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Monday, 12 September 2005
Help for Food Cravings
Topic: Cravings
Gotta eat, gotta eat, gotta eat! Ever feel like you want to eat everything in sight? Or that you would kill for _____(fill in the blank: chips, cheesecake, chocolate, etc)? I just saw a program on TV that gave some tips for dealing with food cravings, by substituting healthier choices that can help reduce the cravings.
1. Eat an apple. Apples contain pectin (a soluble fiber). Fiber can help reduce the levels of cortisol, the stress hormone which creates cravings.
2. Make sure it's hunger and not thirst. Drink a big glass of water, wait 20 minutes and see if you're still hungry.
3. Try a little aromatherapy. Taking a whiff of fresh lemon and/or fresh mint leaves may satisfy your cravings without eating.
4. Be sure you're getting enough healthy oils in your diet. Sometimes cravings (especially for fatty foods like peanut butter) can be caused by eating too little oil.
5. Eating a diet high in vegetables and fruit helps prevent cravings. This may be due to the increased fiber and micronutrients; some cravings may be the body's way of getting you to consume a deficient nutrient.
What NOT to do: Many times cravings are caused by stress, because stress causes you to release cortisol, which triggers food cravings, especially for sweets and starchy foods. Eating sweets and other refined starches (like white bread) can satisfy your craving, and actually releases endorphins (the feel-good hormones) but the effect doesn't last. When the sugar is used up, the cravings will return, even stronger. The TV program didn't mention this, but you can release the same endorphins in a way that relieves stress and doesn't set off food cravings, by exercising.
Posted by whaledancer at 12:01 AM PDT
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Updated: Friday, 9 June 2006 7:01 AM PDT
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