Intense Craving Causes and How to Make Them Stop
Whether or not you’re trying to lose weight, the irresistible urge to eat the wrong foods can be bad for you. By understanding intense craving causes you can help yourself to stop them from happening in the first place, or at least overcome them in the healthiest possible way.
Getting to know the biggest intense craving causes arms you against them in a very powerful way. It helps you to narrow down the culprit and to shut it down before it can do any damage to your current waistline or your attempt to lose more weight.
Consider the following top intense craving causes so you can know how to make them stop:
• Low serotonin levels – Serotonin is a neurotransmitter – that is, a brain chemical – which is primarily produced within the gastrointestinal tract. As a result, it has a direct link to the mood, digestion and even the appetite. Consuming carbohydrates like sugar can give our serotonin levels a temporary boost. Therefore, when serotonins are low, our brains can send us huge carb cravings to overcome it. Unfortunately, that’s not the best idea for weight management. If you’re craving something sweet, skip the candy bar. Instead, grab a handful or two of your favorite berries or even a square or two of very dark chocolate (at least 70 percent cocoa). This will give your body the boost in needs without overloading your calories.
• Emotional triggers – This cause is huge and can occur regularly throughout the day if you’re not careful. Because it can be caused by anything from boredom to excitement and from sadness to low self esteem or even poor body image, you can find yourself starving for foods you don’t want or need virtually all the time. Overcoming this one can be a challenge, but consider some positive self talk, regular hydration, meditation and yoga. Don’t forget to try to get a good sleep at night, too, as that can go a long way toward emotional control.
• Leptin resistance – Leptin is a hormone naturally produced by your body. Its main job is to tell your brain when you are full so you don’t feel hungry anymore. However, when your body has stored too much fat, the leptin hormone may not function as it should. This can cause you to feel hungry much more than you should. Overcome leptin resistance by drinking lots of water and eating regularly. Have a mid morning and mid afternoon snack, as well as an evening one if you feel you need it. Just make sure you’re choosing foods that are high in fiber, nutrient dense, low in calories and that possibly contain protein, too.
