Filipino girl peering at donuts on table
Cravings may seem like little devils that take you away from your diet plan, but these are actually your body’s way of asking you to pay more attention and attain a balance.
Here are the top 5 reasons why you may be having cravings:
1. Lack of water
If you haven’t been drinking plenty of water, then chances are that you’re on the brink of dehydration. Dehydration can manifest itself as mild hunger. So, when you have the beginnings of a craving, drink a glass of water, and continue to hydrate yourself with sips of fresh, cool water.
However, don’t overdo your water intake as that can cause cravings too.
2. Seasonal changes
As the seasons change, bringing heat, cold, rain with them, our bodies work at attaining an internal balance through food. During the scorching summer months, we crave crunchy salads and juicy fruits, while winters trigger cravings for heavy sauces, meat-based dishes, rich desserts and fried snacks.
Monsoons, of course, are about steaming cups of coffee, spiced tea, and piping hot fries.
Festivals too trigger cravings – so, you’ll notice that when Diwali, Christmas and New Year are around the corner, you’ll be dreaming of sweets, cakes, and desserts.
3. Low on primary food
As bizarre as this may sound, if you’re not satisfied with a relationship, haven’t been getting enough exercise, feel stressed at work, or have nothing to do, you could feel pushed towards food cravings and emotional eating.
This is because, unintentionally, we often gorge on food to fill the voids in our lives.
4. Craving our roots
What’s your childhood food that your grandma or mom cooked for you? How often do you crave for it?
Cravings can often be for our ancestral foods. It shows that we like connecting with our memories and value our lineage. There’s no harm in indulging, especially when you can opt for healthier versions of these.
5. Low on nutrients
If your body is low in certain nutrients, it’ll trigger odd cravings. For example, if you don’t have enough minerals in your body, you may crave for salty things. Also, an overall lack of nutrition can cause cravings for not-so-nutritionally-rich forms of food. For example, if you don’t have enough minerals in your body, you may crave salty things.
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