A food craving is an extreme desire for a particular food. You may crave something sugary or salty when you’re stressed, bored, hungry, etc. Frequently giving in to cravings for unhealthy foods can sabotage your weight loss efforts. To avoid giving in to these cravings, you need to learn how to manage them. Keep reading to find out how to curb cravings so you can live your healthiest life.
1. Drink Water
Thirst can often be confused with hunger or food cravings. If you feel the urge to eat a specific food, drink a large glass of water. After a few minutes, you may find that the craving has faded because you were actually just thirsty. Additionally, drinking water before you eat a meal can reduce appetite and help with weight management.
2. Plan Your Meals
If you want to learn how to curb cravings, a great place to start is planning your meals in advance. Whether you plan for the day or the week, knowing what you’re going to eat can help eliminate the uncertainty and spontaneity of food choices. You don’t need to think about what to eat, so you will be less likely to experience and give in to cravings.
3. Eat More Protein and Fiber
If you want to curb cravings before they start, try adding more protein and fiber to your diet. Protein and fiber can make you feel full and satisfied for longer after you eat, reducing cravings and keeping you from overeating. These nutrients also limit spikes in blood sugar after meals, which can help curb cravings for unhealthy snacks.
4. Practice Mindful Eating
Mindful eating involves being aware of your eating habits, hunger, cravings, and feelings. When you practice mindfulness in relation to foods, you can learn to distinguish between cravings and actual hunger. This helps you respond thoughtfully instead of acting on impulse. While you eat, focus on being present during your meal, and chew slowly and thoroughly. Avoid distractions like your smartphone or TV while you eat so you can focus on your meal and notice when you feel full.
5. Manage Stress
If you want to know how to curb cravings, try managing your stress. Stress can influence your eating behaviors and cause food cravings. Studies have found that people tend to eat more calories and experience more cravings when under stress. Stress also raises cortisol levels in the blood, and this hormone can make you gain weight. Find healthy ways to manage stress, such as deep breathing, exercise, creative hobbies, prayer, etc.
6. Get Enough Sleep
Your hormones fluctuate throughout the day, and these fluctuations affect your appetite. When you don’t get enough sleep, your hormone fluctuations are disrupted. This can result in poor appetite regulation and stronger cravings. Research shows that sleep deprived people are up to 55 percent more likely to become obese compared to those who regularly get a good night’s sleep.
7. Don’t Keep Trigger Foods at Home
You’ve likely heard the saying, “Out of sight, out of mind.” A great tip on how to curb cravings is to avoid having trigger foods in your home. If a craving for an unhealthy food occurs, you will only have healthy options to choose from. If you do keep craving foods in the house, make sure they are in hard-to-reach places such as in high cabinets or the back of the pantry so you’ll be less likely to see them and choose them regularly.
8. Take Supplements to Curb Cravings
One of the best tips on how to curb cravings is to take certain craving-reducing supplements. Appe-Curb contains key amino acids to support the biosynthesis of neurotransmitters involved in appetite control, carbohydrate and fat cravings, and mood, as well as chromium for healthy glucose metabolism to support food intake regulation. GluNOzym offers a natural way to lower your blood sugar after meals, which helps you feel fuller longer. This can help reduce cravings and support weight control.
Check out these additional supplements to curb cravings so you can make healthier food choices and reach your weight goals!
