8 Solutions to Your Food Cravings
If you have food cravings, you must ask yourself, “Why?” If you ask yourself this very important
question, you create an opportunity to get to the bottom of your cravings and resolve them instead of letting your food control you. Below are eight reasons and easy solutions to the food cravings you may be experiencing.
1. Dehydration – Your body is about 75% water. If you are dehydrated, they feeling of being “thirsty” may actually come in the form of cravings. Have a glass of water before indulging in
the food you crave.
2. Nutrient deficiency – If your body doesn’t have what it needs, it will likely product cravings
hoping you will provide it what it needs. Be sure to eat plenty of vegetables and whole grains that contain minerals. Also consider taking a multivitamin to fill nutritional gaps.
3. Hormonal imbalances – While this is more common with women, men have hormones, too. Any
fluctuations out of the “norm” can cause cravings, signaling you to provide what it needs. Avoid
processed foods, which often contain ingredients that can cause hormonal imbalances, as well
as refined sugar, caffeine, and alcohol.
4. Seasonal needs – With the change of seasons, the foods you consume should change as well.
For example, in the spring, you should be consuming more detoxifying foods like leafy greens or
citrus foods. In the summer, focus on cooling foods like fruit, raw foods and ice cream. In the fall
and winter, consume more grounding foods like squash, onions and nuts as well as hot and
heat-producing foods like meat, oil and fat. Denying yourself seasonal foods can create cravings.
Holidays can also spawn cravings for traditional foods like turkey, eggnog, sweets, etc.
5. Lack of primary food – What you eat and drink is actually secondary food. Primary food is
everything else in life that nourishes you – your relationships, career, spirituality, self-esteem,
and physical activity. If you’re missing something in your primary food, you may crave a
substitute. For example, I once worked with a woman who had a great diet and couldn’t figure
out why she had cravings for sweets. We discovered that her long-distance relationship was
causing the cravings. She was missing her “sweet” and, therefore, sought out a sweet she could
have immediately through food. Sometimes you need to look beyond your diet for the solution
to your cravings.
6. Yin/Yang imbalance – Everything in life must have balance in order to thrive. In Chinese culture,
this is called “yin” and “yang.” Yin is very expansive, whereas Yang is very contractive. If you
consume too many foods with one of these qualities, you will likely crave the opposite. For
example, animal protein, which is very yang is opposite of sugar, which is very yin. Another
example is raw food (yin) versus cooked food (yang). Strive to eat a balanced diet, offering your
body many different types of foods, both raw and cooked.
7. Ancestral or childhood memories – If you have a strong ancestral background, you may crave
foods from that culture, even if you did not grow up there. You may also crave foods you had as
a child, as consuming them may bring back good memories. Study your heritage and ancestry to
learn more about the culture and food. Discover healthy ways to incorporate this food into your
diet.
8. Self-sabotage – When things are going really well, you may go through self-sabotage, so that
you don’t progress out of your established comfort zone. Your subconscious is very clever and
will do whatever necessary to protect what it thinks is “normal,” even if isn’t a good thing.
We’ve also created a society of shrinking, as not to outshine those around us. This is a tragedy,
as your gifts and talents may be squashed to satisfy others. In reality, though, your playing small
really doesn’t serve anyone. There is a wonderfully inspiring quote by Marianne Williamson
called “Our Deepest Fear.” I encourage you to read it.
If you really want to get in tune with your inner self and be in control of your choices, you must begin a
conversation with yourself. Why are you craving? It is then you can decide what you will do to remedy
the underlying cause. For assistance with dissecting cravings and gaining control over your food, please feel free to schedule a complimentary Wellness Discovery Session with me.