What It Really Means When You're Always Craving Sweets

If you are one who thinks about dessert while eating your entrée, and can't seem to go past the vending machine at your office without feeling the strong urge for a Snickers, it's okay. There are many who identify with your love of sweets and often herculean desire to get your hands on them.

You try your best to stay away from the morning donuts, the check-out aisles candy selection, and that third slice of cake. After all, sugar isn't the healthiest ingredient to snack on. But what does it mean when your body and mind are constantly craving the sweet stuff?

First things first. Identifying the type of sweet you most strongly crave is essential to finding out why sugar has taken up a permanent position in your thoughts. If just saying the word chocolate triggers the urge to drool, then Elissa Goodman, BS, a certified holistic nutritionist tells Byrdie that it may be due to a specific nutrient deficiency. 

"If you're craving chocolate, it could mean your body is deficient in magnesium, which is a really common deficiency these days," she says. If you're thinking this may be the reason, try loading up on foods that are rich in magnesium. Cleveland Clinic lists foods such as: pumpkin seeds, spinach, avocado, and shredded wheat to be good sources of magnesium.

If you are craving foods with a natural sweetness like fruit, then it may also be a sign your body may be lacking necessary nutrients. Byrdie claims that strong fruit cravings have been linked to a deficiency in certain vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Sure, having one too many apples is arguably a lot better for you than having one too many cronuts, but you still want to watch your sugar intake no matter what source it comes from. Nutritionist Farah Fahad, M.S., M.A., R.D,, tells Byrdie how to curb the fruit cravings. "If you feel like you're overdoing it with fruit, pair it with fat or protein," she says. "For example, eat a banana or apple with almond butter, berries with coconut yogurt, etc."

The constant desire to inhale sweets may also be a sign that you are stressed. According to Science Daily, consuming foods high in sugar can raise serotonin levels in the brain which elevates our feelings of happiness. So naturally, the desire for these pleasurable feelings would increase when we're feeling extra stressed. It may also be a sign that you are dehydrated. So the next time you reach for another handful of M&M's, try drinking a full glass of water first and see if the craving goes away.

We have to admit, sweets, either from natural or artificial sugars, are tempting and we understand your secret wish that you had the golden ticket to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. But if you find you get distracted by how strong your cravings are, or you dare wanting to cut back on your sugar intake, it would be wise to get to the bottom of why of sweets are dominating your thoughts in the first place.