Craving Junk Food

Do you crave junk food?

We’ve all been there! These cravings come and go but do they actually mean something? Cravings can come at any time but do I dare say it!? During that lovely time of the month can be a bit challenging. Our hormones are going crazy! Which often leads to craving and binge on junk. I have put together some tips to help you eliminate those PMS cravings! But it doesn’t just have to be that time of the month when our hormones are out of balance our body naturally craves nutrients that we are lacking. But our bodies can get a bit confused and when we think we need that bag of chips or milk chocolate bar our bodies are actually asking for something else.

How do we tame your cravings?

crav·ing

ˈkrāviNG’

noun

plural noun: cravings

a powerful desire for something.

“a craving for chocolate”

synonyms: longing, yearning, desire, want, wish, hankering, hunger, thirst, appetite, greed, lust, ache, need, urge; More

Why do we crave sugary, greasy food especially around our period?

Our hormones are to blame!! They are the reason we want fried food or candy in the days before or even during our period. During this time, our stress hormone {cortisol} spikes, and the feel-good hormone serotonin dips. This fluctuation makes our bodies crave foods with lots of sugar and fat because they boost levels of serotonin and combat cortisol production, making you feel happier and more relaxed. That is, until you crash and need another sugary or greasy snack.

The good news?

Eliminating processed foods, and refined carbs especially in the two weeks leading up to your period —and upping your intake of fiber and protein—this can help your hormone and blood-sugar levels stay relatively stable.

Check out 10 Ways to Use Breathe

If you’re on your period right now—and can’t stop reaching for the chips or chocolate—start your day off with a protein-packed breakfast. A morning meal of eggs and bacon—as opposed to cereal or pancakes {Unless they are my protein packed pancakes!} —sets you up to have a steady blood-sugar level for the rest of the day. In the afternoon, be sure to snack on fresh produce. It’s a good source of water and fiber, both of which help to reduce bloating and stave off hunger and cravings.

Craving chocolate?

I have good news for you!!! Try to munch on a piece of dark chocolate-covered almonds instead of a candy bar so you can savor the sweetness, get a little protein into curb future cravings, and take in some antioxidants.

There are also many other reasons we have cravings not only around our periods. We can also be deficient in some key nutrients along with having our hormones out of balance.

FOOD CRAVINGS CHART

Craving this:……	Reason is:………………………..	Eat this instead:…………………………………..

COMMON FOOD
Cheese	Essential Fatty Acids deficiency	Omega 3’s (EPA and DHA)- Flax oil, ground flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts
	Calcium deficiency	Sesame seeds/ tahini, broccoli, kale, legumes, mustard and turnip greens
Pasta, white bread, pastries	Chromium deficiency	Onion, romaine lettuce, tomato, cinnamon, grapes, apples, sweet potato
Bread and toast	Nitrogen deficiency	Foods containing proteins, i.e. Green leafy veggies, nuts, seeds, legumes, grains
Red meat	Iron deficiency	beans, legumes, prunes, figs+ other dried fruit, seaweed, spinach, cherries, Vitamin C for iron absorption
Popcorn	Stress hormone fluctuations	Meditation, breathing exercises, exercise, leafy greens, vitamin B and C
Crisps	Chloride deficiency	celery, olives, tomato, kelp, Himalayan sea salt
	Essential Fatty Acids deficiency	Omega 3’s (EPA and DHA)- Flax oil, ground flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts

FLAVOUR
Burned Food	Carbon deficiency	Fresh fruits
Acid foods	Magnesium deficiency	raw cacao nibs/beans/powder, Whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, greens, fruit
Salty Foods	Chloride deficiency	celery, olives, tomato, kelp, Himalayan sea salt
	Stress hormone fluctuations	Meditation, breathing exercises, exercise, leafy greens, vitamin B and C

SWEETS
Chocolate	Magnesium deficiency	raw cacao nibs/beans/powder, Whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, greens, fruit
Soda, fizzy drinks	Calcium deficiency	Sesame seeds/ tahini, broccoli, kale, legumes, mustard and turnip greens
General sweets	Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)	fruit, high fiber foods (beans, legumes), complex carbs (grains), chromium (cinnamon)
	Tryptophan deficiency	spirulina, pumpkin/sesame/sunflower seeds, raw cacao, oatmeal, sweet potato, spinach, raisins
	Chromium deficiency	Onion, romaine lettuce, tomato, cinnamon, grapes, apples, sweet potato
	Sulphur deficiency	cruciferous veggie (kale, cabbage, etc), cranberries, horseradish, asparagus, carob powder, garlic, onion
	Phosphorus deficiency	whole grains, pinto beans, pumpkin seeds, brazil nuts, lentils
EATING HABITS
Lack of appetite	Chloride deficiency	celery, olives, tomato, kelp, Himalayan sea salt
	Thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency	whole grains, peanuts, seeds, beans, green and yellow vegetables
	Niacin (Vitamin B3) deficiency	Peanuts, sunflower seeds, wheat bran and wheat germ
	Manganese deficiency	walnuts, almonds, pecans, whole grains, green leafy veges, pineapple, blueberries
Often overeating	Tryptophan deficiency	spirulina, pumpkin/sesame/sunflower seeds, raw cacao, oatmeal, sweet potato, spinach, raisins
	Tyrosine deficiency	Fruits (esp. Avocado and banana), whole grains, oats, legumes, beans, nuts, seeds, Vitamin C, veges
	Silicon deficiency	horsetail herb, nuts, seeds, oats, millet, barley, onions, whole wheat, beetroot. Avoid refines starches
Often snacky	No balanced diet, missing nutrients	Substitute junk food for healthy meals

MORE BIZARRE
Crunching on ice	Iron deficiency	beans, legumes, prunes, figs+ other dried fruit, seaweed, spinach, cherries, Vitamin C for iron absorption
Laundry starch	Iron deficiency	beans, legumes, prunes, figs+ other dried fruit, seaweed, spinach, cherries, Vitamin C for iron absorption
Cigarette butts	Iron deficiency	beans, legumes,prunes, figs+ other dried fruit, seaweed, spinach, cherries, Vitamin C for iron absorption

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Your Friend and Coach,

Kristin

Kristin McConnell

Hi!! I’m Kristin McConnell, I am so glad you are here! I am a wife to my amazing husband and a Mom of two fabulous kids. I love gardening, raising chickens, bee keeping and baking sourdough bread!

livesimplywithkristin.com

Craving Junk Food

Do you crave junk food?

How do we tame your cravings?

crav·ing