So you tried all the strategies in Part 1 of this series but you are still hungry all the time. Here are three additional points to address which will help you tame your hunger:
- Think bad bugs. If the microbial environment of your GI tract is off (a condition called dysbiosis) you can’t break food down properly. If you can’t break food down, you can’t get all the nutrients out of it and your body will send out the signal to eat more because it is craving those nutrients. Even if you eat the best food in the world, you can still be nutrient-deprived because of dysbiosis. Taking a good quality probiotic may help.
- Chew your food. We are a “chomp-chomp-swallow” society; we eat in our cars, in front of the TV and at our desks. Rarely ever do we just sit down to eat and enjoy our food; this is fundamental reason we often overeat. All digestion starts in the mouth; if you don’t chew your food enough, you can’t possibly digest your food properly and you will be hungry faster. In addition, by wolfing down your food, you don’t give your body time to register all the food you’ve eaten. Slow down and chew your food at least 30 times before swallowing, including liquid foods like smoothies. Every bite of food you put in your mouth should be a liquid before you swallow it. By slowing down, you will not only get more out of what you eat, you’ll enjoy it more and feel more satisfied.
- You may have a neurotransmitter imbalance. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers in the brain that control most of your body’s functions, including appetite, cravings and binging behaviors. They also play a vital role in mood, focus, concentration, memory, sleep, migraines, compulsions and addictions. If your neurotransmitter function is off, you will have symptoms, including sugar cravings, inappropriate hunger and a drive to overeat; you may also experience depression, anxiety, migraines, compulsions, sleep disturbances and/or other conditions associated with imbalance. The solution is to optimize your neurotransmitter function; doing so will eliminate the cravings, hunger and other symptoms of imbalance and let you regain control of your life. Contact us to get started.
Cravings and constant hunger can lead to all sorts of health problems. From a physical perspective, they can lead to weight gain, obesity, inability to lose weight, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and joint problems. Mentally, the guilt, shame and frustration due to constant cravings and a “battle-of-wills” with food can be overwhelming and lead to depression and despair. And the emotional roller-coaster associated with cravings and binges can make you feel like your life is out of control.
You can get that control back. Use the suggestions above to get control of your appetite and cravings. If you need assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’ve helped thousands of people get control of their life back and we can help you too.