Have you ever had a hankering for pizza? Or wanted a bowl of ice cream so badly you’d do just about anything to get it? How about chocolate? Potato chips?
Nearly everyone I know has experienced a food craving at some point. Some, like me, battle them almost daily. What exactly are food cravings, though? Are they your body’s way of saying its lacking some essential nutrient, or just a lack of willpower on your part?
Truthfully, they’re both.
Sometimes, cravings really are just a habit. At least they are for me. I don’t really crave sweets after dinner, I just got used to always eating dessert, and now I want it. I don’t really crave popcorn when I’m sitting watching television. I’m just in the habit of munching on something. These types of “cravings” are relatively easy to deal with. I simply give in – sort of. Dessert is now a small chocolate cappuccino. Satisfyingly sweet, not too many calories. Popcorn is limited to one 100-calorie bag. Problem solved.
Certain cravings are undeniably your body’s response to something. Lack of sleep may make you hunger for a high-carb donut or other sugary treat. That makes sense. We all know that sugar wakes you up, albeit temporarily. If you’ve had a particularly stressful day, like I did a month ago when my husband went out of town for an extended trip, you’ll probably crave comfort foods. And that chocolate you want so desperately? Very possibly hormonal. But you already knew that, didn’t you?
The real cravings are a little more difficult to deal with than the habitual ones. Start with eating a balanced diet. When you’re getting all your vitamins and minerals, you’ll be less likely to crave foods that your body thinks it’s missing. Make sure you get enough sleep, to keep those morning donut cravings at bay. Drink plenty of water, since it’s well-known that thirst often masquerades as hunger.
Beyond that, pay attention to your own particular cravings, because they can often tell you something about yourself. If you’re feeling down and craving carbs, for example, you may need a boost of seratonin, a brain chemical that helps regulate your mood. Exercise is a proven method of raising seratonin levels.
Diana Walker, The Cravings Coach, has a wonderful book available called Craving Secrets from A to Z. In it she covers all the common food cravings, including sugar, alcohol, chocolate, and fast foods, along with many others I would never have considered, like dairy. She examines what causes each craving, the health problems caused by over-indulging, and the steps you can take to alleviate the craving and get healthier. For anyone who struggles with food cravings, I highly recommend picking up a copy. It’s a wealth of information.
