From time to time, everyone has food cravings, which is the overwhelming desire for a certain type of food. In fact, statistics show 100 percent of women and about 70 percent of men have had a food craving in the past year. So if you're dying for a chocolate bar or salty snack, you're probably not alone. The trick is to keep those cravings from sabotaging your health and nutrition goals.
Why Food Cravings Happen
In a LTK interview, Jennifer Simmons, Director of Nutrition Services for LA Weight Loss, says carbohydrates, salty foods, chocolate, and other sweets are some of the most common cravings reported, and it seems women have more carbohydrate and sweets cravings than men. If you're craving certain foods, there's probably a good explanation as to why this is happening.
You're Pregnant
There's truth to the phrase "pregnancy cravings." A 2013 issue of Psychology Today says bizarre pregnancy cravings can appear in the first trimester and peak in the second, are fairly unpredictable, and are likely related to hormone changes that occur during pregnancy. The same article says American pregnant women often crave sweet foods (like chocolate, fruit, and juices), dairy foods, and sometimes salty or savory foods like pizza or pickles.
Medication Side Effects
If you're craving certain foods (or feel hungrier than usual), medications could be the culprit. For example, a 2016 issue of Psychology Today says anti-depressants, some anti-psychotic medications, and other mood stabilizers can increase carbohydrate cravings. Some medications simply boost your appetite. So if you're dealing with food cravings, check your medication side effects list.
Hormone Fluctuations
You don't have to be pregnant to experience hormone fluctuations and foods cravings associated with them, such as sweet or salty cravings or a generalized boost in appetite. For women, hormone levels can fluctuate during (or right before) menstruation, ovulation, and menopause. Men tend to experience low testosterone levels with increases in age, which can cause low energy levels and depression leading to cravings for certain foods like sweets.
Nutrient Deficiencies
If you're deficient in an essential nutrient, your body may crave foods rich in that nutrient. For example, if you're deficient in vitamin A, you may crave carrots; a deficiency in vitamin C could cause you to reach for orange juice; and iron deficiency might make you crave meat or beans. If you've tried dieting by restricting macronutrients (carbs, fat or protein), the cravings you've experienced may be your body's way of telling you to eat more of these foods. For example, if you're following a low-carb diet, you might crave carbs, and you may desire fatty foods when on a low-fat diet.
You Have a Food or Sugar Addiction
Being addicted to food is a real concern, and many Americans struggle with this due to emotional or other reasons. In fact, sugar appears to be an addictive substance, especially among people who are stressed, according to a 2015 study published in the Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism. This can lead to additional cravings, making cutting added sugar from your diet an uphill battle.
You're Stressed, Depressed, or Sleep Deprived
When you're stressed, depressed, or sleep deprived, hormone imbalances can occur. For example, one 2013 study found sleep deprivation is associated with a desire for high-calorie (weight-gain promoting) foods like sweets and other calorie-dense choices. Harvard Health Publications says being stressed releases hormones that lead to sugary, fatty, and comfort food cravings.
You're on a Diet
It's likely if you're on a diet, you've craved foods you used to eat freely but don't anymore. Psychologically craving foods you miss because you don't eat them anymore can lead to self-sabotage if you don't get the cravings under control.
You're Bored or Eating Emotionally
For many people, cravings come when they are bored and their thoughts turn to food. Others eat in an attempt to regulate emotions; they eat their feelings.
Physical vs. Emotional Cravings
It's often difficult to determine if your food craving is physical (your body physically needs it for nutrients) or emotional. Simmons says, "The current definition for food craving is: an intense desire to consume a particular food or food type that is difficult to resist. This definition generally hasn't been accepted by the scientific community. We are born with an innate taste for sweet and salt. As we grow up, we often identify foods that help fill an emotional need. The best questions to ask yourself are: Am I really hungry? Am I eating out of habit? Why am I craving this particular food?"
Fighting Food Cravings
The following tips can come in handy when you're trying to deal with unwelcome food cravings:
- Determine the cause of your cravings. If food cravings are due to medications, emotions, work stress, or hormone fluctuations, you might be able to do something about it without reaching for food.
- Eat a well-balanced diet. You'll be less likely to crave foods if you're not deficient in any nutrients. Simmons recommends getting in a variety of healthy foods including fruits, vegetables, lean protein foods, and whole grains. Don't forget about nuts, seeds, and other healthy fats.
- Don't skip meals and eat small meals or snacks every few hours. Simmons recommends four to six small meals per day and says by eating small, frequent meals, you'll be less likely to overeat at specific meals and snacks.
- Give in to food cravings sometimes. Simmons says, "Research shows that frequent dieters often have more food cravings than non-dieters. By constantly restricting oneself from his/her cravings, this could set someone up for overeating foods that are being craved."
- Think before you eat. Simmons suggests, "Before giving in to cravings, ask yourself: why am I craving this? Do I need to have it now? What else can I do to satisfy my need? By asking yourself some simple questions, you can identify if it's chocolate you're really craving, or an emotional need you can meet by talking with a friend or taking a walk." She says when you do have a particular food you're craving, take time to enjoy it. Make sure you don't have any distractions, sit down, and consume that food slowly.
- Purge junk food. Seeing (even smelling) unhealthy foods can make cravings more severe, so try to avoid keeping junk foods at home like chips, fried foods, high-fat meats, refined carbs (like white bread), pastries, high-fat dairy foods, sweets, gravies, syrups, and sugary drinks. Instead of reaching for sweet treats, choose fresh fruit, dried fruit, or 100 percent fruit juice. Try nut butters, beans, and grilled chicken or fish in place of high-fat meats and cheeses. To curb salt cravings, choose pretzels, olives, nuts, or seeds instead of chips and fast food.
Take Home Message
Sometimes you simply can't prevent food cravings from arising, but eating a well-balanced diet, exercising regularly, drinking plenty of water, and seeing a doctor regularly (especially one who can keep hormone levels in check) is a step in the right direction.
Simmons says, "Make small changes at a time, pick one specific goal you would like to work on, and stick with that goal for at least two weeks before adding additional goals. Your goal could be as small as decreasing regular soda consumption or taking a daily 15-minute walk. Small changes will add up over time and make it easier to turn small changes into lifelong habits."
