And likely lack: Magnesium
Three out of five women don't get enough magnesium in their diet — and chocolate cravings could be a sign you're one of them, say experts at the University of North Carolina. Why? "Chocolate contains up to 50 milligrams of magnesium per ounce," explains Shari Lieberman, Ph.D., professor of nutrition at Connecticut’s University of Bridgeport. "So cravings are your brain’s way of trying to correct a shortfall!"
Make this fix: Replenish stores in just three weeks by enjoying one ounce of magnesium-rich nuts or one cup of spinach daily, says Lieberman.

You lust for: Burgers

And likely lack: Iron
Monthly visits from Aunt Flo cause one in five women to be short in iron, and meat cravings are a top symptom, report researchers at Cornell University.
Make this fix: Eating three ounces of red meat daily can reverse the problem in three months, say Canadian researchers. But if you're avoiding red meat, take a daily iron supplement, up to 18 milligrams each day.

You lust for: Pizza or other cheesy fare

And likely lack: Essential fatty acids
Up to 60 percent of us are deficient in essential fatty acids (EFAs), says Fred Pescatore, M.D., director of the Centers for Integrative and Complementary Medicine in New York. Why? "EFA-rich foods like seafood and flax just aren't on our daily menu," he says. "And while it's still not known why, this shortfall often leads to fatty-food cravings."
Make this fix: You'll restock EFAs in three weeks by adding three 6-ounce servings of fish to your weekly diet, suggest experts at the University of Bridgeport.

You lust for: Desserts

And likely lack: Chromium
Nine in 10 Americans may experience this snafu, thanks to our love affair with processed foods, say USDA researchers. "Chromium is destroyed during food processing. Since the mineral plays a large role in glucose control, low levels can spike blood sugar levels, increasing our sweet tooth," says Lieberman.
Make this fix: To nix cravings in only three months, say UCLA researchers, serve up such chromium food sources as romaine lettuce, onions and whole grains, three times daily.

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