<p>Have you ever had the feeling of eating something immediately after your meals? Do you crave food even if you are not hungry? We don’t always eat simply to satisfy our hunger, we also turn to food as mode to provide comfort, stress relief or as a reward. A food craving is a desire to have a very particular food which is unfortunately often something high in fat or sugar. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Food cravings are nothing but the body’s natural cravings gone awry. Though the exact cause of food cravings is difficult to pinpoint but it may develop as a result of a complex medley of biochemical processes and a variety of hormonal and emotional factors. In recent years some studies have suggested mental imagery has a major part to play in food cravings, finding that when some people crave a particular food they are actually picturing it at the same time.<br /><br />According to Dr Jitendra Nagpal, Consultant, Psychiatry, Moolchand Medcity, “Most of our eating habits are affected by our behaviour. At times when we feel stressed or bored we often turn to food for comfort. But if it has been continuing for long periods then the psychological problems can spiral out of control. In some severe cases food cravings could evolve into episodes of binge eating, drastic weight gain, eating disorders and emotional issues.”<br /><br />Controlling food craving is not half as tough as it sounds. Try to distract yourself by doing something else like reading a book, watching a movie or listening to music as the distraction may help in passing of the craving. Instead of reaching for a pack of chips, reach for the newspaper or whatever else you might find engaging. <br /><br />Daily exercise also reduces stress hormones such as cortisol and helps in realising mood boosting hormones such as endorphins. Endorphins are chemicals in the body which help us to feel good and are released into the bloodstream along with other happy hormones serotonin, dopamine and adrenaline when we exercise.<br /><br />“One should try to drink a glass of water because sometimes our body mistakes the feeling of dehydration for hunger,” added Dr Jitendra. One should find healthier substitutes for what they are craving. Try eating a sugar free chocolate pudding instead of that large chocolate bar. Or allow yourself a small portion of the dessert that you are coveting so much. No food is bad, it’s all in how much you eat <br />of it.<br /><br />One major point that Dr Jitendra added, “There is a misconception that skipping meals will help people to lose weight, when in actual fact have the opposite effect as low sugar level results in indulging with food cravings and overeating. A sensible period of gap between snack and mealtimes is 3-4 hours for women and 4-5 hours for a man and it helps in improving body metabolism.”<br /><br />Processed foods such as ready to eat meals can be extremely tasty and convenient. But, it is not healthy to rely on these foods as the key dietary source and the hidden sugar and salt can trigger cravings. <br /></p>
<p>Have you ever had the feeling of eating something immediately after your meals? Do you crave food even if you are not hungry? We don’t always eat simply to satisfy our hunger, we also turn to food as mode to provide comfort, stress relief or as a reward. A food craving is a desire to have a very particular food which is unfortunately often something high in fat or sugar. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Food cravings are nothing but the body’s natural cravings gone awry. Though the exact cause of food cravings is difficult to pinpoint but it may develop as a result of a complex medley of biochemical processes and a variety of hormonal and emotional factors. In recent years some studies have suggested mental imagery has a major part to play in food cravings, finding that when some people crave a particular food they are actually picturing it at the same time.<br /><br />According to Dr Jitendra Nagpal, Consultant, Psychiatry, Moolchand Medcity, “Most of our eating habits are affected by our behaviour. At times when we feel stressed or bored we often turn to food for comfort. But if it has been continuing for long periods then the psychological problems can spiral out of control. In some severe cases food cravings could evolve into episodes of binge eating, drastic weight gain, eating disorders and emotional issues.”<br /><br />Controlling food craving is not half as tough as it sounds. Try to distract yourself by doing something else like reading a book, watching a movie or listening to music as the distraction may help in passing of the craving. Instead of reaching for a pack of chips, reach for the newspaper or whatever else you might find engaging. <br /><br />Daily exercise also reduces stress hormones such as cortisol and helps in realising mood boosting hormones such as endorphins. Endorphins are chemicals in the body which help us to feel good and are released into the bloodstream along with other happy hormones serotonin, dopamine and adrenaline when we exercise.<br /><br />“One should try to drink a glass of water because sometimes our body mistakes the feeling of dehydration for hunger,” added Dr Jitendra. One should find healthier substitutes for what they are craving. Try eating a sugar free chocolate pudding instead of that large chocolate bar. Or allow yourself a small portion of the dessert that you are coveting so much. No food is bad, it’s all in how much you eat <br />of it.<br /><br />One major point that Dr Jitendra added, “There is a misconception that skipping meals will help people to lose weight, when in actual fact have the opposite effect as low sugar level results in indulging with food cravings and overeating. A sensible period of gap between snack and mealtimes is 3-4 hours for women and 4-5 hours for a man and it helps in improving body metabolism.”<br /><br />Processed foods such as ready to eat meals can be extremely tasty and convenient. But, it is not healthy to rely on these foods as the key dietary source and the hidden sugar and salt can trigger cravings. <br /></p>
