Tame food cravings

By archk | May. 23, 2007 | 5 Comments|post a comment

A food craving is not just hunger, rather it is an intense desire to eat a particular food. We tend to crave certain foods more than others. Research has shown that chocolate tops the list of favorites followed by pizza, salty foods such as potato chips and french fries, then sweets, bread, high-protein and fatty foods. Food cravings are also dictated by the time of day, with late afternoon or early evening being the prime period when the "must have" feeling kicks in.

Food cravings are not detrimental to your health, except when you indulge in excess. For instance, you long for ice cream, and eat a gallon of it instead of a scoop. Here are some easy-to-follow strategies to control your cravings.

* A craving is like a wave that peaks and subsides so give yourself 15 to 20 minutes before you head for your refrigerator.

* While it is okay to succumb occasionally, especially when these pangs are overpowering, do practice portion control. A small bowl of chips can be very satisfying, especially when you savor it slowly.

* Substitute with a similar food that has a better nutritional value than the one you crave. A glass of chocolate milk instead of a candy bar is a healthier choice.

* When you go on a diet, don't be too restrictive. A diet that's very restrictive induces cravings so incorporate some of your favorite foods into your eating plans.

* Eat a proper breakfast to lessen mid-afternoon cravings.

* Exercise regularly to release ''feel-good'' chemicals similar to those released when you eat the craved-for food.

* Maintain a journal of your cravings to determine if your emotional state is the underlying trigger. Once these emotional triggers are discovered, an appropriate approach to reining in your cravings can be developed.

These measures provide a way to better manage your cravings, and help keep you on the road of healthy eating.

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Comments

May 24, 2007 - 8:20pm — archk

More tips on food cravings

Check out these helpful tips from Dr. Weil on controlling food cravings at http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA367001

May 23, 2007 - 2:41pm — David

hoodia

Has anyone had experience taking the supplement hoodia to tame food cravings? http://www.hoodia-facts.com/4/indexlisa.php

May 23, 2007 - 9:15am — Rachel

I'm not sure this gets at the real issue

Often times food cravings are a result of an immune response initiated because you have a sensitivity to that food. As you eat the food, more antibodies are released as a response to that food, when you do not eat the food, the antibodies are still there, and now they are waiting for you to eat that food again. The foods that you mentioned pizza, chocolate, bread, sweets are highly allergenic (think dairy, wheat, corn [syrup]). The craving, though driving you crazy mentally, may be more than just an emotional challenge, but rather your body trying to tell you something. I say... don't eat the food, your a strong person, wait a few days and see if you feel better and the cravings are gone. Meanwhile, you may not feel as lethargic, bloated, or sore as you did before the craving.

May 23, 2007 - 9:11am — Beth

Good tips for healthy eating

I like your point about exercising regularly. I've recently begun running three times a week for about thirty to forty-five minutes and definitely feel a difference in my cravings. I don't snack as much, and I feel kind of gross when I eat food that's bad for me - which makes me do it much less than I used to. That's not to say that having a sweet treat once in awhile is bad. I could never give up ice cream!! Thanks for the tips.

May 23, 2007 - 6:39am — Paige

thanks these are helpful. I

thanks these are helpful. I heard that when you have an initial craving, go ahead and have whatever it is because other wise it festers and you end up over eating other things that you thought would be better when in fact, a smaller portion initially could have curbed it right away? Huh? does that make sense? anyways, these are some helpful hints. thanks!!

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