Tuning Into Your Cravings

Food cravings sometimes get the best of us and, before we know it, we're sitting on the couch binge eating a tub of ice cream. Everyone gets food cravings, and some people more often than others. Unfortunately, no one is a stranger to this annoying concept. 

When someone gets a food craving they will usually try to ignore it or, in the worst cases, cave in. You would think the person who ignores the food craving is doing the right thing. WRONG! When we get cravings, it's our body way of sending us a message that we have an imbalance in our system and something needs to be changed.

Surprisingly enough, by ignoring these cravings it does not help them go away for the long term because you're not solving the imbalance/ source of the problem in your body. 

So, what do we need to do to fix this imbalance in our system? 

First, think about the craving you get. Is it a sudden craving that comes out of no where, or does it come when ur bored, hungry, tired, etc?

Next, let's think about what type of food you crave. Is it sweet, salty, sour, or oily foods? When you crave foods in these categorizes it usually means your lacking some nutrients and vitamins. 

A major cause to these cravings can be lack of sleep. When you're sleep deprived, studies showed participants reported increases in hunger and appetite and had lower levels of leptin (the hormone that helps regulate your energy and control hunger) and higher levels of ghrelin (the hormone that tells you that your hungry). 

Another cause can be dehydration, when your body is dehydrated you have a lack on energy and your body mistakenly thinks its from lack of food. This triggers your brain to think you need food to give you that energy.

Lastly, sometimes your body is lacking fresh fruits and veggies and when you experience these cravings your body is asking for some natural vitamins and minerals! 

The next time you get a craving tune into your body and think about the possibilities as to why you are getting these cravings.

Ask yourself if are you stressed, bored, dehydrated, tired, or hungry for a meal? Once you tune into your body and understand the causes to your cravings you'll be able to have control over them and be able to properly nourish your body in the healthiest way possible! 

Frances is an amazing health and lifestyle coach whose main goal is to help our community get physically and mentally stronger with every mindful choice we make.