Conquering Cravings

Conquering Cravings

Some of us crave chocolate and can easily scarf down a candy bar or two in order to satisfy it. But are you craving it or eating it out of habit?

When your body is craving something, it is telling you something is low in your body. If you crave meat, you need protein. If you crave bread or sweets, you are needing a carbohydrate. The key is choosing the right food to satisfy the craving. When you feel a craving coming on think about the food you want and decide what category it falls in: Veggies, Fruits, Carbs, Protein, Fats. Is the food you crave crunchy, chewy or smooth? Try to find an alternative if the food you crave is an unhealthy choice. Here are some examples:

Craving Alternative

Candy Fresh Fruit

Ice Cream Applesauce

Cheese Tofu/Yogurt

Chips Popcorn (low sodium!)

Cheese puffs Carrots

Chocolate Banana with low fat peanut butter

Candy Bar Unsalted Almonds

Donut Whole wheat toast with jam or light cream cheese

You would be surprised how the healthier foods satisfy your craving, keep you fuller longer, give you energy and above all, make you not feel guilty!

For chocolate cravers, many times, you are lacking magnesium so consider a magnesium supplement like Natural Calm.

To stop a craving without eating, drink Green Tea with crushed ice. Green tea not only has many health benefits, it also curbs hunger pangs. The crushed ice will give you the crunchy your mouth is wanting. The decaf green tea is just as effective.

Craving fatty foods? Eat fish, or take a fish oil or flaxseed oil supplement. You may be low in essential fatty acids.

Grab something healthy to drink. Sometimes, cravings for food are really thirst in disguise.

Sweet tooth? Protein, fat and fiber keep blood sugar levels more even and help keep such cravings under control. Try eating a bowl of healthy cereal with strawberries or bananas mixed in instead. Even a banana with low fat peanut butter spread on it is better than desserts.

Watch your caffeine intake. Caffeine seems to make sugar cravings worse.

Put spiritual food in your mouth instead of junk food. Break open that Bible and start filling yourself with soul food. You will be amazed how it helps!