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I've been paleo for several months now, but for the past few weeks I've been craving almonds and other nuts, but especially almonds. Does this indicate a possible deficiency in some nutrient?

I have yet to run my diet through FitDay and see if I'm lacking in anything, but I tend to eat a varied diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. I also take a multivitamin, fish oil, and a probiotic. I use Natural Calm plus Calcium occasionally as well.

Also, I've found that almond butter doesn't satisfy the craving - only the actual nuts themselves.

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Just eat the nuts. – April S. May 2 2012 at 3:03
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^ Or don't, because nuts suck. – Kasra May 27 at 2:17
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Most cravings can go away with liver anyways. – Korion Jun 24 at 6:58
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Er, April and Kasra, pun intended? – Huaizhou Jun 24 at 9:05

9 Answers

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This question occasionally comes up in the context of dark chocolate. As in that case, I suspect that the cravings aren't due to nutrient deficiency. I'd be interested to be corrected, but thus far I've not seen any hard data about specific cravings being caused by nutrient deficiency. Whatever nutrient could in theory make you crave chocolate or nuts should by the same token make you crave lots of other foods, which nevertheless, people seem never to crave. The simplest explanation is probably just that chocolate and nuts are very tasty foods that people are apt to crave irregardless of any micronutrients. Indeed, we just had a thread about gorging on nuts just now: http://paleohacks.com/questions/143205/so-what-is-the-deal-with-nut-binges (actually there are quite a few such threads).

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I tend to agree with this. I used to have strong chocolate cravings. Started supplementing a lot of magnesium and eating more liver (copper), and lo and behold..I still have strong chocolate cravings. Probably 'cause it's delicious. – Phoenix Aug 19 at 15:55
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Might just be you want to eat more fat, whats the energy situation? Do you train? if so how?

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Energy is fairly steady. However, am I usually not hungry for quite awhile after I workout and I get hungrier on rest days, which is kinda quirky. I usually do some easy bodyweight training 2 days a week: pushups, squats, body rows, planks, etc. I also rock climb 1-2 times per week. Lately I have just started training for the pack test which involves a 3mile hike with a 45 pound pack in under 45 minutes - once again I'm not usually hungry after this but I make myself eat some protein and carbs after. I will try adding in more fat in general and see if the cravings go away. – Grace Apr 17 2012 at 23:27
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Me too. I find almonds seem to be answering some really deep hunger in me. I haven't tested pricier nuts for comparison. I suspect that I am craving fat and not getting enough meat. I'll keep an eye out for other answers here

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Yes! This craving isn't like a normal hankering for something, it's like almonds are extra satisfying - wonder what it is my body is trying to tell me? – Grace Apr 18 2012 at 0:15
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Yep, after a year I still get powerful cravings for almonds and dark chocolate. I also get cravings for peanuts, which I try to avoid because they are more legume-like. I agree that this is probably based on some kind of mineral / nutritional need.

I prefer not to take supplements unless there is a specific need and only for a short time, so I figure I'll just eat the nuts when my body asks for them, and try to make sure they are healthy (organic, no pesticides), and try to find them with the best nutrients.

I did experiment with a magnesium / manganese supplement a while back, and taking some gave me a couple of the best nights of sleep in years, but then a couple of weeks of disastrous sleep. I might have something going on there but I'd rather try to address it through diet.

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Me too! Only it's the nut butter! I've eaten a full 9 serving jar of almond butter, which shocked me. I felt guilty about the calories, but I felt great after! I don't know what's up, my body has had weird cravings ever since I stopped hormonal birth control so I think I'm dealing with some mineral and hormonal unbalances. I'm trying to listen to my body, but obviously I can't keep eating full jars of nut butters...

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I crave almonds at least once a week -- just had a huge bowl full today. Maybe I do have a deficiency? And yes I do feel GREAT!

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Me too! I'm munching on a whole can now,these are smoked! They are Heavenly! Then I'm heading for a snickers.

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Or, maybe you are just nuts about nuts like me! I crave nuts when I want something crunchy and snacky. Do you crave nuts even after eating a satisfying meal with a decent amount of protein and fat?

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Hi,

I have also been eating a lot of nuts, Since Nov-2012 I have been buying the bags nut in the shell. and have been eating them up until present. It might be a nutrition deficiency issue, I am just not sure.

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