For a long time I thought I was addicted to snack food...or had an oral fixation of some sort. I always had to have some type of snack on hand to munch on what ever I was doing, my favorite being pretzles. After an experiment, I realized that my insufferable cravings to be "eating something" could easily be curbed by a little taste of raw salt every once in a while. Raw sweet onions worked just as well.

What would cause something like this? Could it actually be a physical need? Is there something I could try that could get me away from my onion and salt fix?

Just to be safe, I'd see a doctor to make sure you're properly metabolizing sodium or if something is causing increased sodium needs.

To see how much sodium people need and what to get it from:
Sodium in diet

Hope that helps.

There are people out there who do require more salt than others.

In nature there are many various animals who will travel long distances to lick mineral salts. Salt is a very important part of the human body.

Yes, too much of salt is bad, but so is too little.

I get cravings for stuff, I have learned that those cravings are trying to get me to eat something that has what my body is lacking. There are many times when I crave salt, especially in the hot summer months when in the 100+ temps I am working and sweating away like a stuck pig (where ever that saying comes from) I end up craving salty foods.

I have had my blood tested fourty ways for sunday (Another cute saying) and in years past I had high cholesteral, and that was the only issue. Now days I have my electrolytes and cholesteral and the whole chemical make up of my blood done when I go in for physicals. -> side bar, I require higher amounts of copper in my diet than usual, I have a problem getting copper through my food and I take copper suppliments - for others it is iron<-

Get it checked out.

Your body is a wonderful machine designed with one purpose in mind, survival.

We crave that which we either need to survive. Why the onions? I have no clue, unless there is a certain mimeral salt in the onion that other vegetables do not carry.

Preganant women are known for their strange cravings - these are due to the body needing something that a certain food or combination of foods can give.

As suggested below, see a doctor just to make certain there is not a medical problem bringing on this craving - you could be having a problem metabolizing salts (The onions may contain a certain chemical which makes it possible for your body to absorb salt efficently)

Cheers

David