How To Manage cravings
Cravings come in many shapes and sizes.
From diet to shopping, there are a ton of impulsive temptations that may arise, and when acted on, generate temporary sensations of happiness and satisfaction.
Although some indulgences have greater consequences than others, all cravings provide an opportunity to exercise self awareness — pausing to recognize the sensation and to explore the root cause.
With empathy for yourself when noticing a craving, you can make an educated decision around whether you indulge, or to paraphrase Physician Nutrition Expert, Dr. Youdim, “surf the urge”.
In her article “Cravings Are a Form of Desire and We All Have Them” Dr. Youdim dives into the physiology behind cravings and identifies the most common causes of them.
According to Youdim, one of the most common causes of food cravings she observes from her patients is sleep deprivation.
Why is this?
Dr. Youdim explains that hunger hormones increase by 30% when you’re sleep deprived. If you can relate and notice your cravings spike after a restless night’s sleep, here’s your prescription.
Additional culprits identified in your article are alcohol, sugar from simple carbohydrates, and inadequate proteins. Beyond these common causes, there’s an added layer to address…
When are cravings at their peak?
According to Youdim, most patients experience heightened cravings during the afternoon and late at night. Why you might ask? Again, remember that you’re probably tired. Secondly, Dr. Youdim brings up an element beyond sleep that leads to exhaustion.
How do you ease decision fatigue?
Take breaks throughout your day to reset your mind and body. Get outside, breathe fully, stretch and move. Additionally, Dr. Youdim suggests reducing the need to make decisions when possible. For example, set routines that are non-negotiable, i.e. the time of day that you exercise, what you’ll wear to work, what you eat for breakfast, etc.
As Dr. Youdim acknowledges, we all have cravings. Become curious about when and why they arise for you personally. In doing so, your cravings can be an ally—revealing deeper unmet needs that when fulfilled have lasting impact on your health and happiness.
If you’re interested in receiving coaching support around setting routines and implementing healthy practices for lasting change, I’d be a privilege to connect further.