Resources for parents to get through the challenges.

  1. Home
  2. Health

Why Am I Craving Onions and What to Do About It

Craving onions can signal quite a few things, from liver damage to pregnancy. Onions are a surprisingly important part of a healthy diet! They are packed with vitamins and nutrients that your body not only needs but will crave if it doesn’t have them. 

Why Am I Craving Onions and What to Do About It

Reasons Why You’re Craving Onions

The thing about onion cravings is that they are not as well known as other cravings. We all know that when you crave paper and ice chips it’s usually an iron deficiency.

Certain cravings, like pickles, are instantly associated with pregnancy. Onion cravings are not quite as popular. However, there are quite a few reasons that you may suddenly find yourself grabbing a bag of onions every time you head to the grocery store. 

Liver Malfunction Can Cause Onion Cravings

Your liver relies on several things in order to work properly. One of those things is sulfur, and onions are packed with sulfur. If your liver is struggling, you might find that you need more sulfur to help keep it functioning at a healthy level.

People with poor nutrition and diet might suddenly crave onions if their lack of nutrition is starting to harm their organs. Sometimes, the body craves things that it needs in order to stay healthy. 

Other Signs Of The Liver Not Functioning Properly

While onion cravings might be the start of liver problems, there are some other signs to watch out for that signal your liver is not working as it should. These signs and symptoms include, but are not limited to: 

  • Pale or light yellow poop
  • Dark-colored urine
  • Swelling in your legs and ankles
  • Yellow skin or eyes
  • Fatigue

Some of these are signs of advanced liver disease, such as yellow eyes. Others you’ll notice earlier on, such as fatigue or dark-colored urine.

(Please note that dark-colored urine is also a sign of mild dehydration and several other things.) If you notice these signs and symptoms, make sure to contact your doctor immediately. Without treatment, liver disease can be fatal. 

Nutrition Deficiencies

When we get a craving for a particular food, it can be a sign that our body is trying to get something we need. It can also mean that there’s a nutrition deficiency.

For example, when my iron is low, I crave salty snacks like Fritos. It’s a bit weird because these don’t contain a lot of iron or anything that my body needs though.

Some people with low iron also crave ice chips. While the craving might not meet the nutritional need in some cases, in others it does. 

When you crave onions, it can be either one of those things. Sometimes, people with deficiencies do crave onions to meet those deficiencies. Other times, the craving comes from something unrelated.

To determine which one it is, it’s important to look at why you might be craving onions, and then look at your current diet. This can help you determine why you’re craving onions. 

Nutrients Found In Onions

If you’re craving onions because of a vitamin deficiency, it will more than likely be one of these vitamins or nutrients. Onions are packed full of: 

  • Folate
  • Potassium
  • B6
  • Fiber
  • Manganese
  • Vitamin C

When your body is running low on vitamins, you’re going to notice symptoms. For example, a lack of fiber will make you feel more constipated. If you’re noticing these symptoms, it could mean that your body needs you to eat onions. 

Colorful onions and garlic on rustic wooden background

Other Benefits Of Onions

While you might not have a vitamin deficiency, your body could already know that you need the benefits of onions. Along with the wonderful vitamins, you’ll get, people that eat onions can enjoy these benefits: 

  • Lower cholesterol
  • Reduces risk of heart disease
  • Improve liver function
  • Break down toxins
  • Balances hormones

If your liver isn’t functioning correctly or your body is full of toxins, you might know it on the inside. In response, your body will begin to crave what it needs, which could be onions. 

Some People Crave Onions When They Are Sick

Onions are a great food that you can use to help your body detox, and your body knows it.

They can also help give your immune system a boost thanks to the Vitamin C in them. Because of this, you might notice that you have a serious onion craving when you get sick, even if it’s just a cold.

That is because your body is trying to use the onion, and all of the great qualities it comes with, to expel toxins from your body and help you fight whatever virus or infection you are dealing with. It’s just another way that your body is trying to heal itself. 

Pregnancy Can Make You Crave Onions

It’s extremely popular for pregnant women to have onion cravings. There’s actually a little bit of science behind it too! Surprisingly, it’s not merely another normal craving.

Your body craves onions in an attempt to balance your hormones. It might take your body quite some time to realize that it’s pregnant, and the hormonal imbalance is normal.

At this time, those cravings might stop. However, some pregnant women report that they have had onion cravings for their entire pregnancies! 

In Conclusion

Your body has cravings because it needs something, or is trying to fix itself. Your onion cravings could be due to sickness, pregnancy, a vitamin deficiency, or your body trying to fight off a cold.

If you’re wondering what makes you crave onions, consider whether any of these situations apply to you right now.