Look at the foods, deficits and behaviors in your life that are the underlying causes of your cravings. Many people view cravings as weakness, but really they are important messages meant to assist you in maintaining balance. When you experience a craving, deconstruct it. Ask yourself, what does my body want and why?
The eight primary causes of cravings are:
1. Lack of primary food. Being dissatisfied with a relationship or having an inappropriate exercise routine (too much, too little or the wrong type), being bored, stressed, uninspired by a job, or lacking a spiritual practice may all cause emotional eating.
2. Water. Lack of water can send the message that you are thirsty and on the verge of dehydration. Dehydration can manifest as a mild hunger, so the first thing to do when you get a craving is drink a full glass of water.
3. Yin/yang imbalance. Certain foods have more yin qualities (expansive) while other foods have more yang qualities (contractive).
4. Inside coming out. Often times, cravings come from foods that we have recently eaten, foods eaten by our ancestors, or foods from our childhood.
5. Seasons. Often the body craves foods that balance the elements of the season.
6. Lack of nutrients. If the body has inadequate nutrients, it will produce odd cravings.
7. Hormones. When women experience menstruation, pregnancy or menopause, fluctuating testosterone and estrogen levels may cause unique cravings.
8. De-evolution. When things are going extremely well, sometimes a self-sabotage syndrome happens. We crave foods that throw us off, thus creating more cravings to balance ourselves.
From an integrative nutrition stand point the emotional relationship we have with food can either allow us to be fully rounded and satisfied human beings or ‘ humans going no-where’.
Sometimes too we might need to replace lost minerals from our biosystem too. For-instance a need for magnesium might be a craving for chocolate but rather than going down that slippery slope why not go after raw nuts and seeds, legumes, fruits which will not only meet the need for mag but also satisfy any sugar craving as well.
Phosphorous, sulfur, iron and salt (NaCl) needs might send you off to coffee and tea yet a good and regular diet of chicken, beef, liver, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, legumes along with seaweed, greens, black cherries might just be the answer. Without doubt food and emotions are linked.
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Scott Mathias is a Certified Integrative Nutritionist and Professional Health Coach. Based in Noosa, Queensland he consults to clients around Australia including conducting seminars, public speaking engagements and corporate health groups. His special area of interest is the digestive function and eating food which promotes LIFE!! He is also the creator of an all Australian range of 100% PURE Superfoods from www.ilifefoods.com.
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The above is for information purposes only and is not designed to diagnose. Please consult your GP to become fully aware of your good health options.
