Can food cravings mean my body is missing nutrients?

On Ep. 202 of The WarriorBabe Show, Nikkiey lists missing nutrients as one possible trigger for cravings, alongside emotional ones like stress or celebrating. Her examples: chocolate cravings could be linked to low magnesium, and strong salt cravings might mean your body needs more electrolytes. She is careful to frame it as "not always the case, but something to be aware of," not a rule. If you suspect an actual deficiency, that is a conversation for your doctor, not something to diagnose from a craving.

The pattern she says she notices most when working with women is simpler. Cravings that show up at the end of the day often mean you didn't give your body enough of what it needed during the day, and specifically not enough protein. Nikkiey explains that protein helps you stay fuller longer and helps regulate blood sugar, so when you fall short, you get hungrier as the day goes on and the cravings creep in. That isn't a willpower problem. It's a plan that left you underfed.

That last one matters. Nikkiey says labeling foods good or bad creates an all-or-nothing mentality and guilt, which tends to trigger more cravings. She encourages viewing foods as neutral, chocolate and pizza included, and planning for indulgences, because depriving yourself completely backfires. When a food stops being forbidden, it loses some of its power over you.