Overcome those cravings!

Here are four ways to overcome cravings:

1. Give yourself a happiness boostResearch has found that eating carbohydrates such as pasta, bread and potatoes stimulates the production of the ‘happy hormone’ serotonin in the brain. This may explain why many of us crave these ‘comfort’ foods when we’re feeling down. To cut your cravings, try to find healthier ways to give your serotonin levels a boost, such as meeting up with a friend, watching your favourite type of movies, taking part in an exercise session, etc.

2. RelaxStress can be a powerful trigger for cravings. Research from the University of Cincinnati has shown that sodium in salt inhibits the body’s stress hormones, meaning that cravings for salty foods could be your body’s attempt to deal with stress. To overcome these cravings, try to avoid the things that cause you stress as much as you can and make relaxation a regular part of your routine. Find a healthier way to deal with stress when it occurs, such as working out, meditating or talking through your problems with a friend.

3. Change your habitsAccording to research results published in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, your environment can be a powerful trigger for food cravings. Maybe you associate going to the cinema with eating popcorn, for example, or watching your favourite television show makes you reach for a snack. To banish habit-formed cravings, try to avoid the environments that trigger them. Take up a hobby that reduces your television time, or walk a different route to work so as not to pass by your favourite coffee shop. By avoiding certain places or activities, you can help to kill those cravings.

4. Get enough sleepResearchers at the University of Chicago have found that not getting enough sleep affects our appetite-regulating hormones, meaning that we feel hungrier the next day and are also more likely to crave calorie-rich, high-carbohydrate foods. Not only that, lack of sleep decreases willpower, meaning that you are less likely to resist those cravings. To help reduce your cravings, make sure you get a minimum of seven hours of sleep a night.

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