Deconstructing Cravings

Fit Milwaukee welcomes Holistic Health Coach Lisa Sarnowski as she fills us in on the origins of food cravings.

When was the last time you had a food craving? Do you love them or loathe the thought?

The body is an amazing machine. It is always there for you, breathing, blinking, pumping blood, digesting food and striving to maintain homeostasis (balance). Do you think this reliable bio-computer is making a mistake by craving certain foods? Of course not! At least I don’t think so.

I also know that cravings are not created due to lack of will-power or discipline. In fact, cravings are not your problem at all, they’re actually part of your health solution. That’s right! Forget the denial and will-power diets talk about. The key to taking your health to the next level is to start listening to what your body wants (or thinks it wants) and work to understand why that craving exists.

Your body is constantly trying to correct imbalances in your diet and life by sending you a message through the form of a craving. Pretty cool, right? And cravings don’t just start and end with salty and sweet – they go very deep into food texture, time of day, ancestry, etc…

Here are five main reasons food cravings develop:

Lack of nutrients: If the body has inadequate nutrients, it can produce odd cravings. For example, inadequate mineral levels produce salt cravings, and overall inadequate eating produces cravings for non-nutritional forms of energy, like caffeine.

Dehydration: Lack of water can send a message that you are thirsty and on the verge of dehydration. Dehydration can manifest as mild hunger, so the first thing to do when you get a craving is drink a full glass of water. Excess water can also cause cravings (crispy/dry foods), so be sure that your water intake is well balanced.

Lifestyle: Being dissatisfied with a relationship or having an inappropriate exercise routine (too much, too little or the wrong type), being bored, stressed, uninspired by a job, or lacking a spiritual practice may all cause emotional eating. Eating can be used as a substitute for entertainment or to fill the void of “life foods”.

Seasonal: Often the body craves foods that balance the elements of the season. Springtime, people gravitate toward detoxifying foods like leafy greens or citrus foods. In the summer, people prefer cooling foods like fruit, raw foods and ice cream, while in the fall people crave grounding foods like squash, onions and nuts. During winter, many crave hot and heat-producing foods like meat, oil and fat. Cravings can also be associated with the holidays, for foods like turkey, eggnog or sweets.

De-evolution: When things are going extremely well, sometimes a self-sabotage syndrome happens. We crave foods that throw us off, which creates more cravings to balance ourselves. This often happens from low blood sugar and may result in strong mood swings.

Of all the relationships in our lives, the one with our body is the most essential. Stop denying your cravings and start listening. As you learn to listen and respond to your body’s cravings, you will create a deep and lasting level of health and balance!

Lisa will be hosting a pair of wellness workshops this summer at Cafe Manna in Brookfield. “The Skinny on Healthy Fats and Proteins” will be held on June 27th followed by “Deconstructing Food Cravings” on July 18th. You can email lisa@lisasarnowski.com for more info if you are interested in attending.

*Photo by thebittenword.com.