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The common misconception among most people is that food cravings signify a lack of nutrition or some deficiency in the body. This however is not true. Food cravings are usually certain and selective, but mostly exist only for pleasure. Food cravings generally only add to body weight and cause problems like obesity and other related disorders. Most people who have food cravings are aware of them and what they can do but they are still unable to stop the cravings. Most people are in denial of such cravings and this leads to various health problems. Men and women both have varying abilities to suppress their appetite. Men are generally able to suppress their hunger better than women are.

Most people who are overweight or obese occasionally suffer from food cravings. Very often, such cravings are for a particular type of food. This does not really mean they are hungry, but signifies a deeper problem. Studies show that biological factors contribute to food cravings for specific foods. Most people either crave sweet or salty foods. Medical research shows that when there is a decrease in the serotonin levels in the body, it triggers food cravings. It is very important to know how to control and beat such food cravings even if the feelings seem unstoppable. Certain important tips that can help conquer your food cravings are as under:

• Change of Place or Activity: Whenever you feel a food urge coming on, try to change your activity or the place your in. The environment around you may be a contributing factor in sending signals to your brain that trigger specific food cravings. Particular smells and sights may remind you of certain foods and trigger cravings. Therefore, a change in scenery effectively helps control such urges.
• Exercise: You can also beat food cravings with the help of simple exercises like running, jogging or even walking. These exercises help in refocusing your mind and help you forget about the food urges.
• Mental Distraction from Food: You can try distracting your taste buds to avoid binging on foods that are laden with calories and fats. If you have a sweet craving, instead of eating sugary foods, try eating low calorie foods like a pickle or a sour fruit. Similarly, if you crave salty foods, try eating low calorie or spicy foods instead of going for a bag of salty chips.
• Self-Reward: When you wean yourself from certain food cravings, reward yourself for avoiding the food urge. You may buy yourself a gift, take a spa session, or even rent a movie as a self-reward. Satisfying another craving helps refocus your mind from the original food craving.
• Avoid starvation: Starvation only encourages food cravings. When you starve yourself for a long time, the blood sugar levels in the body decrease giving rise to food cravings. This way you only end up binging on the wrong foods.
• Avoid Sugar: Although sugar make food tastier, it is very important to avoid it as much as possible especially if you are trying to lose weight. Medical experts believe that sugar addiction may be just as bad as heroin addiction if not controlled in time. Sugary foods are loaded with calories and make you feel hungry soon. This can lead to food cravings and other health complications.
• Calcium Rich Foods: To overcome food cravings it is very important to eat plenty of calcium rich foods. Studies show that calcium deficiency in the body may result in food cravings. To make up for such deficiencies, the body starts craving specific foods. Therefore, it is vital to ensure that you eat calcium rich low calorie foods like green leafy vegetables to avoid food urges.

Home Remedies to Beat Food Cravings

You can also beat food cravings with the help of some simple home remedies as mentioned under:

• Water: Whenever you experience a food craving, drink a few glasses of water to suppress the craving. If the craving still exists, eat a healthy snack to satisfy the urge.
• Regular Meal Intervals: Avoiding eating at regular intervals may give rise to food cravings. Therefore, it is very important to eat 5-6 balanced meals throughout the day to satisfy your hunger and eliminate food cravings. Protein and fiber rich foods in particular are of great help in curbing food cravings.
• Avoid Stress: Mentally stressed people usually have greater food cravings as compared to others. In such scenarios, you need to find proper coping mechanisms to deal with food cravings. Meditation, yoga, and breathing exercises are great ways to de-stress and will help overcome food cravings effectively.
• Green Tea: Natural ingredients like green tea are a great remedy for beating food cravings. Drink a cup of green tea after meals to avoid cravings and promote good health.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.