Food Cravings

The causes of food cravings may be the source of a lot overeating in your life.

Understanding these causes and how to stop them can you help avoid cravings.

1. Blood Sugar Levels

   Restrictive diets can leave your blood sugar level low. When that happens your body tells you to eat something NOW.

   Your brain immediately turns to the quick fixes: sugar and fats.

   This can also happen if you've gone too long without food. If it's been over 6 hours without eating; your body kicks into starvation mode.

   Your brain tells you that the quickest way to get that burst of energy is going to be through something with high calories. This usually means foods loaded with sugar and/or fat.

   The Solution: Make sure you keep your calories at a healthy level and that don't skip meals.

2. Emotional

   As a binge eater, your emotions are the main driving force for your cravings.

   No dietary changes are going to control your emotions!! That part it is up to you.

   Your emotions are driven by your beliefs.

3. Hormonal

   The week before most women begin menstruating hormone levels go crazy. (This isn't the only time, just one of the more obvious ones.)

   The good news is that slight changes in your diet and exercise can help.

   If you're missing essential nutrients or vitamins; cravings come very forcefully when your hormone levels change.

   But if you have somewhat of a healthy diet and use nutritional supplements; cravings will not be wild and crazy.

   I'm not saying that you won't ever crave chocolate when you're PMS-ing... but the urge to eat a pound of it won't be there.

How do you stop when your brain is trained to reach for the quick fix? Get what your body needs.

1. Nutritional Supplement

   When your body gets the nutrition it needs, cravings will decrease or disappear. It is a good idea to start with a nutritional supplement.

   A synthetic vitamin is a good choice that is readily available and affordable.

   If you'd rather use something that is natural; I recommend using FrequenSea.

2. Small Diet Changes

   Slight changes in your diet will help alleviate cravings.

   The first step is to decrease your sugar intake. This is not an easy step, especially for an emotional eater.

   If you drink soda, then try to cut back. Do it slowly if you need. This one change can make a dramatic difference.

   If soda is not your thing; then cut out whatever else you binge on that is high in sugar.

   I know this is not easy! I have not eliminated sugar out of my diet; but I have begun to decrease it.

   I have seen it make a difference with my blood sugar levels and hormonal cravings. But I did not see a significant difference with my emotional reasons for food cravings.

3. Get Active

   Guess what... exercise releases endorphins. Those are the happy chemicals that your brain makes. Especially when you actually enjoy the physical activity you're doing!

   You don't need to sweat profusely to be active. Try doing moderate exercise that you like to do.

   • Biking
   • Walking
   • Swimming
   • Walking in the mall, yes shopping!
   • Tennis
   • Softball/Baseball
   • Horseback riding
   • Volleyball
   • Basketball

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