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The translation of deficiencies into food cravings has always fascinated me. People with pica, for example, often compulsively eat non-foods that are in fact re
by EnderViaAnsible 7y ago
The translation of deficiencies into food cravings has always fascinated me. People with pica, for example, often compulsively eat non-foods that are in fact related to a deficiency they have. Anemics sometimes crave dirt (which does contain iron).
But how does it "know"?
- s_y_n_t_a_x 7y agoProbably a memory of the taste and the vitamins that follow it. My wife craves mints when she's low on iron.
- samstave 7y agoBut do mints provide any iron?
- bjoli 7y agoIf they are fortified they do, or better up if they are some kind of mint-flavoured supplements.
- s_y_n_t_a_x 7y agoDepends on which kinds. Spearmint can contain up to 15% of your DV of iron.
- wccrawford 7y agoI don't think your body "knows". I think your mind is very, very good at pattern recognition. It knows that when certain signals exist, a certain condition exists, and when certain foods are eaten, those signals are lessened. It doesn't know what foods will do what until after you've eaten them, possibly multiple times.