WHY DO WE GET CRAVING, A LOOK AT REALLY HAPPENING?- BY MADIHA

I am Madiha a nutritionist at The Kenko Life.

We’ve all had those moments craving something sweet after dinner, or having maggi at 3 am or suddenly wanting chips out of nowhere. But have you ever wondered why cravings happen? They’re not just random, they actually have a lot to do with how our body and brain work together.

Cravings vs. Hunger-

Cravings aren’t the same as hunger. Hunger builds slowly and is your body’s way of asking for energy. Cravings, on the other hand, come on suddenly out of no where and are usually for a specific food like chocolate, pizza, Cakes, Brownies etc

It Starts in the Brain-

When we eat something we love, our brain releases dopamine, a feel-good chemical. Over time, our brain links certain foods with pleasure or comfort, and starts “asking” for them when we’re stressed, tired, or even bored.

Hormones Play a Big Role as well-

Ghrelin: This hormone makes us feel hungry. When it spikes, cravings can feel stronger.

Leptin: It tells us when we’re full. If leptin isn’t working properly which can happen with lack of sleep or stress, cravings go up.

Cortisol: When we’re stressed, cortisol rises as well and so do cravings, especially for comfort food.

Feelings Trigger Cravings-

A lot of cravings come from emotions. Ever felt like eating junk food when you’re upset, stressed or anxious? That’s emotional eating. It’s very common, and it makes us crave foods that made us feel better in the past.

Could It Be a Nutrient Deficiency?

Yes, sometimes cravings can be linked to missing nutrients. 

For example:

Craving chocolate might be a sign of low magnesium.

Craving Salty foods Might be kinked to low sodium. 

Craving red meat or Ice could mean your body needs more iron.

Can We Do Anything About It?

Yes Absolutely. The goal isn’t to never have cravings, it's to understand them and manage them better.

Here are a few simple things that help:

Drink water first- sometimes we confuse thirst with cravings.

Sleep well- poor sleep messes with hunger and fullness signals.

Pause before eating- ask yourself: am I hungry or just feeling something else?

Don’t restrict too hard the more we say “I can’t have it,” the more we want it.

Cravings are totally normal. They don’t mean you’re weak or doing something wrong. They’re just your body and brain responding to emotions, hormones, habits, and sometimes missing nutrients. Understanding them helps us handle them better.