5 Ways to overcome food cravings

Dieting would be easy if it we didn’t have any cravings! Try some of the following things, to help make cravings a thing of the past:

1. Address any deficiencies

You could be suffering from a nutritional deficiency (which your body is trying to address), when you experience regular, intense cravings for particular foods. It is believed that chocolate cravings can stem from a magnesium deficiency, while a lack of chromium in the diet can lead to sugar cravings. Maintaining healthy levels of zinc can also help to regulate your appetite. Make sure you are eating a wide variety of nutritious foods to address any deficiencies in your diet.

2. Eat a little of what you really feel for

A study published in the journal Appetite has suggested that many people crave the foods that they most attempt to resist. Rather than ignoring your junk food addiction, consuming a small quantity of what you fancy should help to reduce the temptation to binge on it!

3. Get active

Exercise is not only a great distraction from your cravings but a study led by a researcher at Loughborough University has also found that aerobic exercise can help to suppress your appetite. In addition, getting active will help you to feel great about your body, and you may not want to ruin all that hard work by bingeing on junk food.        

4. Try healthier alternatives

Just because you’ve decided to eat healthily, that doesn’t mean you can never snack again. Rather than giving in to your junk food cravings, try experimenting with healthier alternatives, such as fresh fruit or sweet potato wedges instead of deep fried chips.

5. Buy some vanilla scented products

If you’re struggling to resist sugar cravings, try investing in a vanilla scented candle or air freshener for your home. A study at St George’s hospital, south London, found that using vanilla-scented patches on the back of participants’ hands significantly reduced their appetite for sweet foods and drinks.  It is believed that this is because the smell of vanilla can help to suppress sweet cravings.

 

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