Aspiring
paranormal romance author Scarlett West is in the process of creating a vampire
series set in Europe and the United States. Learn more about Scarlett and
follow her writing journey at her website.
Carbs: Five Reasons We Crave Them
Wait! Before you think I’m a
carb extremist who will tell you not to eat them, let me share a little about
myself. I eat well to feel well and like to eat a balanced diet.
I believe carbohydrates, including
some junk food, have a place on our plates. My mom always warned me not to
follow fad diets, but rather try to eat all the colors of fruits, veggies,
whole grains, and the like.
Carbohydrates are yummy and
emotionally satisfying. There’s certainly nothing wrong with that, but
sometimes they can take up too much room in our diet and contribute to health
problems. I will give examples of why we crave them and how to get back to
balance.
I am not suggesting we
eliminate them completely, unless we have valid health reasons why we might
need to do so.
Allergies and Sensitivities
We often crave foods we are
allergic or sensitive to. For example, many people have a sensitivity to gluten
or wheat and not know it. Nutritionists sometimes ask what we crave the most.
Pasta, bread, cookies, and foods like that might be on the list. It’s odd how
the body functions, but we may be allergic or have sensitivity to the very food
we gobble up the most.
What’s the difference? An
allergy is when our body has a real attack to something we eat, like hives,
anaphylaxis, and swelling. A sensitivity could include various kinds of
digestive disturbances or nasal congestion.
So how do we find out if we
have a sensitivity/allergy? The cheapest way is to do an elimination diet
preferably with the help of a nutritionist or other person guiding you. Another
way is to do allergy testing through a Naturopath or doctor. Professionals who
know about nutrition and food are the best kinds of people to help with a
problem like this.
Vitamin and Mineral Deficiency
Sometimes, the reason we want
those carbs is because we lack certain vitamins and minerals in our body. If we
round out our diet and make sure we include them, our carb interest may
diminish.
Examples of nutrients we may
lack: chromium is a mineral that can be taken as a supplement to lower food
cravings. We can also include it in our diets by eating fresh fruit, green
beans, ham, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and cheese.
Other vitamins and minerals
we may need are calcium, nitrogen, and B-vitamins. We find those three in milk
products, leafy greens, brown rice, fish, black beans, lentils, salmon, and
bell peppers.
Eating the rainbow is
important!
Candida Overgrowth
Say what? We have bacteria,
good and bad, different kinds of yeasts, and viruses floating around our body
all the time. One of the main places these life forms hang out is in our gut.
Candida is a form of yeast that becomes overgrown like a crazy patch of weeds,
but in the body.
How do we know we have it
and what can we do about it?
Symptoms can include regular
fungal infections on the skin and throughout the body, digestive problems, difficulty
focusing, depression/mood swings, and guess what else? Always craving carbs and
sweets because Candida feeds off those to reproduce. And because our immune
system is mostly housed in our gut area it is important to get hold of
something like this so we don’t develop more severe problems later.
To rid our bodies of Candida
we can reduce/eliminate sugar and carbs from our diet for a month, take
probiotics, Pau D’Arco teas/tinctures, and/or caprylic acid. Usually those
herbal remedies come in capsules.
Hormones
Yes, those grand old
hormones that follow us around our entire life might affect our hankerings. PMS
and menopause are times when women can feel more of a need to eat those carbs,
but unfortunately, they can also make our problems worse. Make a sad face.
I don’t feel qualified
enough to talk about how to solve these issues except to make one suggestion.
Sometimes women don’t find a solution with medical treatments. My personal
experience, and those of women I know, is that herbal treatments can be very
effective for balancing hormones. You would need to find a qualified herbalist
to help with these issues, but I wanted to point it out in case some readers
had never thought of this before.
Feeling Stressed and Tired
For some of us, this is the
story of our life, to be stressed and never rested enough. In the long run,
this can take a toll on our bodies and emotions. We reach for carbohydrate
filled foods because they lift our moods, including serotonin, one of the
“happy chemicals” in our brains.
Taking time for self-care is
important, including sleep and balanced foods. Also, if we are going through
something, caring for our emotions and finding solutions to our problems can be
helpful. If there is no solution, at least doing something positive and loving
for ourselves can make a difference.
Other Brief Tips:
Eat protein first thing in
the morning. Even if we don’t have a big appetite, a small, protein rich
yogurt, a hard-boiled egg, or another item can help. This sets us up for the
whole day so we crave carbs less later on.
Keep healthy snacks on hand.
Veggies and fruits dipped in almond, cashew, or peanut butter; bags of nuts or
other trail mix; cheese sticks; or other goodies can make a difference.
Maintaining even blood sugar levels during the day is important so we don’t
have energy crashes and sudden urges to eat foods that aren’t so great.
Indulge. Yes, I believe it
is good to eat something junky and enjoy it. I don’t want to beat myself up for
eating junk food.
And like anything else, all
we can do is our best. Also, with all of these suggestions, please follow your
own discretion and do what’s best for your health plan. I’m only sharing
information that I find helpful.
