 |
 |
||||||
|
||||||
|
|
Ask the Expert
April 5, 2003
Question:
Why do I crave sweets and breads?
Answer:
This is a great question with no simple answers, but let me provide you with some basic material to help you understand how this devastating cycle typically begins.
There are two primary reasons, one is physical and the other is emotional. Physically sugars are sweet so we are naturally attracted to them. Grains, especially refined grains, break down very rapidly to simple sugars and are also perceived as sweet.
So it is easy to understand why people start eating sweets. The problem truly begins when you regularly consume them, as your body will start to increase its output of insulin to compensate for the higher blood sugar levels.
Over time this causes progressively increasing levels of insulin and resistance to the effects of insulin. This is not much different from how your eyes adjust to little light once you are in a dark room.
This increasing insulin resistance then develops into a vicious cycle. It directly causes your insulin levels to rise even further, and high insulin levels will trigger areas in your brain that will cause you to crave sweets.
Not only do you have to address the insulin connection to sweet cravings, but also there are very powerful social and emotional connections to food cravings.
At one time in your life, your body learned to like sweets, breads and other starchy foods. Advertising, habit and peer pressure can all contribute to this learning, and you may associate these foods with happiness or comfort, making the urge to eat them even stronger.
Just as sick animals naturally seek out plants with healing properties, a healthy human system, one in balance with nature, will seek out, or crave, foods that provide the needed nutrients. So many people ask, "Why am I craving grains and sugars if they're not good for me?"
The answer is because your body has been conditioned to crave these foods and can no longer recognize the nutrients necessary for sustenance. Most people have experienced at one time or another a food that tasted foreign at first but that later became enjoyable. For example, many people don't like onions as children but enjoy them as adults. The reason for this is that our tastes are learned, and they can be modified.
When you allow conditioning rather than nutritional value to dictate your food choices, many negative health consequences can occur. Your cells will begin to starve and digestive energy will be used to process foods that provide little to no nutrients in return. Your body cannot function optimally in this state, which can lead to low energy, exhaustion, weight gain, digestive problems and other illness.
For an effective way to safely conquer unhealthy food cravings consider the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT).
