Cravings can be caused by numerous factors including stress, psychological and physical dependencies, mineral deficiencies and blood sugar irregularities.
4pm in the afternoon is a prime time for cravings to kick in. As we approach the end of a working day many of us scramble for that afternoon cup of tea and biscuit/cake or chocolate bar which we know will jeopardise our healthy eating plans So, just what are these cravings and can we do something to survive or eliminate them altogether.
The first step is to be aware of the trigger foods that can cause cravings, inevitably the triggers are from the very foods you can often crave i.e. highly processed foods like the sweet biscuit and chocolate we mentioned earlier.
Cravings can also be due to blood sugar levels dropping. When your blood sugar level drops your brain sends signals to your body indicating that you need sugar and that you need it fast, hence the craving. The key to maintaining your blood sugar level is to eat regular healthy meals which do not include the high sugar, high fat content. Ensure that you eat meals built around low GI foods such as oats, muesli, rye bread, whole grains i.e. brown rice and pasta, vegetables, fruits and pulses. These foods will not only ensure a healthy and natural weight loss but also help to stabilise blood sugar levels and reduce cravings.
Therefore to avoid cravings and thereby maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle we suggest the following:
Follow a healthy eating programme made up of foods mainly from the low GI list. And try to ensure that you drink at least 2 litres of filtered water each day. You also need to identify whether your cravings for unhealthy food are contributable to your mood. For instance are you bored, unhappy or upset. If this is the case then you need to practise self discipline and distract yourself for the next 10 to 15minutes. Pick up the newspaper or a book, phone a friend, go for a walk or out into the garden, clear out your email inbox or tidy the wardrobe. Try to avoid sitting on the sofa in front of the TV as this in itself can trigger cravings or comfort eating.
It will also help if every day you take a good health supplement to ensure your body is provided with the essential support of vitamins and minerals.
Angela operates a successful wellness clinic where she provides support for women to lose weight easily, control eating habits
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