You ate what????

Feed the cravings!  I know it sounds crazy but yes you should feed your cravings and stop trying to use willpower to ignore them!  Cravings are a signal that your body needs something.  It may not need the bacon cheeseburger you’re salivating over on the menu but that doesn’t mean you should wrestle the cravings to the ground and eat a side salad instead.

Just like pain, cravings are a signal and unless you’ve learned to speak “hormone” that signal may be a little confusing.  It could mean anything from “you’re not giving me enough calories” to “you starved me for the last 5 hours” to “ I need attention” to “ my blood sugar levels are really low” to “I’m addicted” to “give me some iron before I faint”.  All of these are important messages that absolutely should not be ignored and ordering a side salad is not going to cut it and in fact could make you sick.

So what are your cravings trying to tell you?

“I want salt” can mean =  you are thirsty.  Before you grab for a bag of pretzels think back how many ounces of water have you had today?  How about yesterday?  If you’re on the low end of your daily quota try grabbing a big glass of water first and see if the craving subsides.  If however you know you have had plenty of water the problem could be exactly the opposite your electrolytes may be out of balance due to a number of reasons one of which could be too much water and having a little salt, pedialyte or Gatorade should fix you right up.

“Give me my coffee and no one gets hurt” = Caffeine is an addictive substance.  If this is your mantra in the morning….You are chemically addicted to the caffeine and if you generally take your coffee with copious amounts of sugar then your body is also addicted to the sugar.  It’s your call whether it’s an acceptable addiction to you but if you’re having any trouble sleeping at night the first thing I would recommend you give up is your morning cup o’ joe.  It’s a viscous cycle, you don’t sleep well so you want the pick me up in the morning but the very thing that’s picking you up can very well be the cause of your insomnia at night.  See how the drug dealers get you?  The very thing that causes the problem is labeled as “the solution”.

“I want a cheeseburger…Now!” = If you’re craving red meat your body might be in need of iron.  Does a bloody steak sound good?  Then an iron deficiency could be the cause.  But before you throw out the diet and drive thru In and Out realize there is a healthier way to go about getting the nutrients your body needs!

The first step is to acknowledge the craving and try to determine what your body is asking for (hint it’s not actually asking for a cheeseburger) it’s asking for fat, calories, salt, iron.  If all you want is the flavor of the cheeseburger than it will be easy to ignore the craving and choosing the healthier option will work and the craving will immediately disappear.  If the craving seems out of control there’s something more important going on here and the more out of control the craving feels the more attention you need to pay.

Severe cravings can be signs of serious medical conditions so if you feel like the cravings are completely “out of control” consult your Doctor and have some blood work done!

Did you ever eat dirt when you were little?  Did you know it’s not uncommon for pregnant women and children to crave dirt?  According to the Journal of American Dietetic Association there may be a connection to an iron deficiency.  And some speculate that “pica” cravings (cravings of non- food substances) are the body’s attempt to obtain vitamins and minerals that are missing through that particular individual’s normal food consumption.

Once you determine that your cravings aren’t related to nutrient deficiencies then we have a trick that will help you fight those cravings once and for all.  Allowing you to make healthier choices by replacing what your body is asking for with a healthier option.

For example if potato chips keep popping up, in your mind, don’t try to eat a banana to “get over it”.  Stay in the same line of thought, think of what a potato chip, means to you, texturally and flavor wise, primarily salty and crunchy, right?  Then if you think of it as a sliding scale with potato chips being at the “bad end” work your way up the scale with healthier and healthier items that will still meet those “salty, crunchy” requirements.  If potato chips are a 10….The next level up might be baked chips, if we rate those an 8, pretzels might get an 7, whole grain crackers like a Triscut might get a 5, a Ry-krisp or Wasa would be a 3 in comparison and celery would be a 1.

No matter where you end on the scale you still made a better choice than if you had gone with greasy potato chips.  The next time you’re at the Grocery store instead of purchasing potato chips try moving slowly up the scale.  As your taste buds get used to the new healthier choices it will get easier and easier to make the next progression until one day potato chips will taste overpowering to you and then you know you’ve officially made the switch!

So find out what your cravings are trying to tell you and before you scream at your dog for eating poop in the backyard realize that he’s lacking in vital nutrients and give him a treat instead!