What your food cravings are trying to tell you

Marmite

Why we crave it

A study at the University of Haifa in Israel found that people whose mothers had experienced bad morning sickness were the most likely to crave salty foods, perhaps because of pre-birth exposure to fluid and sodium loss. It could also mean you're hooked on the savoury taste sensation - known as umami - that's produced by glutamic acid.

How to control it

Eat foods where the salt is only on the outside, such as salted peanuts - these can be less salty than soup and cereals. If your craving is newly developed and strong, see your GP - it could be a sign of an adrenal gland problem.