Why do I crave sour foods? The doctor gave three possible reasons

Why do I crave sour foods? The doctor gave three possible reasons

In some cases, it is not worth going after your desire.

Doctor of nutrition, gastroenterologist, Candidate of Medical Sciences, clinical pharmacologist, head of AlfaBiom company

What does it mean if the body requires acidic?

There are 100 trillion microbial cells in the human body. There are 10 trillion cells in the body. It turns out that we are 10% human and 90% microbe. We can’t ignore the wishes of the microorganisms that live in our bodies.

There is a well-established truth – we are what we eat. This is a fact, because we grow the bacteria in our intestines on our own. If we eat only meat, there will be more symbionts in the gut that “eat” meat and secrete enzymes to break down protein. If only simple carbohydrates – you are more likely to grow a colony of simple fungi in yourself.

So sudden strong cravings for a certain type of food probably belong not so much to us as to our microbes. In some cases, food preferences can be influenced by disease. For example, cancer cells require increased glucose intake, a person may be drawn to flour products, bread, sweets.

Another possible reason for craving a certain product is a deficiency of nutrients. But in this case it is really difficult to understand what a person really wants: for example, vitamin B deficiency can manifest itself in a craving for carbohydrates.

We tell you what can explain the sudden desire to eat something sour.

Digestive problems

Sour food may be desired by a person who has insufficient secretion of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. This is his way of trying to compensate for the acidity of the stomach environment and make it easier for him to digest food.

Esophageal problems

If a person has GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), his desire to eat something like lemon is related to the physiological need to reduce acidity by alkalizing the gastric juice. But this, of course, is not good for the esophagus.

Vitamin C and magnesium deficiency

Another reason is in the need for vitamin C or magnesium. But, of course, before making up for the deficiencies of these nutrients, it is necessary to check their balance in the body. It is best to consult a doctor and take the necessary tests.