There you are, sitting at your desk or in your car and suddenly it hits you – you are HUNGRY with a capital “H”, but you just ate an hour or two ago – what’s going on? This two part series will help you find your answers.
There are several reasons people experience inappropriate or constant hunger as well as insatiable cravings. Most people think it is “all in their head” and try to use willpower to overcome hunger and cravings. However, anybody that has tried to rely on willpower alone knows that inevitably willpower will fail and you’ll soon find yourself in the proverbial cookie jar.
Most of the time, there are one or more biochemical imbalances that lead to cravings, constant hunger and/or binging type behavior. Before you start your next battle of wills with food, consider addressing the following points:
- Many people are hungry all the time because their body is craving missing nutrients, such as magnesium, calcium and B-vitamins. It’s been shown that a majority of the American population is deficient in six to ten nutrients. This is largely due to a deficient diet – most people fill up with junk foods that are wildly deficient in vitamins and minerals rather than eating more nutrient-rich foods such as vegetables, whole fruits, beans and whole grains. Even though many people look well-fed, they are basically starving for nutrients.
- Try adding more whole foods to your diet; the majority of the foods you eat shouldn’t have or need a label to tell you what’s in it.
- Get and take a good multi-vitamin/mineral supplement. One-a-day multis generally don’t work; a good multi will contain a mix of whole-food and easily absorbed minerals (not oxides or carbonates), which usually means bigger pills and the need to take them multiple times a day.
- Eat more fiber; most processed foods are devoid of fiber, which means you eat more calories, but feel less satisfied. Opt for whole grain options, vegetables, fruits and beans, peas or lentil dishes to keep you full and satisfied.
- Don’t skip on fat. Many Americans are fat-phobic, so they avoid all fats rather than just those that can be damaging to your health. Yes, you want to limit saturated fats (found mainly in animal products) and eliminate trans fats (found mostly in processed foods), but you need fat in your diet to feel satisfied. Eat healthier fat options, such as olive oil, coconut oil, fish, avocado and nuts and seeds to give your body the fat it needs to feel and look good.
- Look for food hypersensitivities. Many people have food hypersensitivity (often called allergies) reactions to food and don’t even realize it. Every time you eat a food to which you are hypersensitive, it initiates a chemical response in your body that can actually cause you to crave more of that food. We can help you determine your specific food sensitivities through specific testing; contact us to learn more.
If addressing these doesn’t take care of your cravings or hunger, don’t despair; Part 2 of this two part series will provide three additional ways to conquer your cravings and get your hunger under control.