According to Harvard School of Public Health most of us have experienced an intense urge to eat a certain food—ideally right away. More often than not, that food is likely to be sugary, salty, or fatty, or all three. These urges are called cravings, which can pop up at any moment, and aren’t always fueled by hunger pangs.

Animal and human studies have shown that foods that stimulate the reward regions of the brain influence our food choices and eating behaviors. When we eat certain foods, the neurons in the reward region become very active, creating highly positive feelings of pleasure so that we want to keep seeking these foods regularly. These foods are sometimes labeled hyperpalatable because they are easy to digest and have enjoyable qualities of sweetness, saltiness, or richness. Hyperpalatable foods can stimulate the release of metabolic, stress, and appetite hormones including insulin, cortisol, dopamine, leptin, and ghrelin, all of which play a role in cravings.

We are all looking for ways to optimize our health and this week we thought we’d focus on a simple way to elevate our health with very little effort.

Intermittent Fasting has become a key part of all of our programs at RISE. We have found it to be an amazing tool to supercharge your health and metabolism.

Check out some key benefits of IF from leading Functional Medicine Expert Dr. Will Cole.

“If you haven’t tried fasting before, you don’t have to worry about being hungry and you can ease into a fasting practice and find what works for you. Here are the top reasons why you should try intermittent fasting if you need a simple way to boost your health...

1. Intermittent fasting keeps snacking at bay 

Snacking can easily throw us off track with reaching our wellness goals. Unless you plan out your snacks well, there is the chance you’ll give in to temptation when presented...

Looking for some solid strategies and top tips to curb your cravings? Well know you are not alone in this quest as 90% of people report experiencing food cravings for sweet, salty and fatty foods!

And unsatisfied cravings are a main reason sticking to a healthy lifestyle can get derailed. We love Chef Sally Cameron’s top 12 tips as she provides a great combination of food solutions and practical lifestyle changes you can integrate today!

12 Tips on How to Conquer Your Food Cravings

1. Drink Water

What seems like a craving could be dehydration. Check your water intake for the day and drink water before you eat food. Aim for half your body weight a day in ounces of water. And if you’ve sweated a lot, be sure to include electrolytes in your water to replenish critical minerals.

2. Move

When cravings hit, get outside for a walk and get some fresh air. If the weather is bad, do laps in your house, turn on music and dance, turn on a fitness video, do jumping jacks or pushups....