Whenever we see chocolates, pizzas, icecream … We exclaim “That’s what i was looking for -Oh i am so hungry”. But , is that really so? Are we really hungry? Or our mind is sending the wrong signals?
According to Debra Zellner, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at Montclair State University in New Jersey, your mind is what’s raising the craving alarm.
Anatomy of a craving
Zellner’s research on how we think about food has led her to the conclusion that our habits, rather than a biological need, play the major role in our food cravings. In one study, she gave women jumbles of letters and asked them to form words from them, and left a variety of snacks nearby for them to eat. For one group, the letters were arranged so that they wouldn’t form real words. With their stress levels rising, these women reached more often for chocolate candy. But the other group of women could solve their puzzles—which is less stress-inducing—and they more often snacked on grapes.
And when Zellner performed the same snack-food/stress test on men? They didn’t reach for chocolate when they were stressed. Zellner’s explanation: Women tend to put more effort into avoiding or limiting certain “taboo” foods, such as chocolate. Men, however, are more likely to grab whatever food they like whenever they want it. What these tests show is that, even if you normally have good control, stressful situations can sometimes throw your restraint out the window, and thoughts about these foods come flooding in—even if you aren’t hungry.
The stress trigger—and how to avoid it
“We think that stress triggers thoughts about eating foods that you usually eat when you’re stressed and a release of inhibitions,” Zellner says. “If you experience a period of stress, or you’re having PMS or any of those times when you allow yourself to have chocolate, then that’s the time you’re going to crave chocolate—that situation has become associated with chocolate.”
The bottom line: The way to cope with cravings is to change the role that food has in your daily life. To do that, here’s what Zellner suggests.
Don’t treat food as a taboo
- Food is fuel and not a source of fat if taken as nature wants us to
- Abstaining from food will only result in rebellion - and when your guards are down, your mind will entice you into a monstrous dies
- Food is always good when shared
- “Eating alone if you can afford not to” IS WORSE THAN DRINKING ALONE. That shows that those potato chips have take complete control over your life
What you can do with food?
- Mix and Match
- Combo with water
- Add exotic fruits, herbs & vegetables
- Citrus foods are always welcome
This way, the body organs are always on the alert for a different type of material, which keeps them healthy.
