Breaking the Cravings Cycle

We know we should eat healthy. Most of us know generally what that looks like. So why is this "clean eating" sometimes so hard to do? 

For a lot of us, it's because.....cravings. Yep, cravings can make it a bit of a challenge to take care of yourself with optimal nutrition. Knowing more about these cravings, where they come from, and what they mean, can help us succeed regardless. 

There are many ways this plays out in real life, but there are a couple of popular cravings/situations that are worth talking about. 

If we feel sad or anxious, we crave carbs. I don’t know about you, but I have definitely been here before.

Interestingly, the science says that we crave carbs when we are sad, because our body needs carbohydrates for serotonin production. So, the craving is actually a signal to help guide our eating decisions. Serotonin is the neurotransmitter that creates a feeling of well-being. It’s a happy hormone. Isn’t that great, that our body is craving carbs based on a legitimate nutritional need, so that it can make that happy hormone and help us truly feel better?

But how it feels in the moment is actually pretty intense. It feels like, “I REALLY want something sweet now...oh look- a cup cake!.” or, “I think I need a boost, how about....soda?”. Or “Where’s the candy stash?!?!”. 

The key to a healthier body and mind, at this point, is to be aware that when you have strong cravings for carbs or sugar, your body needs complex carbohydrates. It will use them to produce serotonin and all the well-being hormones, to produce energy, sleep hormones, and all the other good stuff. 

In the moment, you may feel absolutely convinced that what you need is a cupcake or a candy bar. It sounds just perfect. And if it’s right in front of you, it can go down the hatch so quickly. Almost with no time to think.

But not so fast. We don’t have to go there. Let's try something different, so we can get a different result. 

We can make a conscious choice. ….A different choice that feeds the true craving and feeds optimal health. In these moments I like to drink water first, then if I'm still fighting the craving in 10 or 15 minutes, I'll do a protein bar* or a protein shake. If I'm thinking ahead I'll make muffins with oat flour and stevia, or something else sensible but also delicious. You can also eat a piece of fruit. 

If we feel stressed, we may want something salty (but not so healthy snack). Again, this craving is caused by a legitimate need for a little bit of salt for adrenal health. What our body needs is a little bit of salt, which we can naturally get from fruits and veggies, a little bit of meat, or a little bit of cheese. However, just like the sugar cravings, the craving can feel more intense. All we hear/feel is "SALT!!". If we go overboard and eat too much or don’t interpret the craving appropriately and learn how to eat healthy in response to it, it can reveal a struggle to love self. 

*if you order these Built Bars, use code tressa10 for 10% off and free shipping!