Cravings are those powerful urges to consume specific foods that sometimes cause you to stress out over choices that just don’t feel good after you’ve eaten it. But here’s the thing, they are not random impulses. IN FACT, they are important signals from your body asking for specific nourishment that it knows it needs in the moment! AND they’re personal!
Whether it’s physiological, psychological, emotional, or even environmental, cravings have a root cause, a reason for being there, and many times it’s in the form of a pattern that gets set off by something consciously or unconsciously familiar.
When I help clients to recognize these triggers, it empowers them to make much more informed decision about how they choose their food. It gives them important data on what’s behind their cravings and helps them to choose more wholesome and delicious foods that more than make up for the other choices they often regret.
Being equipped with the right mindset, information, recipes, and how-to’s helps to keep health, weight, beauty, and longevity balanced and sustained for life STARTS WITH ASSESSING YOUR CRAVINGS. This has been one of the most valuable things that I’ve been able to share with others.
TOP 10 REASONS YOUR BODY CRAVES:
1. Nutrient Deficiencies: Cravings can signal deficiencies in essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, or fatty acids. For example, craving chocolate might indicate a need for magnesium, while a desire for red meat could signify an iron deficiency. Consulting with a doctor and having some blood work can help identify any deficiencies accurately.
2. Blood Sugar Imbalance: Fluctuations in blood sugar levels, often caused by consuming high-glycemic foods or skipping meals, can lead to cravings for sugary or carb-rich foods. But these cravings provide only temporary energy relief and can worsen the cycle of blood sugar imbalance.
3. Lack of Protein: Protein plays a vital role in stabilizing blood sugar levels and promoting satiety. Inadequate protein may lead to erratic blood sugar levels and increased cravings for calorie-dense foods, including those high in sugar.
4. Stress: Stress triggers the release of cortisol, a hormone that can boost appetite and cravings for comforting, high-calorie foods. Practicing stress-reduction techniques like mindfulness meditation and maintaining a balanced lifestyle can help reduce stress-induced cravings.
5. Dehydration: Thirst can sometimes mask itself as hunger, leading to cravings for food when the body needs really just needs fluids. Staying hydrated is crucial for maintaining proper bodily functions and curbing unnecessary cravings.
6. Hormonal Changes: Fluctuations in hormones during menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause can significantly influence appetite and cravings. Understanding hormonal influences enables you to better manage your cravings and supports overall well-being.
7. Lack of Sleep: Inadequate or poor-quality sleep can disrupt hunger hormones, leading to increased cravings for high-calorie and carbohydrate-rich foods. Focusing on quality sleep hygiene as a priority, can help regulate hunger hormones and reduce cravings.
8. Emotional Triggers: Emotional stressors like boredom, loneliness, or sadness can often lead to cravings for comfort foods as a coping mechanism. Developing alternative coping skills and seeking support from loved ones can help manage emotional triggers and help you have a healthier relationship with food.
9. Conditioned Responses: Associations between certain activities or environments and specific foods can lead to cravings. Being mindful of these responses allows for your thoughts and efforts to change them. For example, eating popcorn when you see a movie, or chocolate after dinner.
10. Gut Health: The microbiome in the digestive tract influences food cravings. Improving gut health through probiotic-rich foods and high-fiber foods may help reduce cravings associated with imbalanced gut microbiota.
SOME THINGS YOU CAN EAT INSTEAD:
Craving Sugar? Indicates a need for quick energy or fluctuating blood sugar levels. It could also suggest a lack of protein or essential nutrients like chromium, magnesium, or zinc. Instead of that sweet treat, try this:
· PUMPKIN SEEDS
· LEAN PROTEIN
· TOFU, LENTILS, OR CHICKPEAS
Craving Salt? You could be experiencing dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, or a deficiency in minerals such as sodium, potassium, or chloride. Instead of salty snacks try this:
· A GLASS OF WATER
· COCONUT WATER
· POPCORN
· EDAMAME OR HUMMUS
Craving Carbs? May point to low energy levels, inadequate intake of complex carbohydrates, or an imbalance in neurotransmitters like serotonin. Instead of bread or pasta try healthy complex carbs instead:
· SQUASHES
· ROOT VEGETABLES
· SWEET POTATO
Craving Fats? Indicates a potential deficiency in essential fatty acids or a need for satiety due to insufficient calorie intake. Instead of the bag of chips or French fries try this instead:
· FATTY FISH
· NUTS
· SEEDS
· AVOCADO
The bottom line is that your cravings are natural and your body’s way of speaking to you. To understand them takes the right kind of education and a whole lotta practice. By getting to the root of it, you will not only be able to address nutrition deficiencies and manage stress better, you will also develop coping mechanisms that will build a healthier way of life to support your long-term health and happiness.
Are you ready to tackle your craves and beat them once and for all? Sign up for a 20-minute CRAVINGS ASSESSMENT call to get to the bottom of yours!
