Why do we crave for certain food?
As human beings we have always been foodies and “I must explore food” has been a kind of mantra that we live by. Specially when its time for celebrations, knowing about food becomes a compulsion for many of us and learning how to cook these high calorie dishes even though it does not serve our body with the required amount of nutrients in its right quantity; feels very important while we plan for a huge spread on the table.
Right after the days are gone our brain not sure why starts calculating the failed facts. So, there comes that one fine day when we are back to office with friends, when we land up discussing how much we regret what we ate during the happy celebrations!
And after quite a heated discussion some of us would want to start planning, or may be fall back to the so called diet plan that was planned out for ourselves or at least which we have always spoken about if not followed.
Anyways, today we would learn simple things like why do we crave certain food items and how a simple method can still help us keep a check on feeding ourselves with the right type of food.
Firstly, why do we crave for certain food? Food comes in various forms that includes macro and micro nutrients and it helps us satisfy our needs, such as reducing our stress level, providing energy, helping with anxiety suppression, healing our body from injuries and overall functioning of our body.
Mostly we crave for food when body goes into stress mode or when we get anxious or even when we are tired, blood sugar gets low, or when we feel dehydrated and even when body has a nutrient imbalance.
It is seen around by most of us that many of us crave for carbohydrate rich food and mostly simple carbs and along with it fatty food is something that gives satisfaction to your brain and calms you from the stress that we experience. Researchers have found that when rats were fed with sugar and fats there brains produced less of stress related hormones that triggers fight or flight response. Same is for us humans too.
Several studies have shown that depriving oneself of certain category of food causes more craving of that type of food. Also, since we have certain lovely memories linked to these food items we intend to crave for them too. Many a times I have heard myself, friends and colleagues mention how they crave for food items like:
- Vada pao (Indian snacks)
- Ice cream
- Brownie
- Chocolate
- Sweet
- Burger
- Pizza
Now these items are not just carbs but also includes fats. There is no harm in eating these food items once in a blue moon but giving yourself up without control into these food items are definitely not a healthy choice that you are building for yourself.
So, if you are asking what is the alternative that can help me not to crave for these food items very often; then you must continue learning further through this article.
- First step is to decide the number of times you want to restrict yourself to eat such items preferably once or twice a month to begin with.
- Next is when you eat these items think of a smaller portion in one go.
- Third, replace these with better food choices and may be those which are cooked at home as it has better choice of quality ingredients. Like Vada pao could be replaced with potato smashed and baked and had with just a slice of multigrain bread cooked at home. Now, chocolates could be replaced with darker ones cooked at home and limited to one small cube only. Instead of eating three huge slices or the entire pizza you could pick one thin crust slice of pizza and it will be great if cooked at home with all the favorite veggie topping that you like.
Slowly and gradually one has to train your brain to make better choices of food and when you start seeing results in that weighing machine and reduced inches from your waistline it motivates you even more each day.
Never skip a meal cause when you face the food table after a long time you land up finishing it all and increase several extra pounds, as you have now taken in more as compared to what you really needed. Remember that majority of your day went by seating and with no activity at all. Your output should be more than your input if you plan to reduce.
Start a diary to keep a track of your cravings. Trust me it helps. Keep a check on when do you crave these food items and when you don’t. For women there are food craving pre or post their periods. Even certain emotions make you crave for a type of food. Workout, go for a walk, meet up with those who motivate you for healthy lifestyle and control your cravings. If it’s too often dance to the music that takes your mind off those cravings.
If you feel you crave for carbs a lot, try including at least 400 grams of veggies in your daily meal plan, eat complex carbs like whole grains, beans, fruits as these are rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals and provides much more satisfaction than any junk food that are readily available in our streets or any environment we live in while we are outside home.
To know more about how to snack healthy food and practice several healthy routine keep reading and enjoy your life, treat yourself good to feel good.
See you again! Eat healthy stay fit.
