A number of people have told me that sugar cravings are actually a sign your body wants protein. I found this information to be interesting but never took it totally to heart until I found myself having non-stop sugar cravings. All I wanted to eat was chocolate and Cool Whip. I thought I was either deficient in magnesium, which is found in chocolate, or lacking protein in my diet. The answer came to me while I was shopping at Whole Foods a few weeks ago.

Packages of Beef Jerky caught my eye and I found myself wanting to eat the Beef Jerky. Now this may not sound abnormal but for someone who hasn't eaten read meat in years, the Beef Jerky craving caught me by surprise. Normally red meat makes me squeamish and as a result, I try to steer clear of the meat section in grocery stores. I knew I had a serious situation on my hand and I realized my body needed more protein. Besides the sugar cravings, I was also experiencing a number of other symptoms that were probably related to a lack of protein in my diet.

I started eating more protein and I found my sugar cravings went away. Instead of wanting to eat sugar after every meal, I now feel quite satisfied as long as I eat enough protein.

So, the next time you are craving a sugar-laden dessert, try eating some protein instead. Your body will thank you!