<p>Short answer is YES, at least for rats, who do have chemosensors in their brain and alter their liking of salty foods and foods containing certain amino acids. See this question and question on Biology.SE:</p>

<p><a href="https://biology.stackexchange.com/questions/5328/do-humans-have-chemosensors-for-nutrients-or-chemicals">Do humans have chemosensors for nutrients or chemicals?</a></p>

<p><a href="https://biology.stackexchange.com/questions/5090/do-omnivore-mammals-vary-food-preferences-based-on-dietary-needs">Do omnivore mammals vary food preferences based on dietary needs?</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-30T01:17:10.187Z
2015-03-30T01:17:10.187Z
2017-04-13T12:48:14.127Z
Alex Stone
<p>Adding to the current answers, there can be many reasons for food cravings and avoidance.</p>
<p>Orloff &amp; Hormes (<a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01076" rel="nofollow noreferrer">2014</a>) points out that the main hypotheses discussed in research receive little support, with the notable exception of a postulated role of cultural and psychosocial factors.</p>
<p>They also point out interesting links with eating disorders. For example, they point to research on food cravings that have been identified not only as reliable predictors of subsequent consumption of the desired food, but also as potential triggers for episodes of binge eating, especially in bulimic and overweight individuals.</p>
<p>Cravings during pregnancy seem to be different. While Miller (<a href="http://downloads.lww.com/wolterskluwer_vitalstream_com/journal_library/nie_15445186_2011_9_5_21.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">2011</a>) points out that</p>
<blockquote>
<p>It’s a common misbelief that food cravings are a signal from the body that it’s missing some nutrient</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Caitlyn Placek (<a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.170243?download=true" rel="nofollow noreferrer">2017</a>) states that</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The onset of cravings for items not typically desired is often considered a hallmark of pregnancy. Given the ubiquity of cravings, this phenomenon remains surprisingly understudied.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Fetal nutritional needs maybe are small early in pregnancy compared to later (<a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/03670244.1985.9990886" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Tierson, et al. 1985</a>), but nevertheless, there are specific fetal nutritional needs which are hopefully fulfilled. Anecdotally, my wife craved for lots of liver, and after birth it was found the baby had next to no thyroid gland. Severe iodine deficiency causes hypothyroidism that results in impaired somatic growth and motor development in children (<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4049553/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Chung, 2014</a>) and <a href="https://www.webmd.com/diet/foods-high-in-iodine" rel="nofollow noreferrer">according to WebMD</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>There are few foods that are as nutritionally dense as beef liver. A three-ounce serving of liver can provide 14 mcg of iodine along with the many other vitamins and nutrients it contains.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Quoting from Orloff &amp; Hormes (previously mentioned);</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Women experience an increase in food cravings at two specific times during their life — when perimenstrual and when prenatal Orloff &amp; Hormes, 2014]<a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01076" rel="nofollow noreferrer">1</a>).
The prevalence of excess gestational weight gain (GWG) is a growing concern due to its association with adverse health outcomes in both mothers and children. To the extent that prenatal food cravings may be a determinant of energy intake in pregnancy, a better understanding of craving etiology could be crucial in addressing the issue of excessive GWG. This paper reviews the available literature to corroborate and/or dispute some of the most commonly accepted hypotheses regarding the causes of food cravings during pregnancy, including a role of (1) hormonal changes, (2) nutritional deficits, (3) pharmacologically active ingredients in the desired foods, and (4) cultural and psychosocial factors.</p>
<p>[...]</p>
<p>Various psychosocial factors appear to correlate with excess GWG, including the presence of restrained eating. Findings strongly suggest that more research be conducted in this area.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>They also pointed out with references that the most common trajectory of food cravings across gestation shows a peak in frequency and intensity during the second trimester, followed by a subsequent decline as the pregnancy progresses to term.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Research has also consistently documented a significant drop in cravings following delivery (<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-8223(21)02220-3" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Worthington-Roberts et al., 1989</a>; <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2010.09.014" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Belzer et al., 2010</a>).</p>
</blockquote>
<h2>References</h2>
<p>Belzer, L. M., Smulian, J. C., Lu, S. E., and Tepper, B. J. (2010). Food cravings and intake of sweet foods in healthy pregnancy and mild gestational diabetes mellitus. A prospective study. <em>Appetite 55</em>, 609–615. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2010.09.014" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2010.09.014</a></p>
<p>Chung, H. R. (2014). Iodine and thyroid function. <em>Annals of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism 19</em>(1), 8-12. <a href="https://doi.org/10.6065/apem.2014.19.1.8" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://doi.org/10.6065/apem.2014.19.1.8</a></p>
<p>Miller, R. S. (2011). Nutritional needs during pregnancy. <em>Nursing made Incredibly Easy, 9</em>(5), 21-24. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NME.0000403193.68168.d0" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NME.0000403193.68168.d0</a></p>
<p>Orloff, N. C., &amp; Hormes, J. M. (2014). Pickles and ice cream! Food cravings in pregnancy: hypotheses, preliminary evidence, and directions for future research. <em>Frontiers in psychology, 5</em>, 1076. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01076" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01076</a></p>
<p>Placek, C. (2017). A test of four evolutionary hypotheses of pregnancy food cravings: Evidence for the social bargaining model. <em>Royal Society open science, 4</em>(10), 170243. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.170243" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.170243</a></p>
<p>Tierson, F. D., Olsen, C. L., &amp; Hook, E. B. (1985). Influence of cravings and aversions on diet in pregnancy. <em>Ecology of Food and Nutrition, 17</em>(2), 117-129. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/03670244.1985.9990886" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://doi.org/10.1080/03670244.1985.9990886</a></p>
<p>Worthington-Roberts, B., Little, R. E., Lambert, M. D., and Wu, R. (1989). Dietary cravings and aversions in the postpartum period. <em>Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 89</em>(5), 647-651. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-8223(21)02220-3" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-8223(21)02220-3</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-03-14T09:22:34.800Z
2023-03-14T09:22:34.800Z
Chris Rogers
<p>The answer to that question is Yes, but...</p>

<p>There is whole new science of psychofisics which is trying (and succeding)
in makeing food more palatable...
So you have combination of sugar, salt and fat which can be choosen over missing nutritiens.</p>

<p>Look for key words satiation, palatable, salt crawing, bliss point and psychophisics of taste in your search.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-01T20:03:19.270Z
yes, exactly that! ;)
ICanFeelIt
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-29T22:01:31.803Z
Plausible, but evidence to support these assertions would be useful - eg, do isolated cultures in the Amazon or Papua New Guinea (not exposed to processed foods) have food cravings that relate better to their nutritional needs?
Arnon Weinberg
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-30T07:24:48.023Z
Arnon that is nice idea, but. You will have to organise their children in 2 groups by chance and feed one group with processed food and another with their traditional food and after that measure cravings. Unfortunatelly It could be very unethical.
ICanFeelIt
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-28T21:55:08.393Z
2014-11-28T21:55:08.393Z
ICanFeelIt
<p>It appears that, from time to time, everybody has a strong desire for some specific food.</p>

<p>I want to know whether this is the feedback of the body needing certain nutrients or whether it's purely related other influences such as emotions.</p>

<ul>
<li><strong>Q:</strong> To what extent are such cravings influenced by current nutrient levels<sup>1</sup> in the body?</li>
</ul>

<p><sub><strong>1</strong>: When you're dying of thirst you'll definitely want some water. I'm rather talking about "Damn, I really want an orange." (lack of citric acid and vitamin C).</sub></p>

<cognitive-psychology><motivation><feeding>
Is a desire for a certain food related to the nutritional need for that food?
Tomáš Zato
# Is a desire for a certain food related to the nutritional need for that food?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-11-28)

It appears that, from time to time, everybody has a strong desire for some specific food.

I want to know whether this is the feedback of the body needing certain nutrients or whether it's purely related other influences such as emotions.

* **Q:** To what extent are such cravings influenced by current nutrient levels1 in the body?

**1**: When you're dying of thirst you'll definitely want some water. I'm rather talking about "Damn, I really want an orange." (lack of citric acid and vitamin C).

**Tags:** cognitive-psychology, motivation, feeding


---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-03-30. Score: 3

Short answer is YES, at least for rats, who do have chemosensors in their brain and alter their liking of salty foods and foods containing certain amino acids. See this question and question on Biology.SE:

[Do humans have chemosensors for nutrients or chemicals?](https://biology.stackexchange.com/questions/5328/do-humans-have-chemosensors-for-nutrients-or-chemicals)

[Do omnivore mammals vary food preferences based on dietary needs?](https://biology.stackexchange.com/questions/5090/do-omnivore-mammals-vary-food-preferences-based-on-dietary-needs)


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2023-03-14. Score: 1

Adding to the current answers, there can be many reasons for food cravings and avoidance.

Orloff & Hormes ([2014](https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01076)) points out that the main hypotheses discussed in research receive little support, with the notable exception of a postulated role of cultural and psychosocial factors.

They also point out interesting links with eating disorders. For example, they point to research on food cravings that have been identified not only as reliable predictors of subsequent consumption of the desired food, but also as potential triggers for episodes of binge eating, especially in bulimic and overweight individuals.

Cravings during pregnancy seem to be different. While Miller ([2011](http://downloads.lww.com/wolterskluwer_vitalstream_com/journal_library/nie_15445186_2011_9_5_21.pdf)) points out that

> It’s a common misbelief that food cravings are a signal from the body that it’s missing some nutrient

Caitlyn Placek ([2017](https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.170243?download=true)) states that

> The onset of cravings for items not typically desired is often considered a hallmark of pregnancy. Given the ubiquity of cravings, this phenomenon remains surprisingly understudied.

Fetal nutritional needs maybe are small early in pregnancy compared to later ([Tierson, et al. 1985](https://doi.org/10.1080/03670244.1985.9990886)), but nevertheless, there are specific fetal nutritional needs which are hopefully fulfilled. Anecdotally, my wife craved for lots of liver, and after birth it was found the baby had next to no thyroid gland. Severe iodine deficiency causes hypothyroidism that results in impaired somatic growth and motor development in children ([Chung, 2014](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4049553/)) and [according to WebMD](https://www.webmd.com/diet/foods-high-in-iodine)

> There are few foods that are as nutritionally dense as beef liver. A three-ounce serving of liver can provide 14 mcg of iodine along with the many other vitamins and nutrients it contains.

Quoting from Orloff & Hormes (previously mentioned);

> Women experience an increase in food cravings at two specific times during their life — when perimenstrual and when prenatal Orloff & Hormes, 2014][1](https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01076)).
> The prevalence of excess gestational weight gain (GWG) is a growing concern due to its association with adverse health outcomes in both mothers and children. To the extent that prenatal food cravings may be a determinant of energy intake in pregnancy, a better understanding of craving etiology could be crucial in addressing the issue of excessive GWG. This paper reviews the available literature to corroborate and/or dispute some of the most commonly accepted hypotheses regarding the causes of food cravings during pregnancy, including a role of (1) hormonal changes, (2) nutritional deficits, (3) pharmacologically active ingredients in the desired foods, and (4) cultural and psychosocial factors.
>
> [...]
>
> Various psychosocial factors appear to correlate with excess GWG, including the presence of restrained eating. Findings strongly suggest that more research be conducted in this area.

They also pointed out with references that the most common trajectory of food cravings across gestation shows a peak in frequency and intensity during the second trimester, followed by a subsequent decline as the pregnancy progresses to term.

> Research has also consistently documented a significant drop in cravings following delivery ([Worthington-Roberts et al., 1989](https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-8223(21)02220-3); [Belzer et al., 2010](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2010.09.014)).

## References

Belzer, L. M., Smulian, J. C., Lu, S. E., and Tepper, B. J. (2010). Food cravings and intake of sweet foods in healthy pregnancy and mild gestational diabetes mellitus. A prospective study. *Appetite 55*, 609–615. <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2010.09.014>

Chung, H. R. (2014). Iodine and thyroid function. *Annals of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism 19*(1), 8-12. <https://doi.org/10.6065/apem.2014.19.1.8>

Miller, R. S. (2011). Nutritional needs during pregnancy. *Nursing made Incredibly Easy, 9*(5), 21-24. <https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NME.0000403193.68168.d0>

Orloff, N. C., & Hormes, J. M. (2014). Pickles and ice cream! Food cravings in pregnancy: hypotheses, preliminary evidence, and directions for future research. *Frontiers in psychology, 5*, 1076. <https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01076>

Placek, C. (2017). A test of four evolutionary hypotheses of pregnancy food cravings: Evidence for the social bargaining model. *Royal Society open science, 4*(10), 170243. <https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.170243>

Tierson, F. D., Olsen, C. L., & Hook, E. B. (1985). Influence of cravings and aversions on diet in pregnancy. *Ecology of Food and Nutrition, 17*(2), 117-129. <https://doi.org/10.1080/03670244.1985.9990886>

Worthington-Roberts, B., Little, R. E., Lambert, M. D., and Wu, R. (1989). Dietary cravings and aversions in the postpartum period. *Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 89*(5), 647-651. <https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-8223(21)02220-3>


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-11-28. Score: 0

The answer to that question is Yes, but...

There is whole new science of psychofisics which is trying (and succeding)
in makeing food more palatable...
So you have combination of sugar, salt and fat which can be choosen over missing nutritiens.

Look for key words satiation, palatable, salt crawing, bliss point and psychophisics of taste in your search.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: yes, exactly that! ;)  
> **username_4**: Plausible, but evidence to support these assertions would be useful - eg, do isolated cultures in the Amazon or Papua New Guinea (not exposed to processed foods) have food cravings that relate better to their nutritional needs?  
> **username_3**: Arnon that is nice idea, but. You will have to organise their children in 2 groups by chance and feed one group with processed food and another with their traditional food and after that measure cravings. Unfortunatelly It could be very unethical.  

---

