Conquer Food Cravings

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Curb Cravings

Food cravings out of control? Knowing why cravings happen will help you fight them – and help you maintain a balanced healthy diet and weight.


When your food cravings hit

You've probably noticed that you feel your strongest food yens at specific times of the day—or month.

1) Mid-afternoon food cravings (from about 3-6 p.m.)

By far the greatest number of cravings occur late in the day, when our blood glucose drops, making us sluggish and in need of a lift. All it takes now is a cue—a fast-food billboard on your way home or a co-worker's candy bar—to bring on major sugar cravings or carb cravings.

2) When we're upset or bored or need stress relief

Bad moods frequently give rise to cravings. We imagine that if we eat a cookie or a chocolate bar, we'll feel better—and often we do. Carbohydrates—sweet or starchy foods—increase the secretion of the brain chemical serotonin, which in turn can improve mood and provide temporary stress relief.

3) Carb cravings and chocolate cravings before your period

Research shows that many of our cravings for chocolate and carbohydrate-rich foods are particularly intense in the days leading up to menstruation. Experts theorize that women may engage in emotional overeating of carbs in an attempt to raise serotonin levels to counter the bad moods and mild depression related to PMS.

Also, we actually need more calories premenstrually, so it would make sense we might experience more cravings if we're short on energy. Although there have been a number of studies examining cravings and the menstrual cycle, scientists still don't know exactly why some women seem to engage in emotional overeating or crave carbs, chocolate and other sugary foods before their periods.

Discover more about cravings, including sugar cravings and carb cravings, from Shape.

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6 Reviews
That is interesting. When I crave something sweet but I know I do not want to make a unhealthy choice I will brush my teeth. Sounds weird but once you've brushed your teeth you do not want any other flavor in there it will taste weird. Also I will keep myself busy so I do not eat any sweets.

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Craving someting sweet happens to me around 5pm. I sometimes give in and sometimes I drink 8oz of nonfat milk or have a half cup of 4% milkfat cottage cheese with lots of pepper. I know it sounds weird but it quiets the cravings

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I agree with both above. After dinner I often brush my teeth right away... that way I am much less likely to give in to my chocolate craving. I have also tried the milk thing... slightly sweet, calms your hunger and it's good for you to boot!

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Very informative. I am very guilty of bored snacking...especially being up all hours of the night, I get bored and reach for a snack.

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This article is horrible it tells me nothing of what to do to stop my cravings like the title says--- the reviews are more helpful. I already know why I get cravings. I wanted to know how to curb them!

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thats true of course we know why we have cravings but what can help to reduce them. every magazine these days have on there front page thing like " how to lose weight" or " burn fat quick" there is no easy way to lose weight period. eat healthy and workout thats the only way. we JUST NEED to do it.

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