What Are Your Cravings?

Like most of us, chances are you’ve probably been on at least one diet before.  And you likely gave up on that diet for the same reason everyone else does - cravings.  While we may start out with good intentions, often cravings for sugary sweet or fatty foods take over and we give in and give up on our diet.  The good news is, you can overcome your cravings; you just need to know what they are and how to beat them.

Often, cravings are actually a sign that you’re missing a nutrient your body needs.  While eating certain foods will get those nutrients to your body, they may also come with excess fat and calories you don’t need.  This is because, while our body may need a certain nutrient, we still want it to taste good.  This is probably why you may not crave the best source of a particular nutrient, and why you don’t have enough in your diet already.  The best option is to figure out what nutrient you need and take a supplement or alter your diet accordingly. 

While knowing your cravings can often help you figure out what nutrients you’re lacking, it is also a good idea to see a doctor for a routine physical and blood tests.  They can recognize what the problem is and how to best add the missing nutrient to your body.  They can also screen you for other issues while you’re there.

Often, what you’re lacking is not actually food, but water.  Our bodies have a hard time distinguishing hunger from thirst.  That may also be why eating food doesn’t necessarily make the cravings go away.  Next time you have a craving, drink a large glass of water and see if the hunger sticks around.

Ideally, if you eat a healthy balanced diet, you will reduce many of the cravings you have.  But cravings are also based on emotions and other triggers besides the actual need for a certain food. 

While getting enough nutrients can help with some cravings, others come from social and psychological triggers.  Your cravings could be triggered by a certain person or social setting, or simply by a certain mood.  In order to control your cravings, you need to figure out exactly what it is that makes you crave certain foods and change those conditions.  If you cut out the cause, then you’ll better be able to stick to healthier choices. 

To figure out what your cravings are and what’s causing them, you could start a journal.  Just write down any cravings you have, along with your mood, what you’re doing, what you’ve been eating and drinking, and anything else you think might be triggering your hunger.  Every so often, look through the journal for patterns.  If you find something specific is triggering your cravings, try to avoid that behavior or have yourself prepared ahead of time with a healthy snack instead.

While beating your cravings can be tough, it is possible.  Remember that occasionally giving into a craving isn’t terrible, just as long as you don’t do it all the time.