Having cravings is not bad per se, it’s simply information. But there are different kinds of cravings. A craving will always tell you what you need, but in different ways. When you have a craving, the body is giving you information and it’s for you to listen and discover the best way to respond to it.

A craving can be there because you are releasing a substance into your blood.

This is for example common when you are doing dietary changes or going through a cleanse. When you are changing your diet or going through a detox, you will often crave what is being purified and released into your bloodstream, to be released from the body. So, if you are doing a cleanse and you are craving dairy, sugar or coffee for example this is not a craving telling you that you need to eat these things. You are craving them because they are in your blood, you are craving that food when the substance is missing in our system.

A craving for sugar, coffee, alcohol, dairy or wheat are most of the times because your body is used to this substance and the effect that it has on your energy and mood. When you stop supplying it and it is released into the blood stream once you start to detox it, you often start to crave it. This withdrawal period can be challenging.

But the good news is that it only takes a couple of days for the substance to move out of your system, and you soon start to feel better, and won’t crave it in the same way. So if you don’t want to give in but want to clean them out of your system, you’ll need to find a substitute or simply wait a couple of days and your craving will be gone. Focusing on self care and to be gentle with yourself is also essential. When you yearly cleanse your body, eat clean and nutritious food, and do your best to stay away from addictive foods, you will have less food cravings.

Then there are cravings that will give you information of what you need to eat, let’s call this a nutritional craving.

This you will easily start to feel once your body has been cleansed from addictive substances and junk foods. This kind of craving will be for foods that are coming from nature and that are naturally nutritious and healthy. Broccoli, oranges, eggs, greens, healthy fats, fish etc.

One reason for sweet cravings can be that you are eating too little protein. If you feel that you are always craving carbs and never seem to feel full on a 100% plant based diet, you can consider adding in some animal protein, starting with eggs. Then you can also increase your plant based protein intake; with a supplement, with broccoli and with sprouts. I was a vegetarian and then vegan for many years but when I started to add in animal protein my sugar cravings disappeared, and this for me was a big thing. Now I eat much less sweets and I don’t crave them.

If you get this kind of “nutritional craving”, add it into your meals and eat this food until you don’t crave it any more. If you are craving a food that you, from a personal choice, don’t want to eat anymore, then investigate what this food contains and find other sources of the vitamins, minerals and fats that this food provides. Or choose a good wholesome supplement.

A craving can also be emotional.

This is when you are using food to fill up a space that can’t be filled with food. For example;

You are bored and want to be creative or have more excitement in your life, but instead you eat when you are bored.

You are stressed and overworked, but you don’t make any changes in your situation.

You are anxious and keep living in fear, and need some substance to keep you going.

You are deprived of sleep and instead of eating you actually need a nap or change your sleeping routines.

You are stuck in a loop of negativity and feel awful about yourself but don’t change from within, and so the cravings continue.

You are in need of physical contact, giving and receiving love, but you do not create this space in your life.

Basically you are not present to what is really going on, instead you live in a story in your mind, and when the story is uncomfortable you eat…

Can you PREVENT emotional eating?

You can prevent it by putting yourself first, and choosing radical self-care. That means that you slow down and listen to what is really going on, and when you have understood what you actually want or look for, you take action and bring this into your life.

It can also be in form of simple Body-care:

Choosing comfy, warm clothes, body brush, massage, foot bath, foot massage, warm socks, soft fabrics, sleep, napping, nutrient rich food…

Or it can be Mind-care:

Nature connection, cleaning up in the house, work with your hands, do anything that gets you into the zone, less things planned in in one day, less social media, omega 3, healthy fatty acids….

Or it can be Energy care:

Be more alone, stay away from people that are stupid and too negative, be with people that are loving and inspiring, express yourself through painting, singing, dancing, making art, learning something new, explore new paths, take a new direction, spend time in nature…

When an emotional craving comes try these SOS solutions:

1. Move the energy in any shape or form. Dance, do push ups, go for a brisk walk, change position or room…

2. Hydrate. Drink a big glass of water.

3. Sit down and listen. Listen, feel and investigate. What’s going on? What do you really need?

4. Nap/sleep/or listen to a guided meditation. Let your body and mind relax.

5. Call a buddy to inspire you to not go into the old pattern.

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