What do your CRAVINGS mean?

Oh boy, there is nothing like having a craving for something - and the lengths some of us will go to to satisfy it.  And then it hits.  Shame.  Guilt.  Remorse. More excuses.  Oh darn, we caved! 

What is happening when you cave in is that thing (the craved thing) now has power over you.  Think about this.  That oreo cookie has POWER over you???? That Coke, that piece of cake, that donut, that...........whatever is more powerful than YOU are?  Seriously?   We need to re-group, calm down and talk this through. 

Addictions are tough.  Been there, done that - with sugar, carbs, and nicotine.  All withdrawal was difficult.  What works well is one or all of these suggestions:

Change your thoughts immediately - think of something else.
Move - get up, walk, stretch, run up and down some stairs.
Breathe - really deep breathing, to the count of 8, with 8 counts in, and 8 counts out.
Have a drink of water and tell yourself you are fantastic.

That last suggestion has more power than you may realize.  Our low self-esteem rears its ugly head when we give our power away.  You are tough, you are smart, and you know you do not need that whatever-it-is. 

With some craving there could be deficiencies in your body that are making you crave things.  So let us look at that first and foremost.  This could be important.

SWEET CRAVINGS -  If you crave sweets of almost any kind, you may be experiencing blood sugar fluctuations.  Giving in to pie, candy or other goodies only makes the problem worse by causing blood sugar roller coasters that lead to more cravings.  (This you do not need - we are trying to eliminate them not perpetuate them!)  So choose a piece of fruit when you are craving something sweet.  It is better than the candy bar in terms of blood sugar spikes.    If you can regularly add more high-fiber foods like beans and legumes and complex carbs like whole grains into your daily in-take it will help to keep blood sugar levels stable.

SALTY FOODS - If you are craving potato chips, or other salty foods this often means chronic stress may be taking a toll on your adrenal glands.   Getting on top of the stress in your life is essential.  Try meditation, breathing exercises, or exercising.  Research showed that people who take a break to breathe deeply or meditate BEFORE reaching for salty snacks reduced their stress hormones by 25% AND cut the binging in half!

RED MEAT - Cravings for red meat usually indicate an iron deficiency - this may drive people to crave burgers or steaks.  Could be a lot of calories are going to get consumed to put this craving to rest!   And since the word is out that eating too much red meat is a health risk, try eating more iron-rich beans and legumes, unsulphured prunes, figs and other dried fruits that are rich in iron. 

CHEESE - Cravings for cheese or pizza often indicate a fatty acid deficiency.  It's so common in most people because few get enough Omega 3 fatty acids in their diet.  Reach for those raw walnuts, wild salmon, flax seed oil and use ground flax seeds sprinkled on foods to fill that need for the Omega 3.  It would sure be better calorically than the pizza and much better over-all for nutrition. 

CHOCOLATE - Chocolate cravings are sometimes indicating a deficiency in magnesium.  It is estimated that more than 80% of the population is lacking magnesium in their diet, which may explain why so many of us reach for the chocolate.  (Read my previous blog Loco for Cocoa - since dark chocolate is really healthy for you in small amounts.)  Other foods high in magnesium are nuts, seeds, fish and leafy greens.

Now it's said that most cravings are actually misinterpretations from our bodies that we are dehydrated.  Yep.  Kind of amazing our brains can't just register and send signals to go for the water instead of the pizza or whatever. 

Before you cave in to cravings, go have some refreshing cool water.  Then wait a bit.  See if the craving doesn't go away.  Since studies have shown that 80% of people are also chronically dehydrated, it would seem possible that just by giving our bodies the hydration we require, we could eliminate falling prey to cravings that cost us dearly in terms of calories and fat.

Let's answer the question What do your Cravings Mean?  Do you actually want to go thru life saying "Well I'm a wimp - or a sugar-holic, or whatever" and leave it at that?  How much more powerful would it feel for you to be able to say you quit sugar, or smokes, or soda? 

I honestly do not believe that people are as stupid as their eating habits reveal.  People know better but do it anyway.  Human beings are the most creative when it comes to excuses.  (Nobody can tell me they are not creative once I hear all their justifications for the crap they eat.  It is more than enough to believe that the inner child is alive and well, and it borders on comical.)

I hear a lot about "social" pressures.  "At the party EVERYone was eating (this or that)" or "I didn't want to be the only one at dinner skipping dessert."  You may be surprised to know that most people are going along with the sheep mentality in their eating habits even though they know better.  I was at a dinner out with several couples and said I'd just have a cup of decaf, no dessert.  Everyone else cancelled their dessert order with nearly a sense of relief, like I gave them permission to skip it or something.  I don't know, it was weird.  They said they admired my will power and felt they needed to exert some of their own.  What I am saying here is you can set examples for others - good ones - which benefits ALL.  Or you can go along.  Ask yourself which action makes you feel more powerful and confident. 

Cravings can be telling us things.  Sometimes it's about a deficiency we should be paying attention to.  Sometimes it's just that little kid inside us feeling they need some "treat" that wants candy, pop, or other assorted not-good-for-you stuff, you know what it is.  Listen to cravings.  If it is clearly not a deficiency, try the suggestions to shut it down.    Be the powerful, intelligent adult who wants to live long and healthy!

(This blog was inspired from an exchange (of sorts) on Facebook.  Saw a young girl I knew from my kids high school - she's obese, married, pregnant and writing about her craving for a Mountain Dew but she was resisting it.  I couldn't resist sending her a message saying good for you for not caving in to that because you know your baby needs real food and good nutrients.  I was trying to encourage her.   A bit later she posted that she DID cave in.  That was followed by at least six of her friends telling her that it was ok, she needs to treat herself, that one little Mt.Dew wouldn't hurt and on and on.   Enablers all.   I never made further comments to her but it haunted me for days.  "Treating yourself" once in a while does NOT produce obesity - it's the habit of just going for whatever and justifying it somehow that has become a lifestyle.  Having friends cheering you on is the worst thing!77 grams of sugar in that crap.  I lit a candle for the baby.)