deepstash
Beta
Deepstash brings you key ideas from the most inspiring articles like this one:
Read more efficiently
Save what inspires you
Remember anything
Food cravings: Causes, reducing and replacing cravings
3
Key Ideas
Save all ideas
Food cravings
They are an intense desire for a specific food. This desire can seem uncontrollable, and the person's hunger may not be satisfied until they get that particular food. We usually feel cravings for junk foods and processed foods high in sugar, salt, and fat.
76 SAVES
247 READS
What causes food cravings
- An imbalance or changes in hormones
- Emotional issues (eating for comfort)
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Dehydration
115 SAVES
305 READS
How to reduce cravings
- Lower stress levels: stress promotes cravings for comfort foods.
- Drink plenty of water: Dehydration manifests itself as hunger, so when you get a craving, drink water.
- Get enough sleep: not getting enough sleep alters the hormonal balance.
- Eat enough protein.
- Avoid hunger: under-eating can make food cravings worse.
176 SAVES
441 READS
SIMILAR ARTICLES & IDEAS:
4
Key Ideas
Common reasons to crave salty foods
- Your body is depleted of sodium when we sweat, which then makes us need to consume more;
- You're dehydrated;
- You’re stressed;
- You’re not getting enough sleep;
- Salt lights up the pleasure center in your brain and releases a hormone called dopamine, which makes you feel happy;
- Humans have an innate drive to seek salt because it is necessary for survival and historically a rare mineral to find;
- You may have an underlying health issue.
Excessive salt consumption has been linked to diabetes, kidney disorders, high blood pressure and heart disease, so you want to be mindful of how much you are eating. If you feel like you may ...
Excessive salt consumption has been linked to diabetes, kidney disorders, high blood pressure and heart disease, so you want to be mindful of how much you are eating. If you feel like you may be consuming too much salt, you may want to attempt to reduce how much sodium you ingest.
3
Key Ideas
“Everything in moderation” is risky advice
Because the word “moderation” is vague and that makes it a friendly, big-tent kind of concept: however much you eat, you can find a way of convincing yourself that you eat in moderation.
Moderation should be a tool...
...for sticking to healthy diets easier.
Nutritionists mean by moderation small portions, especially when talking about food that we should not eat. This means that eating a little bit of bad food doesn't have to ruin your diet or make you feel guilty and give up.
Big companies and “moderation”
Junk food companies love the concept of “moderation”.
Some of them (e.g. the Sugar Association, Snack Food, and Grocery Manufacturers Associations, with members as Coca-Cola and Hershey), adopted the motto: “All foods fit in a balanced diet", to give the illusion that your diet is not unhealthy if it includes their foods.
6
Key Ideas
Awareness Is Key
Emotional eating is sometimes called "mindless eating" because we often don't think about what we're doing and let our unconscious habits or drives take over.
Find Relaxation Techniques
When you’re under stress, your body is likely producing higher levels of cortisol, a stress hormone that tends to make people crave sweet and salty food—the stuff that’s generally not good for us.
Create a simple stress management plan, or find stress relievers that fit with your specific situation.
Cope in Healthy Ways
Many people use food to deal with uncomfortable emotions like anger, frustration, and fear. There are healthier ways to cope with emotions:
- Talking to a friend.
- Journaling: When you feel like reaching for unhealthy food, reach for a pen instead.
- Exercise.