Get Easy Health Digest™ in your inbox and don’t miss a thing when you subscribe today. Plus, get the free bonus report, Mother Nature’s Tips, Tricks and Remedies for Cholesterol, Blood Pressure & Blood Sugar as my way of saying welcome to the community!
Tips that help you kiss unhealthy food cravings goodbye
Have you ever noticed that your diet can be going along just fine? You’re happy, satisfied and not even bothered about skipping the foods you used to crave with a white-hot heat… then something happens to de-rail everything.
Maybe it’s a family get together you just can’t miss, a night out with friends or a late night at the office that throws off your dinner schedule and sends you to the drive-thru. Regardless, you take a bite of something you haven’t eaten in so long that your previous cravings were almost forgotten…
The next thing you know, the foods you had given up suddenly take center stage in your thoughts once again. You fantasize about one more bite (or 10 or 20), you picture what it would be like to savor the taste and drool over the thought of chomping into that forbidden food.
Just like that, your cravings are back with a vengeance!
«SPONSORED»
The food frequency connection
Sadly, this is a cycle that I’m all too familiar with.
In fact, over two years ago, I turned to a keto, gluten-free diet in order to help combat my autoimmune issues, including Hashimoto’s and irritable bowel.
And doing so helped me feel great.
Basically, I eat plenty of good fats, veggies and high-quality protein, and I avoid carbs and hidden sugars. I lost weight, experienced fewer symptoms and, amazingly, stopped craving the foods and drinks that used to be my downfall.
Yet, I’ve found that the moment I stray from my healthy diet and grab a doughnut for breakfast or fall into old habits and drink a soda, the cravings rear their ugly head.
And this makes sense since a review of 28 scientific studies found that eating a food less frequently is a proven way to reduce your longing for that food. In other words, it’s better to remove something from your diet than to try to eat smaller portions of it.
But that’s easier said than done. That’s why I’ve put together a list of tips shown to help you hold out when you feel like giving in…
More ways to bust those cravings
Other scientifically backed ways to reduce food cravings include:
Yoga: A British study found that using controlled yoga breathing exercises may be able to help you control cravings and addictions.
Keep junk food out of your pantry: This tip is from Dr. Oz. It is based on the idea that if you don’t have problematic foods in your house, you can more easily resist a craving for them.
Eat the food you crave in the middle of a meal: According to Melinda Beck from The Wall Street Journal, research shows that eating a problem food like chocolate during a meal may help you fend off a craving for it later.
Chew mint gum: This tip (also from Dr. Oz) comes from the idea that a minty taste in your mouth will make other foods taste yucky.
Lose weight: Shedding any extra pounds does more than help you fit into your favorite pair of jeans, it also reduces food craving.
Eat more protein: Adding protein to your diet can help keep those food cravings at bay and keep you satisfied longer.
Take spinach extract: A scientific study found that taking 5 grams of spinach extract per day lowered cravings for chocolate as well as other high-sugar foods by up to 95 percent in women.
Craving triggers
In addition to knowing how to control your cravings, it’s also important to be aware of factors that can trigger your cravings to spiral out of control, such as stress, lack of sleep and lack of exercise — all of which may result in you reaching for foods you’re trying to avoid.
Remember, while food cravings are natural, they can be controlled. So, instead of allowing your cravings to rule your diet, use the tips above to take control of your cravings and keep them at a minimum.
Sources:
Top Tips To Topple Food Cravings — Easy Health Options
New review of scientific studies confirms food cravings can be reduced — ScienceDaily
Why Do We Crave? The Science Behind Food Cravings — BrainWorld Magazine
Protein intake and energy balance — National Library of Medicine
Body weight loss, reduced urge for palatable food and increased release of GLP-1 through daily supplementation with green-plant membranes for three months in overweight women — National Library of Medicine
By Dr. Adria Schmedthorst
«SPONSORED»
