Natural Treatments for Food Cravings

Natural Treatments for Food Cravings
Page content

Easy Tips to Fight Food Cravings

Food cravings can make the most avid health freak succumb to unhealthy temptations. There are times when determined dieters simply want to sink their teeth into a succulent pizza and top it up with a rich chocolate pastry- and no weighing scale, measuring tape and love handle can stop them from “letting go”. Before we go on to device war strategies against food cravings, let us take a peek at why they crop up in the first place.

Identifying the Causes

You are at an increased risk of being “attacked” by a food craving when:

· You have been abstaining from your favorite foods for too long.

· You look toward food to fight boredom.

· You have been following a deadly diet plan that makes you hallucinate about food.

· You seek comfort and solace in food when you are upset, angry or depressed.

· You have been skipping meals.

· You do not follow a balanced diet.

Battling The Temptation

Contrary to popular belief, fighting off food cravings and avoiding binge eating is not all about will power and determination- in fact, it is more about effective diet planning and healthy food choices. If you find yourself fitting into any of the above mentioned categories, you may find the following tips helpful:

Kick start your day with a power-packed breakfast. If you believe that a glass of OJ can carry you through the day, think again. Sugary fluids spike up your blood sugar levels and keep you satiated for a very short while. The sugar levels dip within an hour or so and make you head straight for the butter cookie tin. Skipping breakfast will only make it worse. A slice of wholegrain bread with boiled eggs and milk for breakfast may seem like “too much,” but you will end up with more nutrients and fewer calories. A hearty breakfast will stop you from thinking about food till lunch hour.

Eat small but frequent meals. Instead of three square meals, time 6-8 mini meals at equal intervals. These can consist of low-fat sandwiches, fruit salads, crackers, soups, lean meat etc. Eating healthy stuff every few hours will prevent you from getting too hungry and “losing it” when food becomes available. Moreover, it also helps you keep a track of your intake and stabilize your body’s metabolic rate.

Abstain from abstinence. Completely forgoing little treats like chips, cookies and cakes will only make you crave them all the more. It is perfectly OK to indulge moderately once in a while but make sure that you don’t go overboard. You may choose Sundays to be “eat everything” days.

“Comfort eating” can become an addiction for some. Sure, a truffle can make you feel better but for how long? You are soon going to need another one! When blue, bored or lonely, divert your attention to constructive activities like reading, solving puzzles, physical exercise, socializing, gardening etc. There are millions of ways to uplift your mood.

Make sure that your diet is balanced in carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fiber and other nutrients. A nutritionally deficient body signals the brain to ingest whatever is available- and it might not be the best choice. Dietary fiber absorbs moisture and “fills up” the stomach. Since it is not easy to digest, it keeps you fuller for longer.

References

E-zine Articles

E-How

Disclaimer

The information in this article should not be considered medical advice. The information in this article is not meant to treat, diagnose, prescribe or cure any ailment. Always check with your physician before taking any products or following any advice you have read on Brighthub.com. Always consult your doctor before you start, stop or change anything that has been previously prescribed.