Saturday, August 15, 2009

Fast Ways to Help with Cravings

Sometimes we can't help but let cravings get the best of us. Especially for the emotional eaters, the menstrual eaters, and of course the fast-metabolism eaters that just seem to always be hungry. Well, Val Weaver, the top health and know-how editor of Self, Vogue, Health Day, and Vegetarian Times did a little study and came up with some fast ways to help curb your cravings.

Pop in a mint mouthwash strip-not only good breathe, but the flavor takes away the taste for sweets.

Take an 8 minute walk-usually if you eat while stressed, mad or sad-what your really craving is serotonin, a brain chemical linked to better moods. Go outside and take a short walk. Scientists have said that as short as 8 minutes of fresh air boosts your serotonin. Which of course gets rid of the cravings.

Get some gum-a british study said that people who chew gum 15 minutes after eating lunch crave less sweets, and eat less snacks, than people who don't. (of course the sugar free is always better:))

Pick a different Chip-this one is for potato chip lovers. Next time you reach for a bag of potato chips, grab the dill pickle chips instead. You get salty and crunchy, so your mouth gets all puckery-cool, and your taste buds are snapped to attention-and eating 3 chips is only 5 calories! So basically you really could eat the whole bag.

Cravings can do in a healthy diet. If controlling them means you maintain your body weight and body mass index at the level you want, it can keep your health as much as 6 years younger. I'd say it's worth it eh!

1 comments:

Gloria Chadwick said...

This is a great post with lots of good ideas. I always reach for cucumber "chips" (thinly-sliced cucumber) instead of potato chips. They have a satisfying crunch, there are practically zero calories and you can have as many as you want. It's on the "free" list of food. :)