Cravings, Be Gone!

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Cravings are a common part of many peoples' everyday lives. They are often your body's way of signifying things, whether it be that you're stressed, tired, or lacking in important nutrients. While many cravings are not necessarily bad in and of themselves, it's how you handle the cravings that matter.

Carbohydrates

Whether it’s simple carbohydrates from sugary snacks or more complex carbohydrates from products like bread, craving carbohydrates is one of the most common cravings people experience. Lack of proper nutrition, low blood sugar and even menstrual cycles can bring on a severe craving for carbohydrates.
Eating carbohydrates causes your body to release a hormone called serotonin. This hormone is the "feel good" hormone and is also important in regulating hunger. When you are experiencing any sort of stress, including boredom, your brain signals that it needs more serotonin. When serotonin levels rise back up, you begin to feel better. This is one reason why so many comfort foods are high in carbohydrates. Unfortunately, many comfort foods are also very unhealthy for you. When you get these cravings, reach for a piece of fruit, whole grains or beans instead of immediately grabbing a chocolate bar or ice cream.
Salty Foods

Another common craving is for salty foods. With the human body being over 60% water, salt is important. Salt will help you balance your body's fluids and electrolytes appropriately, and natural salt contains trace minerals the body needs. Cutting back on salt in your diet, having a trace mineral deficiency, or mild dehydration can all cause you to crave salt.
Salt is important to your body, but when you eat too much it can cause medical issues. In the short term, you might suffer dry mouth, be very thirsty or get dizzy. In the long term, you might face an increased risk of stroke or heart attack. For many people, the go-to snack for salt cravings is potato chips. Unfortunately, potato chips and french fries aren't the most healthy of foods. Instead, try healthier options to satisfy your cravings, such as nuts and seeds, pickles, popcorn and even cottage cheese. All of these foods contain sodium and will adequately satisfy your salt cravings. Better yet, these healthier snacks won’t fill you up with greasy additives.
Caffeine
When you just can't function without your cup of coffee in the morning, you could possibly be facing caffeine cravings. In today's society, caffeine cravings, whether they be from coffee, tea or sodas, are extremely common. Caffeine wakes us up so well because it triggers the release of adrenaline, creating an artificial adrenaline high. Unfortunately, when that high goes away you begin to feel the craving for caffeine come back. Too much caffeine can lead to an increase of sugar into the bloodstream, which gets stored as fat. It also has negative effects on your heart, and can lead to a slowing of anti-aging hormones.
You can counter the caffeine craving in a few simple ways rather than just reaching for that second (or third, or fifth) cup of coffee or caffeinated beverage. Eating small meals, five or six a day, can help provide you with energy all day long. Water also does a nice job of keeping you energised, so aim for at least eight glasses per day. Instead of drinking coffee on your coffee break, switch to taking a short walk and let the sun and fresh air energise you. Green tea is also a great alternative to coffee and is rich in antioxidants and flavonoids, which both contain great health benefits.
All Things In Moderation

When you learn how to handle your cravings, to reduce or negate them altogether, you’ll find that your health will improve. When you do need to satisfy those cravings, it's important to keep an eye on how you satisfy them. Whenever possible, take the healthier road – even though it might be less satiating at the time, it’ll be worth it in the long run.
An improvement in health can mean significant savings when you compare the market for health or life insurance. In addition to the financial benefits of less-expensive insurance, the health benefits are of immeasurable value.

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