deepstash
Beta
Can you manipulate your brain to stop your food cravings?
Describing a food craving
A food craving can be described as an intense and sometimes uncontrollable desire for a specific food. This desire can leave a person unsatisfied until they have tasted that particular food.
New research suggests it may be possible to turn off the pleasure feelings we experience from eating specific foods, reducing cravings.
104 SAVES
865 READS
SIMILAR ARTICLES & IDEAS:
3
Key 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 cr...
What causes food cravings
- An imbalance or changes in hormones
- Emotional issues (eating for comfort)
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Dehydration
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.
3
Key Ideas
Emotional eating
Emotional eating occurs in response to stress, and in people who restrict their food intake.
Eating sweet and fatty foods may improve mood temporarily by making us feel mor...
Emotional distress causes overeating
Poverty is associated with psychological distress, including depression and lower mental well-being.
Employment insecurity, financial difficulty, and hardship due to a global crisis are more likely to turn people to emotional eating as a way of coping.
When baking becomes a trend
The theme of baking has become strong on social media with hashtags such as #QuarantineBaking.
Research suggests there are benefits from baking, including boosts in socialisation, self-esteem, quality of life, and mood. Cooking alongside children may also promote healthy diets.
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.