Rather than just feed your sweet tooth or try to opt for lower calorie treats a better option is to investigate why you have food cravings in the fist place!
When it comes to our diet and the cravings that often derail our best intentions, the saying "Don't feed your sweet tooth, tear the cause, not the craving" serves as a powerful guiding principle.
This blog explores a few reasons behind our cravings, particularly focusing on the impact of processed foods, seed oils and vegetable oils on our food cravings and discusses a traditional diet rich in fatty meats and fruits can offer a sustainable path to reducing these cravings.
The Temptation of Processed Foods
Processed foods are designed for convenience and long shelf life, not for nutritional value. They are often loaded with refined sugars, additives, and preservatives that can disrupt our body's natural hunger signals and hormonal balance, leading to increased cravings.
The high sugar content in these foods causes large and frequent spikes in blood sugar levels followed by a rapid drop, which then triggers the craving for more sugary foods to regain that fleeting energy high.
This vicious cycle can lead to overeating and a host of health issues.
The Danger Of Seed And Vegetable Oils
Seed oils, such as soybean, corn, and canola oils, are rampant in processed foods and have been linked to inflammation and metabolic issues. These oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids, which, when consumed in excess, can skew the body's omega-6 to omega-3 ratio, leading to chronic inflammation.
This inflammation can interfere with the body's natural hunger regulation mechanisms, making it difficult to differentiate between true hunger and a mere craving.
Species Specific Diet
Our ancestors' diets were devoid of processed foods and high in nutrients from whole foods, including fatty meats and fresh fruits. Fatty meats, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, provide a more sustained source of energy and satiety, helping to curb cravings.
They also play a crucial role in brain health and inflammation reduction. On the other hand, fruits, while sweet, offer natural sugars along with fibre, vitamins, and antioxidants, making them a healthier choice for satisfying sweet cravings.
Embracing Whole Foods to Reduce Cravings
Incorporating more whole foods into our diets, such as fatty meats and fruits, can help in managing cravings by providing our bodies with the nutrients they need to function optimally. Fatty meats can increase satiety and reduce the likelihood of reaching for unhealthy snacks, while fruits can satisfy sweet cravings without the rollercoaster effect on blood sugar levels that processed sugars cause.
Take Home
Tackling cravings is not just about resisting the urge to indulge in sweet or processed foods; it's about addressing the underlying causes of these cravings. By understanding the impact of processed foods and seed oils on our bodies and embracing a diet rich in whole foods like fatty meats and fruits, we can reduce cravings, improve our overall health, and enjoy eating foods that benefit out bodies and our mind.
So don’t just feed your sweet tooth tear down the causes of your cravings and create a healthier relationship with food.
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