Do you find yourself dreaming about salty snacks like potato chips, popcorn, or pretzels?
There’s no denying these comfort foods are tasty, but it’s not the only reason you keep reaching your hand in the bag for “just one more chip.” No judgment—we’ve all been there.
Food cravings actually have meaning. Cravings typically mean your body is lacking nutrients in one way or another.
As a holistic nutritionist for over 20 years, I share this information not to scare you but to teach you body awareness. Our bodies speak to us if we have the ears to listen.
What Is Your Body Telling You When You Crave Salt?
If you’re here, you’re probably wondering why you have these savory cravings, so let’s dive in.
When our body has intense cravings for certain food groups, salty, sweet, or both, it means we are deficient in nutrients. That can sound scary, but it’s also an opportunity to cue into your cravings and listen to your body.
When you crave salty foods, it means your body needs some extra calories from dark, leafy greens in your diet. Why dark leafy greens? Their chlorophyll content. Chlorophyll makes plants green, and it just so happens that this green pigment packs a powerful punch of nutrients that cut cravings at the source and help you absorb nutrients better. This idea also remains true for craving sweet foods. When you’re craving sweet treats, like ice cream or cake, this really means that your body needs extra calories from fruit.
When you give in to cravings for the wrong foods, like chips and ice cream, you are not satisfying your body’s cry out for nutrients. Instead, you are feeding a vicious cycle of poor eating habits that often lead to weight gain, fatigue, stomach issues, inflammation, and more.
End the cycle and nourish your body with the Craving Crusher™ shot, a blend of cold-pressed dark, leafy greens and fruit that will flood your system with the nutrients it so very needs and deserves. Plus, you’ll crush those unwanted cravings.
Flood My Body With Nutrients and Crush Cravings
What Should I Eat If I Crave Salt?
If you’re craving salt, the last thing you want to do is up your salt intake with processed junk. Too much sodium, especially from packaged junk food or fast food, can cause high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and more.
If you’re having intense cravings for salt, you should increase your dietary intake of the following:
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Dark Leafy Greens - Kale, spinach, and collards are great to have in your stockpile. Have tons of raw salads on the menu to naturally up your chlorophyll intake.
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Green Juice - Too busy for salad prep and kitchen mess? Try adding one Raw Generation green juice or the Craving Crusher™ shot daily. You’ll get a balance of cold-pressed fruit and vegetables to flood your system with sweet and savory craving-crushing nutrients. Say bye-bye to cravings once and for all.
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Electrolytes - Electrolyte imbalance can cause intense cravings. To prevent cravings, flooding your system with electrolytes is key. They contain important minerals like potassium, calcium, and magnesium and the good sodium your body needs to stay hydrated and function optimally. A great source of natural electrolytes is our Truly Raw Coconut Water—the only raw coconut water on the market, which ensures you get the most benefit.
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Hydration - Hydration and electrolytes go hand in hand. Stay hydrated with plenty of herbal teas and water. When we are dehydrated, sodium levels increase in our body, leading to cravings for salt.
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Quality Salt - Despite what you may have read, your body needs salt. There actually is such a thing as sodium deficiency. However, not all sodium chloride (salt) is created equal. Iodized salt, typically found in your salt shaker and many processed foods, can drastically increase sodium intake in a way that can be harmful to your body. Table salt undergoes a harsh process that strips the salt of all its beneficial minerals. It is also treated with chemical anti-clumping agents to prevent caking or clumping [1]. You don’t need less salt; you need quality salt. My favorite high-quality salt is Redmond’s Real Salt.
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Nutrition - Nourishing your body with whole foods is key. Your dietary intake should be made up of plenty of fruits and vegetables, as well as flooding your system with greens, staying hydrated, and using quality salt. This is the best approach to combating those unwanted cravings that lead to weight gain. Stay away from the Standard American Diet staples. Avoid junk food, like candy, cereal, crackers, cookies, chips, pre-packaged soups, lunch meats, and anything processed.
Salty Solutions: Make Lifestyle Changes
As a holistic nutritionist, I’d be lying if I said that lifestyle choices didn’t matter when it comes to combatting cravings, weight loss, and overall health.
If you want to change these habits and stop feeding intense cravings, then you have to address the issue from a holistic (whole) perspective. Here’s how:
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Get Enough Sleep - Prioritize quality sleep. Lack of sleep is linked to intense cravings and increased hunger. When we sleep, our body regulates hormones like ghrelin —the hunger hormone, and leptin; when we don’t get enough sleep, ghrelin and leptin increase and lead to hunger and cravings for high-fat, high-carb foods, like fast food [2].
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Manage Stress Levels - It’s no secret that we humans are creatures of habit, and when those stressful situations hit, boy, do we know how to stress eat. I am speaking on behalf of myself here. When your body is in a state of chronic stress, your cortisol levels rise. And that is when you run to the pantry, grab your emotional support snack, sink to the floor, and indulge. Not to mention, salty foods specifically can cause more stress in the body.
This is NOT the way to go about stress. When stressed, become aware of these toxic habits and turn them into positive ones. Retrain the brain. Go for a walk, journal, work out, listen to a podcast, or watch your favorite show. Destress, whatever that looks like for you. -
Exercise - When you break a sweat, you break your cravings too. Working out helps to regulate your appetite. So, get on your Peloton, go for a run, or take your favorite Pilates class. However you move, make it count. And don’t let those cravings hit the door on the way out.
Is Craving Salt a Symptom of a Medical Condition?
Often, salt cravings can be solved with some diet and lifestyle changes. However, there are instances where intense salt cravings can be an underlying health condition. Here are some medical conditions that can cause cravings for salt:
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Addison’s Disease - Addison's disease is a rare disorder caused by the adrenal glands' insufficient production of hormones, including cortisol and aldosterone. This adrenal insufficiency of aldosterone in Addison's disease leads to salt-wasting, where the body loses salt, making it extremely low sodium. People with Addison's disease often experience salt cravings as the body signals a need to replenish sodium levels and maintain electrolyte balance.
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Bartter Syndrome - Bartter Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder affecting the kidneys' ability to reabsorb certain salts. This condition leads to excessive salt loss in the urine, causing an electrolyte imbalance. The body's response to this imbalance often includes intense salt cravings as it seeks to restore proper sodium levels and maintain overall electrolyte equilibrium.
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Cystic Fibrosis (CF) - Cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition that produces thick and sticky mucus, affecting the lungs and digestive system. It can increase salt cravings because thick mucus in the body causes salt loss through excessive sweating and mucus production. The body responds by craving salty foods to restore electrolyte balance.
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Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) - While PMS is not a medical condition, its side effects can be intense. One of those intense side effects is cravings. During the premenstrual phase, hormonal fluctuations, like changes in estrogen and progesterone levels, can contribute to intense salt cravings. The hormonal shifts may impact the body's fluid balance, leading to sodium loss and an increased desire for salty foods.
*Disclaimer: The information provided is for general informational purposes only, and it is essential to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice regarding any health concerns or conditions mentioned.
Sip Those Salty Cravings Away
I carefully selected the ingredients in the Craving Crusher™ with benefit at the forefront of my mind. When you drink a Craving Crusher™, you can expect to:
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Get enough dark, leafy greens (chlorophyll) to counteract cravings for salty and junk food.
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Get in fresh fruit juice to help combat sweet or dessert cravings.
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Get a tasty, not-green-tasting juice to flood your system with nutrients without messing up your kitchen.
Drink one shot every morning to be set up for success all day. If intense cravings are a major stumbling block for you, then you may want to consider having 2 to 3 shots each day until the cravings substantially lessen or disappear altogether.
Crush Cravings Daily And Lose Weight
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