Craving Specific Foods

What Causes Addictions To Certain Foods?

Addictions to certain foods can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'worrying' to 'needs attention'.  Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.

Diagnose your symptoms now!
  • see your health summarized and in detail
  • understand what's happening to your body
  • identify any nutritional deficiencies

Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms.  In order to diagnose addictions to certain foods, we could:

  • Research the topic
  • Find a doctor with the time
  • Use a diagnostic computer system.
The process is the same, whichever method is used.

Step 1: List all Possible Causes

We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "addictions to certain foods" as a symptom.  Here are three possibilities:
  • Nutritional Deficiency
  • Food Allergies
  • Low Digestive Enzymes

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:
chronic nausea
significant epigastric pain
discomfort caused by mold/mustiness
regular unexplained nausea
bags under eyes
above average sneezing frequency
indoor allergies
excess nose/throat mucus
fatigue for over 3 months
being very easily irritated
regular postprandial somnolence
afternoon headaches
... and more than 40 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of addictions to certain foods:
Cause Probability Status
Food Allergies 91% Confirm
Low Digestive Enzymes 14% Unlikely
Nutritional Deficiency 5% Ruled out
* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

In the Food Preferences section of the questionnaire, The Analyst™ will ask the following question about craving specific foods:
Are there any foods that you eat often and would have great difficulty giving up? Examples include meat, cheese, bread products, chocolate.
Possible responses:
→ No / I could give up anything / don't know
→ Probably
→ Yes, definitely
Based on your response to this question, which may indicate craving specific foods, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:
Allergy to Foods (Hidden)

We may actually be allergic to the very foods we most crave.  By eliminating these foods from our diet for 10-14 days, the cravings may disappear as the withdrawal symptoms cease.

Digestive Enzyme Need

When the digestive system fails to properly convert food into nutrients, poorly-digested food particles fail to reach the blood stream and can cause cravings for these missing nutrients.

Nutritional Deficiency

Specific food cravings can be manifestations the body's attempt to obtain certain nutrients that it is missing.  If a person attempts to satisfy their cravings with junk foods (foods with no nutritional value), the cravings will continue.

Concerned or curious about your health?  Try The Analyst™
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