Got Cravings? Let’s Deconstruct Them!

Often, when we hear about cravings, we entertain the thought of being ‘bad’ or replacing them with something healthier. Maybe opting for a healthier version in some cases could work, as long as you are not depriving yourself all the time – that is set up for failure.

The body is amazing. It knows when to go to sleep, when
to wake up, and when to go to the bathroom. It maintains a
temperature of 98.6 degrees, repairs itself when wounded,
and knows the miracle of pregnancy and childbirth. Your
heart never misses a beat. Your lungs are always
breathing. The body is a super computer, and it never
makes mistakes.

IIN

There are 8 possible causes of cravings. Let’s take a closer look at each one to see why, how, and what you can do to fulfill these cravings in the best way possible. After all, when your body has a craving it’s a signal that you may be lacking nutrients, physicalness, something in your current relationship or lifestyle. These are important messages meant to help you in maintaining balance. When you experience a craving, deconstruct it. Ask yourself, what does my body want & why?

A quick tip: To help with cravings invest in a tongue scraper. It will help with removing leftover food from your taste buds and curb cravings. I found it to help with my sweet cravings, daily!




Lack of Primary Foods

Being dissatisfied with a relationship or having an inappropriate exercise
routine (too much, too little, or the wrong kind), being bored, stressed, uninspired by your job, or lacking
a spiritual practice may all cause emotional eating. Eating can be used as a substitute for entertainment
or to fill the void of primary food.

Lack of Water

Lack of water can send the message that you’re thirsty and on the verge of dehydration.
Dehydration can manifest as hunger, so the first thing to do when you get a craving is to drink a full glass of
water. Excess water can also cause cravings, so be sure that your water intake is well-balanced.

Yin-Yang Imbalance

Certain foods have more yin qualities (expansive), while other foods have
more yang qualities (contractive). Eating foods that are either extremely yin or extremely yang causes
cravings to maintain balance. For example, eating a diet too rich in sugar (yin) may cause a craving
for meat (yang). Eating too many raw foods (yin) may cause cravings for extremely cooked (dehydrated)
foods or vise versa.

Inside Coming Out

Oftentimes, cravings come from foods we’ve recently eaten, foods eaten by our
ancestors, or foods from our childhood. A clever way to satisfy these cravings is to eat a healthier
version of one’s ancestral or childhood foods.

Seasonal

Often the body craves foods that balance the elements of the season. In the spring, people
crave detoxifying foods like leafy greens and citrus foods. In the summer, people crave cooling foods like
fruit, raw foods, and ice cream, and in the fall people crave grounding foods like squash, onions, and nuts.
During winter, many crave hot and heat-producing foods like meat, oil, and fat. Cravings can also be
associated with the holidays, for foods like turkey, eggnog, and sweets.

Lack of Nutrients

If the body has inadequate nutrients, you’ll have odd cravings.
For example, inadequate mineral levels produce salt cravings, and overall inadequate nutrition produces
cravings for non-nutritional forms of energy, like caffeine. Do you feel you are dependent on coffee throughout your day to keep you going?

Hormonal

When women experience menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause, fluctuating
testosterone and estrogen levels may cause unique cravings. Hello, sweet treats!

De-Evolution

When things are going extremely well in your life, sometimes self-sabotage happens.
We crave foods that throw us off, thus creating more cravings to balance ourselves. This often happens
from low blood sugar and may result in strong mood swings.


Now that you are more familiar with the 8 causes and how to deconstruct them, I invite you to take a moment the next time you have a craving and deconstruct it. You just might be amazed at how in-tune you start to become with your body. After all, who is a more qualified Doctor and Teacher of all things YOU?!

Meet Cherise

Hi, I'm Cherise and My Fit Life page is here to share my love for health & wellness, healthy recipes, fitness & fun. Let's create healthier habits together! 

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