Craving beans is more common than you might think, and understanding why this happens can significantly affect your overall well-being.

By uncovering the top 11 reasons behind these cravings, you can gain valuable insights into what your body truly needs and how to address these nutritional signals effectively.

The Eating Enlightenment Food Journal App is a crucial tool in this journey. By helping you track your cravings, emotional eating, and binges, the app offers compassionate support to enhance your self-awareness and foster healthier eating habits.

With these insights, you can better understand your bean cravings and make positive changes that align with your holistic wellness goals.

This blog post will teach why people often crave beans—from pregnancy to nutrient deficiencies—and share some of our favorite bean recipes!

1 – You Are Pregnant

You’ve undoubtedly heard that when pregnant, you eat for two people. This means you need to consume more calories than usual, and beans are a great way to do that!

It’s estimated that pregnant women should be getting about 300-500 extra calories a day – and why not get some of those from beans?

Beans are whole of proteins, fibers, and minerals, making them an excellent substitute for meat or carbohydrates.

The nutrients in beans will help you feel better while keeping your daily calorie count higher!

It’s important to remember that pregnant women need more protein than usual (25 g per day versus 15).

Beans contain high amounts of healthy plant-based proteins, so they’re a popular choice for pregnant women.

Protein intake during pregnancy helps to support fetal growth and development and safeguard against low birth weights (which can be caused by malnutrition).

One tablespoon of beans has about 0.75 grams of protein.

So, if you’re looking for a high-protein food to help satisfy your cravings – look no further than the bean!

2 – Your Body Is Low On Iron

Back in college, I often felt completely drained, struggling with low energy and constant fatigue.

Yet, no matter how exhausted I was, I always managed to find the energy to prepare beans. My cravings for beans were intense and persistent, leaving me puzzled as to why I was so drawn to them.

Curious about my constant fatigue and unusual cravings, I decided to visit the doctor for a blood test. When the results came back, I was shocked to discover that my iron levels were dangerously low—I had developed iron deficiency anemia.

Iron deficiency anemia occurs when your body doesn’t have enough iron to produce adequate levels of hemoglobin, the substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body. Without sufficient iron, your body struggles to function properly, leading to a range of symptoms such as:

• Persistent fatigue
• Lack of energy
• Brain fog
• Unusual hunger

The doctor advised me to make some changes to my diet, recommending that I incorporate more iron-rich foods like lean red meat, pulses, and dark green leafy vegetables. In retrospect, I realized that my low iron levels were the result of an improperly balanced vegetarian diet.

If you’re following a vegetarian or vegan diet, it’s crucial to ensure you’re getting all the essential nutrients your body needs. While beans are a great source of iron, it’s important to diversify your diet to support your overall health. Don’t overlook the importance of nutrition—make sure your body has what it needs to thrive!

3 – Your Body Is Low On Protein

Another reason you crave beans is that they are excellent protein sources.

When your body lacks protein, it will crave it to get the nutrients it needs.

Protein is essential for our bodies. It helps us maintain muscle mass, repair tissue, and produce enzymes and hormones.

Plus, protein is known to help us feel fuller longer!

A lack of protein can lead to feelings of fatigue, moodiness, and decreased productivity, which is why you might be craving beans in the first place!

Ensure you include good sources of plant-based proteins in your diet, such as lentils, tofu, tempeh, seitan, quinoa, or black beans. You can also get proteins from meat sources if you’re not a vegetarian.

You need about 0.36 grams per pound of body weight each day. That’s around 54 grams for someone who weighs 150 pounds.

If you struggle to get adequate protein daily, it might be time to reconsider your current approach.  

Take some time and think about how satisfied you feel after each meal – are your energy levels fluctuating throughout the day?  

You don’t have to change everything overnight; instead, try adding one new high-protein food to your diet at a time.

And why not start with beans?

4 – You Like The Texture & Variety

Think of all the different bean dishes you can eat.

There are all sorts of different beans you can eat:

• black beans
• kidney beans
• pinto beans
• green beans
• cannellini beans
• lima beans

And if you’re feeling a little more adventurous – why not try an Asian-style dish with adzuki or mung beans?

Beans can be easily incorporated into many dishes. Their mild flavor adapts to any spices you want to add.

In Mexican food, that might mean adding cumin for extra flavor! The bean blends well with soy sauce and rice vinegar in Chinese cuisine.  

Beans also offer a pleasing texture variety, unlike plain tofu, served all day.  

Dried peas and lentils do an excellent job mimicking ground meat—think burgers made from red lentils instead of beef!

And why not give it a shot?

Maybe the reason you crave beans is because they are just good!  

Beans offer the perfect blend of taste, enjoyable texture, and variety.

And if your body needs some extra help feeling satisfied, why not give this satisfying food group a chance to satisfy all three at once?   

5 – You’re Dieting

Of course, you may be dieting, so you’re craving beans.

When on a diet, you often eliminate many food groups, including beans.

This can leave your body feeling deprived and might be why you are experiencing intense cravings for this particular nutrient-rich food.

Plus, you will not eat enough calories when trying to shed weight because everyone knows you must have a caloric deficit to lose weight.

However, people usually eat significantly less than an average caloric deficit.

When your body runs on a caloric deficit for too long, it starts to crave foods with nutrients, which might be why you are craving beans.

6 – You’re Compensating

People often feel guilty after binging and want to “cleanse” themselves by eating healthy.

Just think about it. Did you recently overeat? If so, do you feel guilty about your actions, like you ate too many calories?

Do you feel that consuming beans will somehow make the guilt go away?

If you eat the beans, it will feel like you are healthy!

If you feel healthy, you can forget about the binge!

If you want to eat more beans because it will make you feel better about the binge, why not just stop eating so much in the first place?

Instead of trying to trick yourself into feeling okay with your actions, why don’t you try and fix why those events occur in the first place?  

That’s a lot easier than going through all that trouble every time! 🙂  

Why don’t you eat beans regularly instead of craving beans to compensate for guilt?

Eating beans will help you stay satisfied and help prevent binges from occurring in the first place!

7 – You Want “Hearty” Food Satisfaction

You may also be craving the nice, full, satisfied feeling you get from eating beans,

Beans are considered a “hearty” food, perfect for feeling full and satisfied after eating.

Plus, beans offer sustained energy over some time as they digest slowly in the body.

People often choose bean dishes over pasta or rice-based meals because they want to feel sated without feeling weighed down afterward.

When you eat beans, you can expect to feel satisfied for hours afterward—unlike other empty-calorie foods, which will leave you wanting more shortly after consumption.

Eating beans regularly can help prevent snacking later in the day because it provides a nice dose of “hearty” food satisfaction.

Why not try including more bean dishes in your diet and see why people crave beans?  

They taste great, offer variety, and, most importantly, when eaten regularly, they will keep you satisfied for hours. Who doesn’t want that?!    

8 – Your Hormones Are Changing

If your hormones change, this could be an entirely different explanation for why you crave beans!

Human body hormones change throughout life for all sorts of reasons:

• puberty
• pregnancy
• menopause and more
• Even life transitions can cause a cascade of chemical reactions!

And when your hormones are changing – that can often lead to intense food cravings.

Beans are a nutrient-rich food with many benefits for the body, so it’s no wonder they might be one of the foods you crave during hormonal changes.

If you’re experiencing intense cravings for beans, it could be due to a change in your hormone levels.

Try to figure out what is happening in your life that may lead to these hormonal changes.

Once you have identified the cause, you can start working on ways to alleviate them!

Generally speaking, what really keeps hormone levels stable is eating an overall healthy diet!

So eat those beans and enjoy all their amazing healthy food benefits! 🙂  

9 – Your Body Is Low On Carbs

You are most likely craving beans because your body is low on carbs.

When your body doesn’t have enough carbohydrates, it craves them intensely to get what it needs.

Why does your body crave carbs?

That is why we get hungry when our blood sugar drops—carbohydrates are the body’s preferred energy source.

When your levels start lowering, you will crave high-carb foods like bread and pasta!

This is why beans can be an excellent substitute for those who want some carbs but don’t necessarily want to get them from high-carb foods without any protein.

Beans contain many carbohydrates in addition to fiber, so they won’t make you crash later on, either!  

Sometimes, people think avoiding certain foods or food groups might help prevent these intense cravings from occurring. 

And if your body craves certain foods, it’s probably because you need them!

Including beans in your diet can help prevent cravings for other high-carb foods.

Eating a balanced diet with plenty of nutrient-rich foods like beans reduces the likelihood of experiencing intense cravings for unhealthy junk food.

10 – Vitamin Deficiency

Beans are a great source of many vitamins and minerals, including:

• iron
• zinc
• vitamin B12
• fiber
• essential amino acids

If you’re deficient in any of these nutrients, you might crave beans as your body tries to tell you it needs them!

As you know, iron deficiency can often lead to cravings for red meat or leafy greens.

Zinc deficiencies can cause people to crave oysters or beef, and vitamin B12 deficiencies can make people want more poultry or organic meat.

Bean dishes offer different flavors and textures, perfect for satisfying those intense cravings.

If you are looking for an explanation for why you might be craving beans so severely, look no further than your deficiency in certain minerals!

11 – You Need The Fiber

Fiber is an essential nutrient for our bodies – it helps with bowel regularity, maintaining a healthy weight, and reducing the risk of heart disease and type II diabetes.

The American Dietetic Association recommends consuming 25-30 grams of fiber daily. Read here for more high-fiber foods that are great for lowering cholesterol.

If you are craving beans, it could be because your body needs more fiber!

Beans are an excellent source of dietary fiber, with about 15 grams per cup.

That’s why including them in your diet is a great way to help meet your daily fiber goals!

What Happens If You Eat Lots of Beans?

Nothing bad!

Beans are a nutrient-rich food with many benefits for the body.

According to BlueZones research, the people who live the longest in the world eat beans daily!

Beans can be part of a healthy diet and provide lots of fiber, proteins, and other essentials – which is why you might crave them so badly sometimes!  

Why am I craving baked beans?

There could be a few reasons why you might find yourself craving beans. The first possibility is that baked beans’ flavor is unique and delicious. It’s possible that you watched a show or movie about cowboys or food in which the characters ate beans, and now you are subconsciously influenced. However, the more likely reason is simply that you crave the flavor.

Another possibility is that baked beans can be softer than fresh beans, so if you have a sensitive stomach, this could be why you’re craving beans. However, it’s more likely that you’re just craving the flavor. Either way, there’s no need to worry – enjoy your craving!

Watch out for too much salt, though. Baked beans often contain lots of sodium. Too much salt can cause high blood pressure, a risk factor for heart disease. So, make sure to enjoy your baked beans in moderation.

Why am I craving refried beans?

There are a few reasons why you might be craving refried beans.

The first reason is that you might enjoy the taste of refried beans. They have a different fat ratio than baked beans, and they’re usually cooked in oil, which gives them a unique flavor.

Another reason you might crave refried beans is that they’re a good source of protein. If you’re feeling tired or run down, your body might crave them for an energy boost.

Many of the reasons people crave baked beans also apply to refried beans. The only difference is that each person’s taste preferences might differ.

Craving refried beans could also indicate your deficiency in specific vitamins and minerals. Beans are a good source of iron, so if you’re not getting enough iron in your diet, you might start craving foods like refried beans that provide this nutrient.

Here is a list of more great foods to eat.

If you find yourself constantly craving refried beans, paying attention to your body and seeing if there are any other potential underlying causes is essential. If you’re concerned, talk to your doctor to get more information.

Conclusion: Craving Beans Meaning

We all go through periods when we crave specific foods. Sometimes, it’s for no apparent reason at all, and other times, reasons like dieting or pregnancy can influence our cravings.

Whatever the case, if you find yourself craving beans, look at this list to see what might be causing these intense food desires and how you should affect your eating habits to help curb them.