Most of us crave something from time to time – that bar of chocolate in the middle of the afternoon, that cup of coffee first thing in the morning or that cigarette after every meal. The thing about our bodies is that it tells us when something is wrong; sometimes not in the most obvious of ways, but it does tell you nevertheless. When you want to look at craving control, perhaps to lose weight or just maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle, the first thing that you should aim to do is learn what cravings mean and how to control them.
Sort out the sweet cravings!
If you are having an urge to reach for a sugary snack in the middle of the afternoon, it is essential to learn how to control sugar cravings. Let’s be honest about this; there is no way that your body is ACTUALLY craving chocolate – it must be something else that is behind this sudden urge to binge eat everything the vending machine in your office has to offer!
If you are craving chocolate, there is a good chance that your body is low in magnesium. Chocolate is made from cacao, and the rawest form of this contains a lot of the mineral. Your sudden urge for magnesium is because your body uses it in a large number of ways, and for the most part, our diets just do not incorporate enough of it for healthy eating. It has been recommended that you have a ratio of calcium and magnesium of around 2:1, but most foods that you eat, especially dairy, only has a ratio of 12:1 – quite the gap! If you have ever suffered with abnormal periods, a lack of magnesium could be the cause – it regulates your cycle and helps to make it healthy. Not only that but the mineral also helps your body to recover after you have done any physical exercise.
Instead of reaching for the chocolate when you are craving, why not reach for some of the other foods that are high in magnesium:
- – Sunflower seeds
- – Sesame seeds
- – Pumpkin seeds
- – Spinach
- – Almonds
- – Swiss chard
Next: Craving bread, coffee or alcohol? »