A food craving is an intense desire for a particular food. People usually crave high-calorie foods in a conditioned response to certain external or emotional cues (for instance, after a difficult day). Sometimes, however, a hankering for a substance like salt may indicate a physiological need or nutritional deficiency.
Nutritional Deficit
Cravings can sometimes be a sign of a mineral or other nutrient deficiency. A salt craving, for example, may indicate a need for sodium. For example, adrenal insufficiency (Addison’s disease) causes a loss of salt in the body, and may lead to a constant craving. But this is usually accompanied by other symptoms, such as low blood sugar, darkening of the skin, dizziness, and fatigue.
Excessive sweating after intense exercise will also cause salt loss, which may lead to salt cravings.
Black Pepper Nutrition
Black pepper is not a significant source of nutrients. It contains small amounts of manganese and vitamin K, and has antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Piperine, the pungent component of black pepper that can make you sneeze, stimulates digestive enzymes and makes the nutrients in many foods more easily accessible for absorption by the body.
Psychological Factors
Researchers believe that not all cravings are explained by a physiological need or a nutrient deficiency. Psychological and emotional factors such as stress and anxiety, or an association with a pleasant memory involving a particular taste or food, are more likely to trigger a craving.
For example, food cravings are common in women during the late premenstrual period and during pregnancy (often for sweet or fatty foods). The causes of these food cravings are multifactorial — including emotional, social, and cultural factors — and aren’t necessarily linked to specific deficiencies. A black pepper craving may be triggered by a memory of the appearance or aroma of a black pepper-laced dish, especially if you ate the food on a happy occasion.
Considerations
If you have intense food cravings, you may be worried it means you have a serious health condition. But there are no good studies connecting specific food cravings to diseases or nutritional deficiencies, especially black pepper.
If you have non-food cravings (called pica) or persistent salt cravings along with fatigue, low blood pressure, and skin color changes, visit your doctor to get a proper diagnosis and start any treatments, if necessary.
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