If you frequent my blog, you will know that this is not the first time I’m talking about cravings and why we have them.
It’s just that when it comes to cravings, there’s a LOT to cover!
So today, I’m diving into THE MOST common reasons behind cravings and what we can do about them.
Here we go:
1. Being too restrictive with what you allow yourself to eat: I’m seeing this a lot in my practice lately and it worries me because I see women stuck in a cycle where deprivation leads to cravings, which then lead to over-indulging in their "forbidden" foods which of course then triggers them to restrict foods even more.
If you’re stuck in this cycle, I strongly suggest you regularly include foods you love into your life. Not only having a restrictive mindset around food is unhealthy, it may be the reason why you feel out of control with food when you give into your craved foods.
2. Blood sugar imbalances: Because our bodies are constantly seeking homeostasis (aka balance) cravings for quick carbohydrates and sugary foods is often a response to the our brains detecting a sudden drop in our blood sugar. While I encourage women to eat all foods they love, you will find yourself with more energy, and an overall sense of wellbeing when these blood glucose fluctuations are gentle rather than abrupt.
The best approach to correcting abrupt glucose fluctuations and therefore reducing the severity of your cravings, is to include some proteins, fibers and healthy fats at each meal. I share plenty of ideas and tips on how to eat for stable blood sugars on my Instagram, if you need some ideas and examples :)
3. Nutritional deficiencies: I’m seeing an increase in symptoms related to nutrient-deficiencies in my practice. While this could be due to a multitude of reasons, there are 2 that are standing out as I work with women:
The first one is related to how many of us are over doing it with the supplements. Because micronutrients compete for absorption, macro-dosing and taking supplements you don’t need can lead to imbalances since your body’s ability to uptake the nutrients you do need may be compromised.
The second one is linked to severe caloric deficits. A common side-effect of dieting, is the impact of drastically cutting down food categories and overall calories. I’m seeing women with severe essential fatty acid, iron, calcium, and other nutrition deficiencies resulting from eating a very limited amount of foods and calories.
If you’re struggling with strong cravings, you may want to see if any of these 3 reasons could be linked to you.
And if you have specific questions or are interested in working with me, feel free to reach out via here or book a call with me HERE.
In health & balance,
Pamela
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