Beat Food Cravings

1. Carbohydrate cravings maybe caused by low Blood sugar. Hormonal fluctuations before menstrual period, starvation for several hours and emotional frustration may also be responsible. Complex carbohydrates like fruits, vegetables and whole-grain cereal and high protein, non-fat milk and low-fat cheese can curb this craving.
2. Salt Cravings – Excessive perspiration or stress can cause these cravings. Lemon juice, fresh fruits like banana, grapefruit, orange, strawberries and tomatoes that are rich in Vitamin C can reduce the cravings.
3. Caffeine – Many people are addicted to caffeine both physiologically and metabolically and will experience with-drawl symptoms. The addiction can be reduced by substituting with, non-caffeine drinks.

Anxious and stressed people crave for sweets and high calorie food.

Beat Food Cravings

Many individuals on weight loss diets tend to experience food cravings. This can pose a major problem for successful weight loss. Cravings for fried or sweet foods tend to be more prominent at night. Food that is consumed at night affects the weight more significantly than food which is consumed during the day. This is because the body is not able to burn off calories at night. Studies have also found that people with weight problems tend to pack in more calories later in the day than people with normal weight. Therefore it is advisable to avoid eating anything a few hours before bedtime. Here are some tips on how to beat food cravings.

Stop eating anything at least two to three hours before you go to sleep. This will allow you enough time to burn off the calories consumed during the day. Those who focus on building muscle may have a protein drink or eat high-protein food one hour before bedtime. Most people experience cravings at night because they don’t have anything else to do. This boredom may lead them to resort to food. Therefore a great way to beat food cravings is to stay involved in some activity like reading, playing a game or talking with family. This will keep your mind engaged and thoughts of food are likely to stay away. Those who face food cravings will beneficial from eating a large, healthy breakfast. One of the primary causes of food cravings is a skipped breakfast. Eating a big meal for breakfast will make you feel less hungry during the rest of the day. It also helps to consume smaller-sized, more frequent meals throughout the day. Eating just three big meals in a day is likely to lead to hunger pangs between meals. But eating smaller portions every 2 to 3 hours will keep hunger at bay and also keep your energy levels high.

High fiber foods are beneficial for beating food cravings. These foods leave you feeling full for a longer period of time. In your dinner, include foods that are rich in fiber such as vegetables and lean protein. The fiber will prevent you from experiencing food cravings during the night. If you must eat something at night, ensure that it is a healthy and small-sized snack. Some good examples of such snacks include low fat yogurt. You can also opt for   whole wheat crackers or cottage cheese.