Salty & Fatty Food Cravings

Sugary, fatty foods account for 35 percent of the calories in typical American diets, according to MayoClinic.com. Americans also consume too much salt. While all foods, in moderation, can suit a healthy diet, cravings for unhealthy fare can make meeting your nutrient needs difficult and stimulate feelings of anxiety, frustration and guilt. And unlike hunger, food cravings can cause a perceived need for specific foods. Learning more regarding salty and fatty food cravings may inspire you to make wise dietary and lifestyle decisions.

Brain Chemistry

Rather than satisfy your hunger, salty, fatty and sugary foods stimulate the brain to crave more of the same, according to Dr. David A. Kessler, a Harvard-trained physician and former commissioner of the United States Food and Drug Administration. His research, which is published in his book, "The End of Overeating," shows that regular consumption of these foods alter your brain chemistry in such a way that stimulates not only cravings, but overeating, increasing your risk for weight gain and related health problems. Researchers have also found that areas of the brain associated with hunger, such as the hippocampus, are highly stimulated while food cravings are present.

Nutrient Deficiencies

Fatty and salty food cravings can also come from nutrient deficiencies, according to the University of Rochester Medical Center, or URMC. Consuming a severely low-fat diet, for example, can lead you to desire fat-rich foods. Low sodium levels, which can result from medical conditions, diarrhea or excessive sweating, can trigger cravings for salty foods.

Restrictive Diets

People who follow restrictive weight loss diets often crave "forbidden" foods, like high-fat ice cream, or simple carbohydrate sources, like potato chips, according to the URMC. A sense of deprivation paired with physical hunger often result in overeating the foods you crave.

Emotional Factors

Many people turn to "comfort foods" in times of stress or anxiety, many of which contain rich amounts of fat or salt. If you are an emotional eater, meaning you eat to cope with or distract yourself from stress or feelings, you may also crave convenience foods, according to MayoClinic.com. These foods, such as fast food, packaged snacks and frozen desserts, are also typically salty or fat-rich.

Solution

Although occasional cravings for fatty and salty foods are common and typically harmless, frequent cravings may reflect an emotional or physical condition that requires treatment. Once you've addressed any underlying condition, the URMC recommends following a balanced diet, not skipping meals and staying well-hydrated -- as many people mistake thirst for hunger. Allow yourself to indulge in pleasurable foods on a moderate basis to avoid feelings of deprivation. Learning ways to manage stress, such as therapy, meditation or exercise, can help reduce emotional eating.