The intelligence of your body is wise, reliable and authentic –– most of the time.
That said, when you are off balance metabolically, you will naturally start overcompensating with adaptive responses that can throw you into a tailspin.
For example, when your blood sugar is off you will crave more sugary foods. When your sleep if disrupted, you will crave more comfort food.
These are called dispersive cravings, and learning to read them can take a little practice.
Our responses are biochemical –– those chemical processes that prompt how we move through life.
Our biochemistry drives our behavior.
Consequently, as you find your equilibrium in your body's chemistry, you will find equilibrium in your life.
If you want to learn how to feel more stable throughout the day, as well as discern between your wise cravings, and the dispersive ones (cravings that are a result of your imbalances), I have got you covered.
Like you, I’m no stranger to cravings. I know how they can feel overwhelming and out of control when it comes down to it.
I’ve been there. I spent my college years living on coffee and banana nut muffins.
My cravings were running the show –– all day every day. Not only did I not feel satiated, energized or content, but I also had intense bouts of hypoglycemia, migraine headaches and brain fog.
This is how I learned these important antidotes and now I can wholeheartedly say “It doesn’t have to be this way.”
Q: Do you get stuck in sweet seductions and bread-y binges?
If you are thinking your personal will should be strong enough to battle the craziness of these common cravings, I have good news for you:
Most of our cravings have nothing to do with your personal weaknesses or emotional mishaps.
What’s really going on has much more to do with your biochemistry.
THE ART AND SCIENCE OF CURBING YOUR CRAVINGS
While you may think that your blood sugar imbalances are inevitable, consider these tips for taking charge of your cravings once and for all!
1. How LOW can you go?
If you can start off the day with a low glycemic breakfast (a breakfast that turns to sugar slowly) you will conquer your cravings much quicker. Research confirms that when you eat a low glycemic breakfast, you crave less food (especially in the form of carbohydrates and sugar) throughout the day. It is not really magic at all, but it does feel like a miracle.
2. Snack Smart
When snacking, try eating foods high in protein and fat instead of carb-heavy versions. Foods like nuts, seeds, avocado, unsweetened yogurt (nut milk or whole milk), organic proteins or protein shakes, paired with low sugar fruits like berries and apples, will keep your insulin happy in between meals.
3. Healthy, Happy, WHOLE
Carbohydrate quality is a big culprit in how your cravings manifest. The more processed the food, usually the worse of a blood sugar bomb. If you can eat carbohydrates in their whole form (such as brown rice, sweet potato, steel cut oats, quinoa, or a tart apple) you will find these whole carbohydrates are much more gentle on your blood sugar. Cleaning up your carbs makes all the difference. Go for the good stuff.
4. Consistency is KEY
When we wait too long between meals, we are taking an insulin risk that often ends in you being hangry, and making a choice that is more impulsive. Planning on little dense snack bites often will keep you satisfied while also curbing those dispersive cravings. Eating regularly throughout the day creates a healthier metabolism and happier hormones (aka Insulin).
5. Balanced intelligence
The body is intelligent when it is in balance. We inherently know what we need. As you start fine tune your blood sugar, you will notice you can trust your food intelligence more and more. Try to take a few moments to slow down and listen. Make your plate part your practice.
6. The Flavors Create the Fervor
In Traditional medicine, there is a distinctive art to balancing the 5 flavors (this recent podcast with special guest Lauren Lewis speaks to it well). Each flavor is known to bring a different quality and energy to your body and mind. We so commonly find our plates are full of sweet flavors, swinging the balance way off-center. Try inquiring with each plate of food: Can you find a representation of the majority of the five flavors (sweet, bitter, salty, sour and pungent)?
Within the intricacy of flavors, your palate will be pleased and your body will be more satiated.
As I said, your biochemistry drives your behavior. Trying to improve your behavior without addressing these deeper issues is an uphill battle that you will most likely lose.
Eating to feel how you want to feel is at your fingertips. Drop me a comment below and let me know how it goes!
Sue Van Raes is a functional nutritionist, food psychology specialist, yoga practitioner and author in Boulder, Colorado. Sue helps people to navigate making sustainable changes in their health while elevating their well-being and making peace with their plates.
Sue works with clients locally, remotely, online, and through her virtual, local and international women’s wellness retreats.
