Dr. Hyman's 5 Hacks to Curb Your Cravings
Well it’s a month out from New Year’s Day, and we thought we’d check in to see how things are going with some of your intentions for 2021. Since health and weight loss are typically high on the list of the goals desired, we thought we’d offer some sage advice on practical ways to curb your cravings!
When stress is high it’s natural for your cravings to increase and for you to look to food to provide extra comfort. Pair that with the addictive nature of many of the processed foods that surround us and finding food freedom can often be a real challenge.
Bottom line, cravings are real but there are solid strategies to help us break free. Let’s take a moment to look at some key research from our RISE Expert, Dr. Mark Hyman on 5 key practices that will help to eliminate your cravings and lay the foundation to reach your goals...
The Right Mind Shift to Fight Cravings
“Nobody wants to be overweight or suffer the emotional or physical consequences of diabetes or obesity. But willpower simply isn’t enough to overcome the cravings for chips, cookies, soda, and more.
There is no such thing as junk food. There’s just junk, and there’s food. The right foods send a message to your brain to shut down hunger and cravings so you burn fat and feel great. Sugary, processed foods send the opposite message.
Making the right choices to opt for real, whole, unprocessed foods becomes crucial to ditch the junk food habit, but so do your emotional triggers and emotional health.
Whenever you get a strong desire for a chocolate chip cookie or other junk food, ask yourself two questions:
- What am I feeling?
- What do I need?
We have a chance today to stop and detox, not only from junk food, but also from junk thoughts. We must de-clutter our bodies and our minds.
Breaking these addictions and rewiring your brain is easier than you might think. It doesn’t take weeks or months. These five strategies can help:
- Eat real food.You need to eat fat and protein for each of your meals. Whole foods carbohydrates like veggies, legumes, nuts and seeds are perfectly healthy. Broccoli is broccoli. Processed, sugary junk foods are not real foods. They set the stage for sugar addiction and all its ugly consequences.
- Ditch sugar. Go cold turkey. If you are addicted to narcotics or alcohol you can’t simply just cut down. You have to stop for your brain to reset. You must eliminate refined sugars, sodas, fruit juices, and artificial sweeteners from your diet. These are all drugs that fuel sugar addiction.
- Reduce stress.Stress eating and junk food go together. When you’re feeling stressed, you’re more likely to reach for that bag of chocolate chip cookies or whatever your vice might be. Learn to address the root cause of your stress and address it with your favorite stress reduction strategy like deep breathing, meditation or a walk outside.
- Exercise smartly.The next time you get a hankering for something sweet, walk it off... Literally! Besides creating a healthy distraction to avoid nose-diving into a pint of butter pecan ice cream, exercise tapers cravings and raises feel-good endorphin levels. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned athlete, you can find an easy-to-implement exercise plan here.
- Sleep well.Ever notice you’re hungrier for something sugary after a terrible night’s sleep? Studies show lack of sleep increases cravings. Aim to get eight hours of solid sleep every night.”
You Got This!
No matter what your journey has held there’s light at the end of the tunnel! There’s no need to let a sweet or carb craving prevent you from reaching your goals this year.
By weaving in these key strategies, you can rewire your brain and set the stage to leave cravings at the curb and make choices for foods that truly serve you.
