We all have cravings... not just pregnant women. Cravings are a way for our bodies to tell us that something is missing in our diet. Cravings can also come from addictions... yes, you can be addicted to certain foods.
Let's start with addictions. Processed food manufacturers and Fast Food Businesses have learned that you CAN be addicted to certain things - and so they add them to their foods to keep you coming back. Have you seen "Harry's Law"? I don't watch much TV but saw an episode where an obese woman sued a fast food company because she was addicted to their food and had a heart attack.
MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) is a dangerous component of many foods - it makes the food taste better - sweeter, saltier... just tastier and many non-Asian Asian Restaurants use it to enhance flavor, it is added to your processed foods - and it is not only HIGHLY addictive, it is TOXIC.
Recommended reading: http://www.advancedhealthplan.com/msg.html
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/monosodium-glutamate/AN01251
In a previous post we discussed the artificial sweetener Aspartame, this is another HIGHLY addictive and HIGHLY toxic additive. See post from February 16, 2011 - Diet Food Poison.
Recommended reading: http://www.dorway.com/tldaddic.html
http://www.rense.com/general82/assp.htm
And let's look at one more - Nitrates and Nitrites are commonly used to preserve meat. You will find them in EVERY deli meat and every processed meat in the grocery store. Nitrates again are a potentially toxic additive that is addictive.
Recommended reading: http://www.foodmatters.tv/_webapp_226337/Nitrates_in_commercial_foods_more_dangerous_than_we_first_thought
http://www.sweetpoison.com/food-additives-to-avoid.html
The saddest thing about each of these addictions (beyond the obvious) is that many times we eat them to help us LOSE weight - in reality these particular addictions cause us to gain weight.
So, let's talk about cravings, what they mean, and what to eat in their place.
Salt - Chips / Crackers. Salt provides the body with minerals and aids in removing toxins through sweating. You may have thyroid or adrenal gland issues that need to be tested if simple food changes do not change your cravings. Too much salt raises blood pressure, causes heart disease, migraines, Addison's disease, and makes you retain water while dehydrating you. Salt cravings can be from an addiction or from a low mineral count. Try eating pickles and other things that have a lot of vinegar in them rather than salty foods. To gain more minerals eat root vegetables. There are some great root vegetable chips out there that help you transition from your unhealthy craving.
Fried foods - chips / deep fried anything - Many people get a LOT of oil in their diet - the wrong kind. And cravings for these foods may be your body crying out for more of the right kinds of oils. Get away from vegetable oil / canola oil and use more olive oil, sesame oil. Reducing the amount of oil used in your diet is essential for a healthy heart and healthy blood flow. Try eating more tuna / salmon (weekly) or a daily supplement of Omega 3/9. You should find your body craving those fried foods reduce substantially.
Sour - pickles / pickled fruits / vinegar / lemons / limes - There are several potential reasons for these cravings including overload of toxins (if you are beginning to lose weight and are obese - you may have overloaded your body with toxins that need to be removed - drinking a lot of water will help your body flush the toxins).
Sweet - candy, ice cream - Many people that crave sweets are addicted to the processed white sugar. Once these things have been removed, the sweet cravings will reduce as well. Medical reasons for craving sugar include diabetes, thyroid imbalance, or iodine deficiency. You also may have a mineral deficiency. Make sure you get checked if your cravings continue after reducing your processed sugar intake. Many people don't realize that I have a HUGE sweet tooth - I refused to keep sweets in my house because I will eat them. In their place I have a couple squares of dark chocolate and a piece of fruit daily.
Chocolate - Chocolate cravings have been linked to a manganese deficiency. Eating a small amount of DARK chocolate every day is good due to the high amount of antioxidants. If you are low in manganese try eating more whole grains, seeds, nuts, spinach, and other leafy green vegetables.
Meat - This one is a pretty obvious one, people craving a lot of meat, usually need additional protein. There may also be a phosphorus imbalance. Meat is very difficult for the body to break down and use for energy and a LOT of it is wasted. Many highly carnivorous humans have excess undigested meat sitting in their intestines. These foods may be better alternatives and will help you maintain proper weight. Nuts, seeds, spinach, grains, and legumes.
Caffeine - This addiction we have been fighting since the coffee bean was found. Pay attention to how much caffeine you ingest each day. In the weaning process, start by changing from high caffeinated drinks after noon to moderate and then low. Eventually, stop all caffeine after lunch. Change to green and then white tea. You should really drink very little caffeine daily.
Junk food / Diet food - Most of these foods have addictive ingredients that cause you to crave them regularly. Don't ever shop when you are hungry. You will spend 1/3 more and that 1/3 will primarily be "craving" foods that are addictive. Find something that is 1/2 way between junk food and healthy if you need to make the transition slowly. Dried fruits, root vegetable chips, nuts, seeds, etc.. all will help ease that transition.
Spicy - Spicy food has a warming affect on your body - so if you are beginning to feel under the weather - spicy food will help raise your blood pressure, temperature, and help you fight that illness. You may not even know that you are getting sick... but your body knows! :) Cayenne in your food also is an anti-inflammatory, and aids in stomach ailments... so... lots of good reasons to crave that spice!
Specific items - You may be craving foods that you are allergic to. Yes, your body craves things that you are sensitive to - at times. Don't we all want what we can't have?
Recommended reading on cravings: http://www.crystalalgae.com/articles_cravings.htm
If you have very odd cravings like cigarette butts, cleaning detergent, etc... please get medical help immediately.
This blogger says it soooo very clearly... you ARE what you eat... http://www.natural-cures-and-home-remedies.com/healthy-foods-to-eat.html
Remember that we have three pillars to optimal health - diet, exercise and mental well being. Many people use food as a crutch for mental issues. If you are having cravings, you are not at your optimal best and need to make some changes - some of those changes, may be in need of mental attitudes - to relationships between food, money, and people.
Blessings... E
Let's start with addictions. Processed food manufacturers and Fast Food Businesses have learned that you CAN be addicted to certain things - and so they add them to their foods to keep you coming back. Have you seen "Harry's Law"? I don't watch much TV but saw an episode where an obese woman sued a fast food company because she was addicted to their food and had a heart attack.
MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) is a dangerous component of many foods - it makes the food taste better - sweeter, saltier... just tastier and many non-Asian Asian Restaurants use it to enhance flavor, it is added to your processed foods - and it is not only HIGHLY addictive, it is TOXIC.
Recommended reading: http://www.advancedhealthplan.com/msg.html
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/monosodium-glutamate/AN01251
In a previous post we discussed the artificial sweetener Aspartame, this is another HIGHLY addictive and HIGHLY toxic additive. See post from February 16, 2011 - Diet Food Poison.
Recommended reading: http://www.dorway.com/tldaddic.html
http://www.rense.com/general82/assp.htm
And let's look at one more - Nitrates and Nitrites are commonly used to preserve meat. You will find them in EVERY deli meat and every processed meat in the grocery store. Nitrates again are a potentially toxic additive that is addictive.
Recommended reading: http://www.foodmatters.tv/_webapp_226337/Nitrates_in_commercial_foods_more_dangerous_than_we_first_thought
http://www.sweetpoison.com/food-additives-to-avoid.html
The saddest thing about each of these addictions (beyond the obvious) is that many times we eat them to help us LOSE weight - in reality these particular addictions cause us to gain weight.
So, let's talk about cravings, what they mean, and what to eat in their place.
Salt - Chips / Crackers. Salt provides the body with minerals and aids in removing toxins through sweating. You may have thyroid or adrenal gland issues that need to be tested if simple food changes do not change your cravings. Too much salt raises blood pressure, causes heart disease, migraines, Addison's disease, and makes you retain water while dehydrating you. Salt cravings can be from an addiction or from a low mineral count. Try eating pickles and other things that have a lot of vinegar in them rather than salty foods. To gain more minerals eat root vegetables. There are some great root vegetable chips out there that help you transition from your unhealthy craving.
Fried foods - chips / deep fried anything - Many people get a LOT of oil in their diet - the wrong kind. And cravings for these foods may be your body crying out for more of the right kinds of oils. Get away from vegetable oil / canola oil and use more olive oil, sesame oil. Reducing the amount of oil used in your diet is essential for a healthy heart and healthy blood flow. Try eating more tuna / salmon (weekly) or a daily supplement of Omega 3/9. You should find your body craving those fried foods reduce substantially.
Sour - pickles / pickled fruits / vinegar / lemons / limes - There are several potential reasons for these cravings including overload of toxins (if you are beginning to lose weight and are obese - you may have overloaded your body with toxins that need to be removed - drinking a lot of water will help your body flush the toxins).
Sweet - candy, ice cream - Many people that crave sweets are addicted to the processed white sugar. Once these things have been removed, the sweet cravings will reduce as well. Medical reasons for craving sugar include diabetes, thyroid imbalance, or iodine deficiency. You also may have a mineral deficiency. Make sure you get checked if your cravings continue after reducing your processed sugar intake. Many people don't realize that I have a HUGE sweet tooth - I refused to keep sweets in my house because I will eat them. In their place I have a couple squares of dark chocolate and a piece of fruit daily.
Chocolate - Chocolate cravings have been linked to a manganese deficiency. Eating a small amount of DARK chocolate every day is good due to the high amount of antioxidants. If you are low in manganese try eating more whole grains, seeds, nuts, spinach, and other leafy green vegetables.
Meat - This one is a pretty obvious one, people craving a lot of meat, usually need additional protein. There may also be a phosphorus imbalance. Meat is very difficult for the body to break down and use for energy and a LOT of it is wasted. Many highly carnivorous humans have excess undigested meat sitting in their intestines. These foods may be better alternatives and will help you maintain proper weight. Nuts, seeds, spinach, grains, and legumes.
Caffeine - This addiction we have been fighting since the coffee bean was found. Pay attention to how much caffeine you ingest each day. In the weaning process, start by changing from high caffeinated drinks after noon to moderate and then low. Eventually, stop all caffeine after lunch. Change to green and then white tea. You should really drink very little caffeine daily.
Junk food / Diet food - Most of these foods have addictive ingredients that cause you to crave them regularly. Don't ever shop when you are hungry. You will spend 1/3 more and that 1/3 will primarily be "craving" foods that are addictive. Find something that is 1/2 way between junk food and healthy if you need to make the transition slowly. Dried fruits, root vegetable chips, nuts, seeds, etc.. all will help ease that transition.
Spicy - Spicy food has a warming affect on your body - so if you are beginning to feel under the weather - spicy food will help raise your blood pressure, temperature, and help you fight that illness. You may not even know that you are getting sick... but your body knows! :) Cayenne in your food also is an anti-inflammatory, and aids in stomach ailments... so... lots of good reasons to crave that spice!
Specific items - You may be craving foods that you are allergic to. Yes, your body craves things that you are sensitive to - at times. Don't we all want what we can't have?
Recommended reading on cravings: http://www.crystalalgae.com/articles_cravings.htm
If you have very odd cravings like cigarette butts, cleaning detergent, etc... please get medical help immediately.
This blogger says it soooo very clearly... you ARE what you eat... http://www.natural-cures-and-home-remedies.com/healthy-foods-to-eat.html
Remember that we have three pillars to optimal health - diet, exercise and mental well being. Many people use food as a crutch for mental issues. If you are having cravings, you are not at your optimal best and need to make some changes - some of those changes, may be in need of mental attitudes - to relationships between food, money, and people.
Blessings... E
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