What that Craving Really Means..

Can't resist that chocolate cake ? You might have a valid reason...

You may think your cravings are just part of day-today life, but they could be a warning sign that something is wrong with your diet. So before you give in to that desire, try curbing those cravings with healthy alternatives.




CHEESE:
You might be deficient in: Essential Fatty Acids
Try replacing with:  Fatty acids: omega-3s, chia seeds, walnuts, cashew nuts, flax seeds.

PASTA, WHITE BREAD, PASTRIES:
You might be deficient in:  Chromium, a mineral that helps with functions such as digestion.
Try replacing with: Onion, romaine lettuce, tomato, sweet potato.

RED MEAT:
You might be deficient in: Iron
Try replacing with: Spinach, legumes, dried fruit. Eat fruit and vegetables high in vitamin C as this helps with iron absorption. i.e. squeeze lemon juice over your spinach.

CRISPS:
You might be deficient in: Chloride (salt)
Try replacing with:  Olives, tomato, celery, kelp (seaweed), broccoli, almonds and a little slice of feta cheese.

CHOCOLATE:
You might be deficient in: Magnesium
Try replacing with:  Raw cacao nibs (beans, powder), pulses, nuts and seeds.

FIZZY DRINKS:
You might be deficient in:  Calcium
Try replacing with: Sesame seeds/tahini, broccoli, kale, spinach, soybeans, okra.

COFFEE:
You might be deficient in: Iron
Try replacing with: red meat, beans, chickpeas, moringa tea.


CURB THOSE CRAVINGS

• If nothing but carbs will do, opt for wholegrain varieties, as they have a lower GI. Oatcakes are a good snack option. 
• Don't let habits form. Eating little and often rather than always reaching for something at 4p.m. will help avoid this. Vary your healthy snack choices - a piece of fruit or a handful of nuts or a piece of cheese with veggie sticks..
• Distract yourself - walk away from the crisps/chocolate cupboard and go for a walk, phone a friend, listen to music.
• Cut back on the alcohol - it stimulates the parts of our brain that provoke hunger, and decreases your inhibitions so you're less likely to care about eating the wrong things.
• Rest and relax - it's common to turn to naughty foods in times of stress. The hormones ghrelin and leptin, which control hunger, are also influenced by how much sleep we get, so rest up !
• Stay hydrated. Did you know that we often get our hunger pangs confused with thirst? When you feel an intense craving creeping up on you, try drinking a pint of water, and wait for the craving to fade...

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