The Anatomy of Food Cravings

Have you ever craved for a certain type of food? Chances are – all of us have, at one time, succumb to our very own food cravings. Most of the time, we deal with our food cravings by simply giving our body what our mind wants. The truth is that after that craving has been satisfied, you will crave for something else – from chocolates, french fries, burgers, ice cream, pizza, and many more. Food cravings happen when your mind is confused with what your body truly needs and what your mind desires at the spur of a moment, which can be triggered by that glossy print ad of your most delectable triple devil chocolate cake.

Food cravings can be the culprit in you breaking your healthy eating habits. In fact, the feeling can be so intense that it can leave you sleepless at nights.. until you have that bite. Food cravings are definitely more than your body’s need for nutrition and it can give an overview on what type of person you truly are. Whether you try to get away from the nearest vending machine, that local fast food chain on the block, or that late-night trip to your fridge – food cravings can always test your self discipline in the food that you really need and those that you don’t need.

Why Do You Crave for Salty Foods?

Craving for a bag of the saltiest french fries signal that your body needs essential minerals. Many women with low-calcium diets tend to crave more salty foods than those who have enough supply of calcium in their system. Salt simply tricks the body into believing that calcium levels are increasing. Those who are potassium and iron-deficient seems to have a desire to devour anything salty too.

Why Do You Crave for Sweets?

Those chocolate indulgence are simply irresistible and you cannot say no to the hundreds of flavorful sweets in colorful assortments, beautifully arranged in whimsy cardboard boxes and tin cans. Whenever you are craving for something sweet, it means that you feel sad and you want a quick mood lift with the release of serotonin which you can find in eating something sweet. You become an addict to these happy chemicals. A research show that those who crave dark chocolates are party animals or a social butterflies, and those who crave for milk chocolates are those introspective kind. Watch out for a walk on the wild side with anything sugary sweet since what goes up in a sudden boost of energy can go down in a sugar crash that leaves you feeling totally depleted of strength.

Why Do You Crave for Spicy Foods?

For those who are having trouble cooling down or perspiring, craving for spicy food can help them achieve this fete. It may be the spiciest exotic Asian food or that Mexican dish. People who are addicted to spicy food are addicted to the rise in blood pressure and rapid heart rate that they get from eating all these fiery spices. It’s like an adrenaline rush – with a red hot chili touch.

Know that the word “Comfort Food” was born out of the physiological aspect of food cravings. Our bodies tend to associate some types of food with stress relief and in return, we crave for calorie-rich food that can be detrimental to our health in the long run. Our hectic, modern lifestyle have made us patronize food-on-the-go which is often lacking in essential vitamins and nutrients. Food cravings seep in when our body is depleted of its nutrient reserve. Sometimes, our body is simply thirsty and we often mistook thirst for hunger. This is why keeping oneself hydrated all day long can truly make one feel full.

Whether it is a mind factor, a true physical need, or a bad habit – food cravings must be dealt with care and respect. You need to think twice before giving in to your palate’s desires. You can also do your part by keeping bulk in your diet through fiber and whole grains, which keep you satiated, making you resist food cravings. There are natural, effective, and safer ways to control your food cravings until it becomes a healthy habit. By knowing why you crave food, you become one step closer to food craving freedom. Eat Consciously!

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