Many of us attribute these cravings to poor self-control. This is when guilt, anger and disappointment with ourselves creep up.
Now, I want to give you a reframe, which means a new way to look at the same thing, about cravings.
If you want to eat a healthy and tasty fish, salmon is a great choice. So if you can’t get enough of this pink, fatty fish, there are good reasons for that. Let’s talk about why you might want salmon so much and what that means for your health.
You’re Not Eating Enough Protein
If you’ve recently cut meat out of your diet or started a restrictive fad diet, you could be lacking sufficient protein. Salmon is high in protein – a 3 ounce portion provides about 22 grams Our bodies need protein for tissue repair, muscle building, and proper enzymatic functions.
When we don’t eat enough high-quality protein, we may really want foods that are high in protein. If salmon is all you can think about for dinner, you might want to rethink how much protein you’re eating. Make sure to incorporate eggs, legumes, nuts, seeds, and dairy as other options.
Your Body Needs Omega-3s
Salmon is one of the best sources of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids. Consuming salmon provides EPA and DHA, two key omega-3s that are incredibly important for brain function, heart health, fetal development and more. Our bodies don’t produce these good fats, so we must get them through oily fish or supplements.
If you usually eat a lot of processed foods and omega-6 fats that cause inflammation, strong salmon cravings could mean that you need more omega-3 fats right away. Salmon should be eaten at least twice a week to help fix this mistake.
You Have a Zinc Deficiency
Zinc is an essential mineral that plays a role in immunity, growth, digestion, and reproduction. Salmon is rich in bioavailable zinc. Some symptoms of zinc deficiency include frequent illness, taste or smell changes, poor wound healing, and skin inflammation.
If you’re craving salmon daily, it may signal that your body recognizes it as a good zinc source to replenish diminished levels. Make sure to also eat nuts, seeds, legumes, and shellfish as other dietary zinc powerhouses.
You Love the Taste of Salmon
Sometimes a craving is just a craving! If you’ve always enjoyed the tender, fatty texture of salmon, your brain may simply have latched onto it as a favorite comfort food. Salmon releases feel-good serotonin and has a pleasantly savory flavor.
You might find yourself whipping up maple glazed salmon or lemon garlic salmon night after night. This salmon obsession is likely just a reflection of your neural reward pathways seeking out foods you enjoy.
You’re Bored With Other Proteins
Eating chicken, beef, or pork every day can get redundant fast. People tend to crave more novel or exotic foods that provide sensory excitement. The rich orange color and silky texture of salmon feels like an indulgent treat compared to a plain chicken breast.
Salmon cravings may indicate you’re seeking more variety in your diet, especially in the protein department. Branch out with other seafood like tuna, shrimp, and scallops to switch it up.
It Reminds You of a Memory
Sometimes a specific food craving is rooted in nostalgia. Perhaps your grandma used to pan fry salmon cakes every Sunday after church. Or maybe salmon sushi was your go-to celebratory meal in college.
When you crave salmon frequently, it could be those positive sensory memories reactivating in your brain and compelling you to recreate them. Warm memories can be linked with scent, taste, and emotion for the ultimate comforting experience.
Salmon Is Part of a Healthy Diet
At the end of the day, salmon is one of the most nutritious foods you can eat. It’s packed with high quality protein, anti-inflammatory fats, vitamins, minerals like zinc and potassium, and antioxidants like astaxanthin. Plus, it contains useful bioactive compounds for immunity and metabolism.
Craving salmon is generally a positive sign that your body recognizes it provides nutritional benefits. Lean into the cravings and make salmon a regular part of a balanced, nutritious diet to feel your best.
Just don’t overdo it – variety is still important! Use salmon cravings as helpful feedback from your body on what it needs. And remember to combine salmon with lots of colorful produce, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds to round out your meals.
My Sudden Cravings for Pasta and Fiery-Hot Food
What’s up with that?
It’s now clear that there are probably two reasons for this: cruciferous vegetables in California (like kale, cabbage, and collard greens) contain high levels of a heavy metal called thallium, and I couldn’t get rid of a nasty parasite with the strongest herbs.
For the first time in 10 years, I gave in to a 10-day antibiotic treatment. And a strong one too.
Gosh, how that messed me up. I stepped into the world of extreme fatigue, complete apathy, and dark mood. To run my business, I had to force myself to answer the most important emails, but anything else was out of the question. I watched more movies on Netflix in those 10 days than I did in two years.
I was warned that antibiotic wasn’t a joke, and it’s likely that the death of the parasites and changes in the microbiome (the gut bacteria) caused some strange food cravings.
I had a strong desire for rich Bolognese pasta for the first time in one of those many years. Resisting it was out of the question.
When I got hungry for spicy curry, I took a 40-minute one-way trip to my favorite South Indian Thali restaurant. South Indian food is much spicier and lighter than North Indian food. I would ask them to add more chili to the already “extra hot” option. The waiter was worried that I would hurt myself.
One of the things I’ve learned about during times like this is: do not to resist the cravings. Instead, listen to my body.
What does it need?
Why does it need it?
What can I do to support it?
Hot and fiery food is well known to be antiparasitic and highly stimulating for the digestive system. If that’s what my body was calling for, my job was to just support it. The next day I had Vietnamese pho, the extra-spicy kind (I would still add sesame chili oil). And so it continued for four days of food fire, and then it stopped.
Cravings.
They are there for a reason.
It was also a good reminder that these cravings can be caused by a bad microbiome, especially a lack of good bacteria.
Just a quick note: I’m currently going through a natural chelation protocol for heavy metals. And while I haven’t started the candida protocol yet (that’s coming after the heavy metal protocol), I’m happy to say that 80% of my candida symptoms have already gone away. It makes me think of how parasites and heavy metals can mess up our immune system, which naturally fights candida. I’m so excited!
Today I’m going to give you a list of cravings and explain what each one might mean and what you can do to help your body.
And remember: no judgment, just listening.
Cravings are not about you being weak or lacking discipline; they are just your body’s way of telling you that it needs something from you.
The body is very complicated and has a complicated system of balances and signals that help it work right. Food cravings are just another way for the body to signal what it needs from us. And we have the chance to give it what it needs.