Deal with these Cravings !

Cravings are specific. They are not just general hunger for food. Some of us crave savory while others of us crave sweet. It’s natural to have a craving from time to time, but when you’re noticing a general consistent pattern with cravings there might be an imbalance somewhere.

More often than not, if you’re having a fluctuation in your cravings, there is likely a fluctuation in your consumption (timing, quality of nutrition, number of calories, and/or balance of macros). The likely result is an imbalance in your blood sugar levels. But there are a few other factors that can play a role in cravings like emotional factors, hormones, and hypoglycemia.

Here are a few tips to help:

1. Eat Regularly – Make sure you’re not skipping meals or leaving too much time pass between meals (every 2-3 hours is your goal).
2. Eat Low Glycemic Foods – High GI foods are quickly absorbed by your body spiking blood sugar levels (followed by a crash), while low GI foods process slowly and consistently.
3. Restrict Sugar and Salt Intake – Moderation is acceptable, of course, but too much of either can lead to cravings.
4. Watch for Artificial Sweeteners – Artificial sweeteners (aside from being unhealthy) are often much sweeter than natural sugars and can trigger cravings.
5. Eliminate Processed Foods – These foods are pumped full of extra salt, fat, sugar and chemicals which do not naturally occur.
6. Exercise – Exercising reduces stress hormones (cortisol) and increases the mood boosting ones (endorphins) along with other happy hormones like adrenaline, serotonin, and dopamine, which all help keep away cravings.