It has probably happened to you more than once that you were just quietly minding your own business and then, suddenly, some sort of supernatural force drives you to the fridge in search of that last piece of brownie you had left behind. Cravings seem to be controlling your life. And you’re not even a pregnant lady (no offense if you are actually pregnant).
Worry no more, it is, in fact, possible to prevent your engulfing impulses. With these tips you will leave your craving days in the past and make way for a healthier lifestyle.
Distract yourself
If you can make yourself focus on somethings else, it won’t be long until you forget about your sudden “hunger”. So fill out a Sudoku or pay the gym a visit: any activity is enough to forget about your cravings. A plus point is if your hands are busy, that way you won’t have space to hold food.
However, do bear in mind that the distraction should be something other than watching TV or Youtube videos as this might become counterproductive.
Drink enough water
You might think drinking water might mislead your body into thinking you are full, but this is actually not the reason why you should drink water. We often think we are hungry, when in reality, we are just thirsty.
In other words, drinking water will not only keep us hydrated, it will also keep our appetite in check. Now, you can’t change food for water: don’t think you can feel full by just drinking water. You also have to eat.
Drink coffee
Coffee can satiate us a bit, and take away the hunger at the same time. Either because of the effect caffeine has on us, or because of its strong flavour, truth is, we don’t usually feel like eating after a coffee. But don’t spend your whole day stuck to your coffee mug, keep in mind coffee can dehydrate you: drink enough water with your coffee.
Increase your protein intake
Increasing protein intake does not mean continuously eating meat. Protein has a higher satiating effect than carbohydrates or fats, no matter if they are vegetable or animal. This means that if we increase the amount of protein we intake, we will feel full for a prolonged period of time.
Additionally, if we are trying to lose weight, this protein extra will help us build up muscle in the process.
Exercise lightly
We often feel hungry after exercising. However, quite the opposite occurs when we carry out light exercises: going for a stroll, for example, helps us reduce hunger.
On one hand, we distract ourselves from food, and on the other hand, it allows us to prepare ourselves for a situation that involves exercise. In such cases, ingesting food doesn’t benefit us at all (and can even cause harm), so our appetite is reduced.
Don’t stop eating
However counterproductive this one may seem, if we don’t eat enough, or skip any meals we will feel hungrier. Not just because our bodies are used to it, but also because they fall into a state of “alertness”.
This means, that if we eat amounts suitable for us, we will be able to prevent sudden cravings.
Sleep enough
Sleep deprivation has many harmful consequences, and sudden cravings are one of them. In addition, time spent sleeping is time you don’t feel hungry. So now you know: you go get your 8-hour sleep and say goodbye to cravings.
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