I want to share with you something very very personal. I suffer from a condition called "Weekenditis". On the weekends I want to pig out and my food choices are not exactly green smoothies and brown rice. I eat to celebrate and eat as a reward for hard work.
Dr. Joel Fuhrman who wrote the mostly vegan diet book Eat to Live has said that you can feel true hunger not only in the stomach but also in the throat. What he means by that is there may be an urge to swallow or a sensation in the throat; salivation and taste are also heightened. Advertising is always tempting us, making it very easy to eat when we are not really hungry. I think many of us also have that “mom” voice in our head, “It’s 6:00 pm you should eat something!” We want to be good girls and boys that clean our plates. Unfortunately, listening to that voice is making many of us fat.
I don’t recommend fasting for anyone who is hypoglycemic, diabetic or under-weight but skipping a meal when you really don’t feel like eating is not going to kill you. In fact, a little fasting might help you reconnect your body and mind to what real hunger is.
Sometimes we are just in the mood for something sweet, crunchy, creamy or chocolaty. Cravings aren’t necessarily all bad. It’s our body’s way of telling us what we need to find balance. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most popular cravings:
Sugar Cravings. Cravings for sweets could be the result of low blood sugar or the need to reduce stress as consuming sugar instantly makes us feel lighter. I think of sugar as kind of a fast ride that’s kind of fun to go on. When it’s 3:00 pm at your desk when you’re really bored, a ride on the Tilt a’ Whirl might be kind of fun right? For some sugar cravings come from eating too much meat and the body craves sweet to find a balance. Our bodies want to balance yin and yang. Meat is extremely yang and when eaten in excess the body craves sugar, which is extremely yin. The best way to abolish cravings is to eat neutral foods that are naturally balanced such as brown rice, greens and vegetables. The addition of root vegetables that are sweet can help balance sugar cravings. I find a baked sweet potato with a little nutritional yeast sprinkled on top with Living Harvest’s hemp oil makes for a delicious sweet but non-sugary treat.
Salty food cravings can often stem from a mineral deficiency. Sometimes people who take a lot of medications or supplements can crave salt to balance out what they are already taking in. Cravings for crunchy foods might stem for the desire to crunch out and not hear something (such as your angry boss). No wonder so many office vending machines have crunch salty snack food. Donna Gates, who wrote The Body Ecology Diet, mentions a great alternative, try some cultured veggies on top of blue corn chips. This snack offers that crunch in a really nutritious way.
Do you crave alcohol with meals? Alcoholic beverages can help the body digest heavy fatty foods like wine and cheese. Most people drink to feel lighter after a rough day. Notice that cocktail hour doesn’t usually begin at 9:00 am. One suggestion I have is to try Kombucha, which is a fermented drink with only 0.5% alcohol. Kombucha is packed with B-vitamins and immune-supportive probiotics. Also other fermented foods like sauerkraut and Kim chi can combat cravings for alcohol can help digestion even more and without the hangover!
Spicy cravings usually happen for many people that have poor circulation or cold hands and feet. Pizza, BBQ ribs, and tacos are some foods that are commonly used to get our circulation and spirits going. Instead of a big slice of pizza maybe a spicy soup or marinara sauce might do the trick.
Creamy and cold food cravings are often about wanting comfort especially if you are depressed. Ice cream is probably the most popular coping mechanism for the heartbroken. Instead of finding love at the bottom of a pint of Ben and Jerry’s can you get support from a friend? Another option is to have creamy protein smoothie or just have one scoop or a treat from the good ole ice cream man and make sure you eat it undistracted to fully savor it. Living Harvest Tempt has some yummy ice cream and I see nothing wrong with having a proper serving, we get into trouble when we eat a whole pint in one sitting. Cold food cravings can sometimes be a sign that you are simply craving cold water. Try drinking two cold glasses of water and see if that ice cream craving goes away.
For many chocolate is pure love. Those who crave chocolate are addicted to the theobromine in chocolate that makes us feel like we are in love. Women suffering from PMS crave chocolate due to its high magnesium content as stress depletes magnesium. I see no issue with having a small piece of organic dark chocolate if you don’t eat an entire bag or box at one sitting. Supplementing with magnesium can also eliminate chocolate cravings. Carob powder works well in recipes in place of traditional cocoa powder. I also like mesquite meal, which is brown in color like chocolate but has more of a sweet butterscotch flavor. One quick and easy protein shake is to blend Living Harvest Tempt’s Hemp Milk along with Tempt’s High Protein Powder, add 2 TBS of Mesquite Meal, 1 tsp of vanilla extract, 1-2 TBS of tahini and blend.
Another way to combat cravings is by using a tongue cleaner; a thin U-shaped apparatus usually made of stainless steel and has been used by Ayurvedic enthusiasts for centuries. Cleaning the tongue of leftover food can actually reduce cravings. You can then appreciate the more subtle flavors from veggies, fruits and grains. When you start adding in whole foods you'll crowd out those other less healthy cravings.