What’s in this article
- Why we get food cravings
- Cravings Explained
- How to avoid cravings
Why do we get food cravings?
Food cravings are important messages sent by our bodies that something is missing from our diet. They are powerful signs that may aid in creating and maintaining balance. But food cravings can also occur for other reasons. Ever heard the stereotype about pregnant women having cravings? Well, it is due to a hormonal imbalance, but you can experience this when you are not pregnant too. Stress and emotions can also play a huge role in creating cravings. One of the biggest causes is when your body is lacking in nutrients, certain cravings such as salty foods or sugary foods are your bodies way of calling out for what it is missing. Later in this article, we will look at how to avoid food cravings and help you stick to a healthy diet. Below is a table that explains exactly what your body needs depending on what sort of cravings you have.
Cravings Explained
What you crave | What you need | What you should eat |
Bread & pasta | Nitrogen | Dark, leafy greens like kale, nuts and seeds |
Oily foods | Calcium | Broccoli, asparagus, kale, bok choy, mustard greens, figs, dates plums |
Salty foods | Chloride, silicon | Cherry tomatoes, seaweed, lettuce, cashews, nuts and seeds |
Chocolate
|
Magnesium | Nuts, seeds, vegetables. fruits |
Sweet & sugary foods | Chromium, carbon, phosphorus, Sulphur, tryptophan | Broccoli, grapes, fresh fruits, nuts, vegetables, cabbage, cauliflower, sweet potatoes and spinach |
How to avoid cravings
Mindfulness
When trying to avoid food cravings, it is important to be mindful. Being aware of what you are doing and diverting the behavior can help to curb the craving.
Stay Hydrated
It is also important to stay hydrated, thirst can sometimes masquerade as hunger making you seem hungrier than you are. Water also helps flush out toxins from the body.
De-stress
Stress can play a huge role when you get those cravings, did you ever get the urge to comfort eat when upset? This is a classic example of how stress can trigger food cravings.
Get enough sleep
A lack of sleep causes our hormones to be imbalanced which equals more cravings. Ensure you are getting a good night’s rest.
Eat enough food
If you are on a diet or trying to lose weight, then ensure you are eating enough. You can still eat plenty of food, just choose the right type of foods. Undereating can cause cravings to go wild.
Try an Amsety Bar
If you have a sweet tooth and enjoy snacking, then the Amsety Bar would be a perfect substitute. Containing no refined sugars, low in salt, non-GMO, organic and gluten-free, the Amsety Bar provides you with the taste of a snack bar but in a healthy way. Amsety Bars contain sixteen vitamins and minerals that support liver health and liver function.
Find out about the nutrition bar that 98% of liver health experts would recommend!
References
Liverdirectory.com
Mind Body Green