Creative Ways To Deal With Unhealthy Cravings

Nearly all adults experience food cravings during any given year. Some of the most common cravings include those for chocolate, cheese, caffeine, and red meat. While cravings caused by underlying conditions such as pica or a sodium deficiency can be addressed, most cravings do not have an identifiable cause. Most people who experience cravings do not possess the willpower to resist the urges they experience. This can lead to an unhealthy increase in body weight, which, in turn, can result in a range of medical conditions. Thankfully, there are a number of ways in which you can deal with irksome cravings.

Popular belief, as well as experience, would dictate that the aroma of a freshly-baked cookie, a pot of brewing coffee, or a sizzling steak can trigger an intense craving. While this is true, food aromas can also be leveraged to help keep pesky cravings at bay. If you are exposed to an aroma for more than two minutes, your cravings will more than likely fade away, according to a study published in the Journal of Marketing Research. While preparing food the whole day is known to decrease your appetite, burning candles that smell like food can have the same effect. Vanilla-scented candles are particularly popular as they will not only envelope your entire home in a delightful aroma, but help you kick your cravings to the curb as well.

Brushing your teeth regularly is paramount to good gum and teeth hygiene. Surprisingly enough, it can also help control pesky cravings in more ways than one. Firstly, brushing your teeth is believed to be able to trick your brain into believing the time to eat is now over. This could reduce the severity of any cravings you may be experiencing. Additionally, the cool, minty aftertaste that lingers in your mouth after you have brushed your teeth will impact the taste of anything you eat. Knowing that this will happen is often all that is needed to get rid of a craving.

While it may be common knowledge that engaging in regular exercise will help boost your overall health and well-being, not everyone knows that physical activity can help reduce your cravings as well. A recent study found that even exercising for as little as 15 minutes at a time can reduce chocolate and other cravings effectively. It is important to pick your activities carefully if the aim is to curb your cravings. An intense workout may not have the effect you desire, and can even increase your appetite. Instead, opt for a low-intensity training sessions that include a short body weight workout, brisk walk, or easy cycle that is bound to decrease the intensity of any cravings considerably.

Giving in to food cravings can have undesirable effects on one’s health. Luckily, there are many avenues worth exploring when it comes to curbing these cravings.