Navigating Through Cravings
SIX COMMON CAUSES OF CRAVINGS
Many people view cravings as a weakness but most often they are important messages from your bodies.
When you experience a craving the best thing to do is try to deconstruct it and ask yourself, “What is my body trying to tell me?”...A loaded question I know - so let’s see what some of our options may be.
1. Lack of Primary Food - As discussed in our sessions primary food is the environment that surrounds you. Relationships, physical activity, spirituality, career, joy and so forth. If there is an imbalance in one or more of these areas sometimes we use food as a strategy to fulfil areas that aren’t being satisfied
2. De-hydration - Staying hydrated is a great way to reduce extreme cravings and may ultimately help regulate the amount eaten to match needs more closely. Hydration satisfies your body’s electrolyte balance and studies have shown that a glass of water before a meal can reduce the amount of food consumed during that meal.
3. Inside Coming out Theory - Cravings often come from foods you’ve recently eaten or foods from your childhood. Recently eaten foods tend to be fresh in your mind, so you’re more likely to crave that food in an attempt to re-create a positive eating experience. Similarly, when you crave foods from your childhood, you may really be seeking the feeling of comfort those foods may have provided when you were younger.
4. Seasonal Cravings - In the spring, people crave lighter foods, like leafy greens or citrus fruits. In the summer, people crave cooling foods, like raw foods and ice cream. In the fall, people tend to crave grounding foods, like squash, onions, and nuts, and many crave heat-producing foods, like meat, oil, and fat, in the winter. Cravings can also be associated with seasonal holidays. For example, turkey, eggnog, or Christmas cookies.
5. Lack of Nutrients - If the body has inadequate nutrients, it might produce odd cravings. Some studies have shown that chocolate cravings may be associated with low magnesium levels or cravings for meat and/or cheese are signs of low iron
6. Hormonal- When women experience menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause, fluctuating testosterone and estrogen levels may cause unique cravings. Similarly, stress has also been shown to alter hormones in order to promote cravings.
Our bodies are amazing machines; our heart’s don’t miss a beat and our lungs never miss a breath. We are constantly processing information and monitoring our environment to make necessary internal adjustments to help keep you balanced. It’s a lot I know!
So please don’t beat yourself up when you eat more chocolate than you should have, instead ask that loaded question and see where it takes you.