Can we control the cravings?

I am always asked how do you control the cravings...the answer is not a simple one.

There are times that we crave certain food items and those are signs that our bodies are giving us....for example, you may crave peanuts... your body is probably needing more protein..

Being a vegetarian, it is difficult to get all the daily requirements so when my body is craving a certain food product I try to listen... now I won't go to the extreme and eat a chocolate bar with peanuts or chocolate peanut butter icecream as tempting as that may be at the time. A slice of wheat bread with peanut butter and honey is quite delicious and will satisfy the craving and won't make me feel guilty afterwards..

If you crave lots of sweets, you may be lacking carbohydrates in your diet. Carbohydrates turn into glucose (sugar) in our system, so eating pasta or baked potatoes may satisfy your cravings and not harm your waistline as much..

It is very improtant to drink lots of fluids as well, and soft drinks don't count:)
Our body is 98% water so in order to keep it working properly we must replace all the water that we eliminate on a daily basis. Water is the best to drink, but you can also replace that with many other popular drinks on the market such as green tea, to replenish our bodies.

Remember, the more we drink the more we will eliminate so it is a cycle that must continue. Our bodies are like 'big sponges' that need water to function. We eliminate toxins from our bodies and the liquid will keep our bodies cleansed and our skin looking younger.

So, cravings are not bad unless you give into the temptations of 'bad' food choices. If you eat the appropriate foods you will likely not have as many cravings; but if you do have them, make wise decisions and ones that you will not regret in the morning.

We must take care of our bodies, they are the only ones we have. Unfortunately we can not trade them in as we can with our automobiles, so love your bodies. Exercise, drink lots of fluids and eat appropriately and your body will love you for it:)

Until next time....
~Dr. Daisy