Question:
Strange Cravings

Hello all, I had my surgery a little over two years ago and feel pretty good but lately I've been noticing something very odd. Hope you all won't think I'm certifiable, but maybe someone else has experienced this. I crave really strong flavored foods. I mean, REALLY strong flavors. For instance, I can't get enough of Altoids gum ... I crave the strong peppermint taste you get when you first bite into it and I will chew on 3-4 pieces at a time. When the flavor wears off, I get 3-4 more and do the same thing. I am chewing truckloads of the stuff. These cravings are not the same as getting carb cravings or sweet cravings ... they really seem to be a deep need as opposed to just a "taste" for something. I've also noticed that I want to smell STRONG smells, and not necessarily food. Gasoline and other fumes smell wonderful to me. I have a container of some strongly scented spearmint body scrub and I just want to inhale the stuff. It is satisfying some sort of need but I don't know what. This just strikes me as totally bizarre and the only thing I can think of is possible vitamin deficiency? I'm embarrassed to even ask you all, but I'd really appreciate ANY suggestions. I am setting myself up for a complete physical in a couple of weeks (including blood work) and maybe that will yield some answers but in the meantime I'd sure love to hear from you if you have any ideas. It is just too weird. Thanks in advance for any help.    — MomBear2Cubs (posted on June 12, 2005)

June 12, 2005
My mother use to tell me when I was young and that when you enjoy the smell of things like gasoline it was a sign of a vitamin deficiency. If I were you I would talk to my doctor about it.
   — Patricia C.

June 12, 2005
When you start craving non food items you are definitly having a deficiency of some sort. Hyperproteinemia is signaled by a craving to eat metal and other non-food items. You are doing the right thing, get everything checked just to be on the safe side!
   — MagickalMom

June 12, 2005
I know when I was pregnant they paid particular attention to "cravings" and often asked about non-food cravings. It is a signal that your body is in great need of something that you are not getting enough of. I would strongly recommend getting into the doctor and having the standard blood tests done, as well as any that the doc suggests. But, I have to wonder if your issue is different and maybe that you are craving the pungency of things to make up for what you cannot eat. At any rate, I would still get into the doc post-haste and have him/her decide what is best. In pregnancy the eating of non-food items is called "pica" which means "magpie" or a bird that will eat anything. Some suggest that it is an iron deficiency (anemia) that causes it... Best of luck, JD
   — Fireweed

June 12, 2005
This "craving" is a DEFINITE deficiency! I just went thru all of this SAME type of "cravings". Put me thru 5 months of hell, but I'm now in MUCH better health because of it! My craving was the smell of permanent markers. That craving is since gone! I had iron deficiencies both in the blood AND stored! Also found out to have hypothyroidism too....since all this has played havoc with my body there are so many things that are so much more noticeable for me and I act on them IMMEDIATELY! Don't wait, get to your doctor and tell him/her what is going on with you before it all lets lose!
   — Carole M.

June 12, 2005
I am in agreement with everyone who says you have a vitamin or mineral deficency. I would suggest seeing your doctor and asking him/her to do some blood work. I read a study awhile back about children who ate dirt (not just dipping a finger in the mud and licking it, but actually eating significant quantities of it) and they found that the dirt eaters had a much higher percentage of iron and other mineral deficiences compared to a control group of non-dirt eating children. Although you may think this is silly (or may not depending on your situation and the severity of your problem) please try not to sucumb to your cravings, particuarly the ones for strong smells like gasoline and fumes. These things, although at the time may seem harmless, can cause serious health problems. I don't know if Altoids gum has sugar in it, but if it does, the excess sugar is probably not very good for your health or teeth. I had a friend who confided in me a couple years ago that she reguarly ate dirt... I've lost touch with her since so I don't know if she continues to do it or not. You might want to check out your local health food store or new age store or whatever and see what they have in terms of essential oils. Maybe aroma therapy could help you deal with some of these cravings. I don't know much about aroma therapy but there are a ton of resources on the net and probably some info at your public library. I have a small bottle of aroma therapy scent that I use for anxiety and insomnia... I put a small dab on the inside of my wrist and rub them together (a little bit goes a long way). I sleep with my hands near my head and it gives just enough of a smell to relax me without overwhelming me with scent. Best wishes, Sid
   — mrsidknee