Do you find yourself craving something sugary or salty? A food craving is a desire for a specific food and can be brought on by a variety of factors, including physical and mental. In this Avera Medical Minute, dietitian Bridgette Bienias explains what these cravings mean and what steps you can take to deter them.
Why would someone experience a food craving?
Sometimes people experience food cravings just to find that simple reward, where we have this specific food that will release a dopamine in our brain and after that release the first time or multiple times we have it. Once we go a certain amount of time without those sort of foods, we can have that crave. So those initial cravings can play part in just our body searching for that reward.
Do different cravings, like wanting something salty versus sweet, signify anything?
It’s kind of up in the air if it’s because of nutritional deficiencies or it’s because our brain is craving those reward items.
What should you do if you have a food craving?
We can do something called "urge surfing," and what that term means is we acknowledge the urge or cravings that we have, but instead of taking action right away, we let that ride out. By doing that we aren’t overindulging but at the end of that wave, if we still have that urge, we can definitely acknowledge our cravings and have those specific foods. But if we get into that routine of giving in to that urge each time, then we are building a habit of this reward system, that our brain is just going to keep searching for. Overall by riding out that wave and honoring those cravings can be ways we can still enjoy those foods that we want but also in a way we are controlling, or mindful eating, and focusing on the good nutrients in our body.
What are other ways to control our cravings?
Having balanced meals, getting great protein, good fiber, keeping up with good hydration as well can help us feel full while also providing great hydration for our body through our water intake. Also being mindful of the things we are putting in our bodies.
