I just sat down and ate a bag of reduced-fat microwave popcorn with Magic Shell chocolate syrup on top. It’s not as gross as it sounds, really! (I like salty and sweet together.)
That snack was my compromise. What I REALLY wanted was to head to Cold Stone Creamery and get a crazy ice cream concoction. My sweet tooth was in overdrive, and I had to do something. The choco-popcorn satisfied the craving without making me feel too guilty about eating something bad for me.
According to a study from Tufts University, most women experience strong cravings — more than ninety percent of women surveyed! When we eat the foods we crave, our brain releases feel-good chemicals (like dopamine). We like feeling good, right? But giving into cravings over and over can be bad for your health.
So how do you outsmart your cravings? Ask yourself a few questions when the hunger hits.
- How stressed am I? Stress causes your body to release a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol makes your brain seek comfort foods (chock full of sugar and fat, usually). If you eat because you’re feeling bad, you are teaching your body and brain that snacks are a solution to bad feelings.
- How hungry am I? If you’re denying yourself (restricting a food group or cutting way back on calories) your body may go into craving mode. Three days of dieting can reduce levels of your appetite suppressing hormones. If you restrict yourself too harshly, you run the risk of bingeing on your “forbidden” foods.
- How tired am I? Lack of sleep can also mess with levels of appetite suppressing hormones in your body. If you’re over-tired, you may find your appetite for starchy foods rising (by as much as forty-five percent, according to a study from the University of Chicago).
- Is this craving a habit? The brain likes routines. If you always snack while you watch TV, you may find yourself craving food when you’re not actually hungry.