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Be Well

Your Cravings are (actually) GOOD!

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There are over 20,000 edible plants in this world, but why is it that we’re so fixated on a big plate of french fries and ooey-gooey chocolate-chip cookie when that mid-afternoon slumps hits? Cravings can be spurred on for a variety of reasons, and once you nail down the underlying cause (are you stressed? sad? dehydrated? missing important minerals?) then the allure of the sugary or grease-laden snack will vanish as quickly as it appeared. First things first; you need to solve the mystery of why you’ve got salty and sweet on the brain. And we’ve got some ideas…

Nutrient deficiency

We love real, wholesome food because we’d rather not be skimping out on vitamins and minerals that hinder this divine machine we call our body! Whether we help out our systems with cups of leafy greens or not, our bodies will still be begging for those critical nutrients. One thing leads to another, and wires may become crossed. For example, if you’re a self-proclaimed chocoholic, you may be depriving your body of magnesium. In desperate need of something salty? There may be a lack of essential minerals and B vitamins in your diet. Are french fries your junk food M.O.? Perhaps you need essential fatty acids from avocados or chia seeds. Bottom line: trying to listen to our bodies more closely will lead to splurges that are more mindful and less about mismatching the answer your bodies’ needs.

Hydration

Though it may serve as a comforting ritual, living off caffeine alone can certainly contribute to a vicious cycle of coffee dependence and adrenal fatigue. We’ve said it time and again, but water is the cornerstone for vibrant health! Plus, when we avoid water regularly, our body intuition can become cloudy and thirst can translate to hunger. Stave off confusion and strive to drink an even 10 glasses a day (a whole gallon if you want extra extra credit!)

Nutritional balance

Certain foods have more yin qualities (expansive), while other foods have more yang qualities (contractive). Eating foods that are either extremely yin or extremely yang causes cravings in order to maintain balance. For example, eating a diet too rich in sugar (yin) may cause a craving for meat (yang). Eating too many raw foods (yin) may cause cravings for extremely cooked (dehydrated) foods or vise versa.

Hormonal

Your endocrine system is suuuuuuper integral to your overall health–physical, mental, spiritual, the whole gamut. We love to create balance within, as this aids in keeping our bodies agile and adaptable to the day’s variables. When you utilize adaptogens and superfoods to up those mood-boosting hormones and other hormones that have you feeling all kinds of off-balance when they are out of whack. The real secret is to alleviate some laborious work in the gut to get these hormones moving and shaking again. When your hormones are alert, you will feel lean, have a happy gut, and be restful. It is pertinent to get your blood work looked at to determine if hormones are the culprit for insatiable cravings.

Seasonal

Often the body craves foods that balance the elements of the season. In the spring, people crave detoxifying foods like leafy greens or citrus foods. In the summer, people crave cooling foods like fruit, raw foods, and ice cream, and 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.

It’s time we stop feeling helpless or guilty when thoughts of different foods pop in our heads– especially labeling foods as “bad” or “good”… it’s simply not a healthy mindset. However, we should be giving our bodies the tools everyday to eat intuitively and with love and compassion. Our body wants to do the talking, so let’s make sure we’re speaking the same language. #bodylove

http://mag.sakaralife.com/cravings-decoded/

http://thechalkboardmag.com/how-to-naturally-cure-hormonal-imbalance

http://www.integrativenutrition.com/blog/2015/09/do-you-hate-your-cravings-here-s-why-you-shouldn-t