Should you trust your food cravings?
Described as an intense desire for a particular food, food craving is definitely not your typical hunger! These are the instances when a certain food appeals mouthwatering to you than usual. While you surrender to its irresistible invite most of the time, you are often left wanting more.
The question now is: should you trust your food cravings?
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Pinoy MD revealed that food craving is actually beyond the capability of the mind.
Dr. Rolan Balburias, an internist and functional medicine practitioner, explains: “Even though you keep telling them that it's bad for their health condition if there is something that controls the cravings, which is the microbiota composition, even if the person wants to resist, he or she will not be able to resist it. The behavior of craving for that particular food is still manifested.”
Still, according to Dr. Balburias, aldosterone and fungal overgrowth prompt a person to crave for salty or sugary food, respectively.
“There is a certain hormone that is important in the regulation of the balance of sodium and potassium, that is the aldosterone. If there's excess aldosterone, then, it could actually impact your cravings for salty foods.
“If there is a fungal overgrowth, it can possibly lead towards craving for sugar. This is because the food of fungi is sugar.”
Pregnant women also experience food cravings because of the hormonal changes in their bodies.
In the case of those who practice intermittent fasting (IF), due to prolonged starvation, their diet often results from craving for the food they want to eat.
Nevertheless, there is nothing wrong with experiencing food cravings. The only problem is the food you crave for.
Dr. Balburias clarified that “It is not bad for you to crave for sweet food. But if it's too much, to the point where that's the only food you eat, then your nutrition will not be balanced.
"That is when it's going to cause consequences in your system, or imbalance of body's system. If the behavior is recurring, pertaining to cravings for a specific food, then that is when it will lead later on to diseases.”
Pinoy MD shares these tips to control your food cravings:
1. Get busy.
In order to take your mind off of food, keep yourself occupied with your hobbies and interests.
2. Eat more protein.
It is better to add more protein-rich food in your diet because it is slower to digest, making your stomach feel satisfied for a longer time.
3. Drink more water.
Drink enough water daily because thirst is often mistaken for hunger.
4. Mindful eating.
There are times that your body is not actually asking for food, your mind just wants something to chew. You may opt for chewing gum in this case.
5. Out of sight, out of mind.
Keep the food out of sight so that you will not have to crave for it.
6. Healthy diet.
A balanced meal will help you refrain from craving a particular food.
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