Food craving is when you want a certain kind of food badly and cannot think of anything else but the food that will bring pleasure to both your stomach and brain. Nutritionist and dietitian Jihan Mousa says, “Hunger does not play a prominent role because most cravings happen late at night after dinner and that’s when people look for the food that gives them pleasure.”
Everyone experiences food cravings but studies show that women are more likely than men to have these urges. Surveys conducted at the Monell Chemical Senses Center found that nearly 100 percent of females and 70 percent of males experienced a food craving. “The study showed that women tend to want more sweets whereas men crave more savory foods,” said Mousa. “Both genders look for foods that are rich in fat and calories and it is almost impossible to find someone who craves fresh vegetables or fruits,” she added.
According to Mousa, “Every craving begins with a signal so the smart thing to do is to know your signals. Keeping a Food diary is of great help to know what the signals are. You can write down the timings as well as to know if you fancy a piece of chocolate at 8 p.m. everyday or something simple like coffee as soon as you wake up,” she said. “This diary will help you track cravings according to the mood and time of day because one of the major causes of food cravings is depression and stress so you must know what kinds of food relieve you from them,” she added.
Resisting food cravings makes it worse but when people give into them, they can go overboard. “When you crave something, just surrender gracefully and try to manage the quantity and the quality. For example, if you want ice-cream, try to get a small scoop and add fruits to it so you can balance and take advantage of the craving,” said Mousa. “Another way is to wait it out. Many doctors say the peak of the urge only lasts from 10 to 15 minutes so try to distract yourself by taking a shower or going for a quick run,” she said.
Studies in thought suppression show that trying not to think about something guarantees that the subject will control your thoughts, empowering your brain’s default craving loop. To conquer the craving, you must defeat the cycle. “Forgetting about it will definitely make you want it even more. So it is very important to motivate yourself to lose the extra pounds for the summer for example,” said Mousa.
Mousa says cravings are acceptable on certain occasions like a craving for Kunafa, an Arabic dessert, in Ramadan. “It is harmless because Kunafa is the signal and the tradition is Ramadan which means Kunafa is okay if you want it and would like to eat it as well,” she said. “But all year round cravings are dangerous because you will end up giving in to foods that are bad for your body. What’s more, it will show that you have no control over yourself,” she added.
Almost all women who are expecting babies crave different kinds of food both savory and sweet. “Pregnancy craving is different because pregnancy hormones are active especially in the first trimester. Doctors say that it the body might be sending a message saying that you need to eat a certain kind of food,” said Mousa. “You cannot fight these cravings especially when you are carrying a baby. So just try to eat small portions and look for healthier options that will benefit you and your baby,” she added.
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