The body is an amazing source of intelligence. Does your body ever forget to pump blood, or do your eyes ever forget to blink? I know mine sure doesn't. So is this reliable, intelligent bio-computer making a mistake by craving ice cream or potato chips or chocolate? Are cravings due to lack of will-power or discipline? I've been told that being a vegan takes pretty strong will-power..so are my cravings just a sign of weakness? I'd like to suggest that cravings are nothing of the sort - actually, they are little hints that tell us what our bodies really need.
The important thing is to understand why you crave what you crave. Perhaps your diet is too restrictive and your cravings are a reaction to your feeling of deprivation. Perhaps boredom or stress are the cause of your cravings. If something in your life is unbalanced, your body tries to correct that imbalance by sending you a message: a craving. A craving for something sweet could mean you need more protein, more exercise, more water or more love in your life. The key to stopping the sugar craving is to understand it and deliver what your body really needs.
I've definitely noticed that when I come home from a particularly busy and stressful day of work I crave really smooth things, and if I'm not careful I'll end up eating a whole tub of hummus or ice cream. Instead of reaching for those foods, I'll drink a glass of water, pull out my journal, put on some soothing music, and use writing as my meditation before bed.
The next time you have a craving, treat it as a loving message from your body instead of a weakness. Instead of reaching mindlessly for that chocolate bar, try these tips to respond to your body's signals:
· Have a glass of water and wait 10 minutes.
· Eat a healthier version of what you crave. For example, if you crave sweets, try eating more fruit or sweet vegetables - such as sweet potatoes, which are in season right now!
· What is out of balance in your life? Is there something you need to express, or is something being repressed? What happened in your life just before you had this craving?
· When you eat the food you are craving, enjoy it, taste it, savor it; notice its effect. Then you will become more aware and free to decide if you really want it next time.
Keep an eye out for my next post about some alternative sweeteners that you can use when you've tried everything else and you just need to get your hands on some (healthy) sugary goodness!
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