The cravings. That desire to eat a specific food immediately. Surely it has happened to you more than once. You can't control it and you end up stuffing yourself with that sweet or salty thing you craved so much.
It is not something that only happens to pregnant women.
The body is wise and if we have any hidden nutritional deficiency, it is very common for it to signal it to us through cravings. Let's see below a list of the most common ones and what they mean.
CRAVING FOR SIMPLE CARBOHYDRATES
Whether it's pasta, buns, cookies or bread, if you're dying to eat simple carbs you probably need to balance your blood sugar. When we are stressed or have slept poorly, it is very typical to abuse these foods to compensate for the drop in energy. Bet on healthy snacks rich in slow-absorbing sugars that will prevent insulin spikes. A handful of goji berries or a fruit smoothie with ORGANIC AÇAÍ are very beneficial at those times. Here 's a way to prepare it.
CHOCOLATE CRAVING
You are probably stressed or need magnesium, a mineral essential for metabolizing calcium and muscle relaxation.
Pure ORGANIC COCOA is very rich in magnesium, so, instead of eating chocolates and cookies loaded with sugar, try incorporating this ingredient into smoothies or yogurts. Pure cocoa also contains the amino acid phenylethylamine, which regulates the secretion of endorphins, hormones of pleasure and relaxation.
CRAVING FOR FRIED OR HIGH-FAT FOODS
Another very common case. Clearly your body needs essential fatty acids, those that are precisely NOT found in processed and fried foods.
And what should you do in this case? Eating good fats, such as avocado, hemp seeds, chia seeds or a good handful of nuts such as cashews, almonds or unsalted walnuts will be the most nutritious options. Here we leave you a post where we explain the difference between good fats and bad fats.
CRAVING FOR "MEAT"
You may very well need iron, vitamin B12 and zinc. Opt for good quality meat and if you prefer to reduce your consumption, hemp seeds are an excellent alternative as they are very rich in vegetable protein.
Sometimes we also snack too much between meals, confusing hunger with thirst. It is very important to stay well hydrated during the day. You can do it with infusions, mineral water or unsweetened coconut water.
If you "inflate" on foods with low nutritional value but high caloric value, the only thing you will achieve is to gain weight and the body will continue asking you to eat even more to make up for possible deficiencies in macronutrients, vitamins and minerals. Remember, the important thing is not the quantity, but the quality of what you eat.
Alicia Lamothe (Health Coach)
