocolate when you just can’t resist. But when you do, imagine it going right where it needs to go—to give your digestive system a much-needed boost.
Spicy Cravings (Lung):
Spicy foods support the Lung, which receives the essence of food from the Stomach and Spleen, decides how much Qi each organ needs, and distributes it. The Lung also disperses Qi to the tissues between the muscles and skin and helps moisturize the skin. The Lung and its partner Large Intestine are responsible for letting go of what you no longer need, from emotions, to life experiences, to physical elimination. We get a visual example of the Lung’s role every autumn as trees release their leaves in preparation for winter dormancy.
Honor your craving! Add naturally spicy foods to your diet, such as daikon radish, chili, the whites of scallions, and horseradish. Pears and honey are also beneficial to the Lung as they help provide moisture to the body. Healthy Lung function is evident in radiant, wrinkle-free skin.
Bitter Cravings (Heart):
Bitter foods energetically boost the Heart and its partner the Small Intestine. The Heart’s role is to be peaceful. All other organs will sacrifice themselves to support the Heart.
Honor your craving! Broccoli rabe and bitter melon boost Heart function by giving it additional Qi to better manage its duties. Other foods beneficial to the Heart are watermelon, plum tomatoes, and broccoli.
Fried Cravings (Hot/Cold):
Fried foods have a hot essence. This craving may indicate that you have internal cold, which can impair your digestive system.
Honor your craving! Make yourself a cup of hot ginger tea with slices of fresh ginger and a teaspoon of brown sugar. Adding warm foods to your everyday diet can help boost your digestive system.
Honor Thy Craving
Cravings are part of your body’s built-in wisdom. By honoring these signals with intention and choosing foods that truly support your organ systems, you allow your body to do what it’s designed to do. Trust the messages you’re receiving. Your body is always guiding you back to balance.
