“A food craving is an intense desire to consume a particular food, as opposed to food in general. Food cravings are especially common in people following structured diet plans, and often interfere with the best of intentions to adhere to a particular style of eating.” From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Most of the people think that having cravings is a bad thing and that we have to do our best to get rid of them. It is not true. Our cravings tell us that some brain chemicals are missing in our bodies. Having cravings is a unique way of communication with our bodies and a wonderful tool for finding which foods work best for us.
In general, we might have cravings if we:
- don’t drink enough water (dehydration is considered to be a mild hunger);
- are bored, stressed out, dissatisfied with our relationship, (emotional eating);
- have imbalanced diet (too much sugar, salt, processed food) or have lack of nutrients;
- don’t eat enough seasonal foods;
- have hormonal changes;
- don’t eat some foods for a long period of time (foods from our childhood).
Whenever we have cravings, our body tries to tell us something, and it means it is time to learn how to listen to our body in order to understand its needs and imbalances.
– Feel like eating sweet foods?
It always means that your blood sugar is low and your body is asking for energy.
Try to eat more sweet potatoes, yams, winter squash, beets, carrots.
Whole foods such as grains, beans, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds will be very helpful because they contain complex carbohydrates – chains of three or more single sugar molecules linked together- and are digested slowly and steadily.
Studies show this helps control blood sugar, diabetes, and insulin levels. Because whole foods are rich in fiber, they help to detox your body and promote your weight loss.
– Feel like eating chocolate?
Did you know that chocolate (dark, healthy for us) is very rich in Magnesium? People who crave chocolate, might have very low Magnesium level and need chocolate to improve the calcium status of their nerves and bones.
They need to eat more whole foods, such as beans ((mung, aduki, black), whole grains (buckwheat, millet, barley), nuts and seeds (almonds, cashews, sesame seeds). A good source of Magnesium is spirulina, dried seaweeds, chlorella.
Learning how to listen to our bodies is a long but rewarding process because it helps us become healthier and happier.
Let us be crave smart to feel and look fabulous, shall we?
Stay tuned for more lessons about cravings.
P.S. If you think you might need help to learn how to listen to your body, have more energy, beat your cravings, detox your body and maintain the weight you want,
contact me and let us talk…
Breathe, smile and be happy.
© Irina Wardas, HHC
Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition and Relationship Expert
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Wow, this is a new concept for me, giving me really a lot to think about.