Food cravings are a dieter’s worst nightmare. Nothing is more frustrating than when you’re trying to lose weight and craving cookies, chips, or chocolate. The worst part is that all those snacks will only make hunger worse. At the end of day, you’ll feel guilty, deprived, and unsatisfied.

If your sweet tooth is raging out of control, check out these healthy ways to suppress cravings :

  • Avoid your Triggers – Try to figure out why you’re craving sugar or salty snacks in the first place. Is it because you’re bored or stressed out? Or maybe you feel the need to eat while watching TV? Once you identify your triggers, avoid them at all costs. For instance, if you’re craving chocolate when you’re bored, call a friend or do a few push-ups.
  • Consider What Your Body Needs – Food cravings may indicate nutritional deficiencies. A strong taste for chocolate could be a sign that you need more magnesium in your diet. If you crave fried or fatty foods, get more calcium. Sugar cravings are associated with low levels of chromium, sulphur, or tryptophan.
  • Drink Water – Many people confuse hunger with thirst. When all you need is more water, your brain can trick you into thinking that you haven’t eaten enough. To prevent this problem, increase your fluid intake. Drink plenty of water and teas such as green tea, organic tea.
  • Get Rid of Stress – Research indicates that stress also affects food preferences, making you crave sugar and carbs. Pilates, yoga, deep breathing, meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, and regular exercise will calm your mind and boost overall health.
  • Eat More Protein – Studies have found that a high protein intake helps reduce sugar cravings. Due to its appetite-suppressing effects, protein keeps you full and wards of hunger. Eventually, you can make snacks and desserts using protein powder. This way, you’ll slim down without having to give up dessert.

There are many other ways to fight cravings and shed stubborn fat. Simple lifestyle changes, such as getting more sleep and seeking healthier substitutes for your go-to snacks, can make it easier to stick to your diet.

47 responses to “Ways to Suppress Cravings”

  1. I am trying to diet and my family teases me that in the morning mom does dieting and by the evening she starts fighting..😄…thanks for this valuable info Garima

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Hahahhahahha good one Meena. I am glad you liked this post.

      Like

  2. I certainly can do with more protein and water😊

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I find Water the best remedy. Before jumping into the reasons why you may be craving meat or protein, it’s helpful to understand the difference between a craving and true, physiological hunger. A food craving is defined as an intense desire to eat a specific food, usually something that you define as a “comfort food.” And there are other characteristics associated with food cravings.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thank you. Not much of a meat eater.

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Are you a fitness coach as well?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Nopes I am a physician

      Liked by 2 people

      1. How long have you been a physician?

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Over 10 years now

        Like

      3. How did you manage to come across this profession?

        Liked by 1 person

      4. You mean the profession of writing?

        Like

      5. I mean the profession of physician. Was that a difficult job to get into?

        Liked by 1 person

      6. Oh becoming and being a doctor is difficult. It was always something I wanted to do.

        Liked by 1 person

      7. Anything you could’ve done differently or are you satisfied with the outcome?

        Liked by 1 person

      8. There is always more one can do i a particular area, but I am satisfied about my journey.

        Liked by 1 person

      9. What made you want to get into writing?

        Liked by 1 person

      10. Guess I got bored of reading 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      11. Are you sure?😕 I have a feeling there’s more to it.🙉

        Liked by 1 person

      12. 🙂 There is more to everything in life.

        Liked by 1 person

      13. I’m guessing you’re a lover of novels. Am I right?😀

        Liked by 1 person

      14. How come? You have a lot of post that involves creativity and imagination. I say you’re inspired by fiction. That makes you a literature genius!😮

        Liked by 1 person

      15. What’s funny?😋

        Liked by 1 person

      16. Mate

        Liked by 2 people

  4. Nice post. I feel the urge to have something sweet after a meal. Once I pop one in, there is no stopping, it all goes down hill from there.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We all have that one moment. Sugar Craving Cause: You didn’t eat enough, or you ate the wrong things. When you don’t eat enough calories, your body starts looking for fuel fast as a way to catch up. So what do you do? Crave sugar ! It is also a sign of Magnesium deficiency. Magnesium is used in the regulation of glucose, insulin, and the neurotransmitter dopamine; a deficiency can manifest in the form of intense sugar cravings, especially for chocolate. Zinc is needed for proper insulin and glucose utilization; a deficiency can also lead to sugar cravings.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Thanks a lot, this is so so helpful!

        Liked by 1 person

  5. I got used to chewing gum to divert from cravings and still continue to do so even now. I use fitness app etc. To track my meals, so it keeps me a tab on my consumption. And cheat day once a month 😉 so it happens.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hahahhaha water works best for me.

      Liked by 2 people

  6. This was really helpful! thankyou:)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Aditi, I am glad you liked the post. Hunger and craving manifest themselves in different ways. Hunger is our body’s natural reaction to needing nourishment. Onset of hunger can result in stomach rumbling, mild headache, or feelings of weakness. Hunger doesn’t go away with a passage of time. On the other hand, cravings can be triggered by outside influences, such as a tiff with your boss, relationship troubles, and even social gatherings.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. I enjoyed the article, it flows nicely from one piece of information to another. You mentioned some nutritional facts I wasn’t previously aware of, thanks for that. I know you can’t mention every example of relaxation techniques but I think spending time in nature is a vitally important one.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes walking is great. Helps in grounding of craving emotions. A craving can last for up to ten minutes. Why not try breathing through it? Studies show deep breathing exercises reduce “smoking withdrawal symptoms, including craving for cigarettes” and the related tension and irritability associated with it. Deep breathing also helps you feel more wide awake and able to concentrate. Transform your cravings into a peaceful, calming exercise with deep breathing techniques. So you’re prepared, learn and practice the techniques before a nicotine craving episode. There are many different exercises. Experiment!

      Like

  8. Very much needed article. PMS and cravings, they also go hand in hand. If a female wants to avoid she thinks not to as periods weakens a body. 😊
    Thank you for the article. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ah yes Kritika. Many women experience intense food cravings in the week or two before their periods, a symptom of PMS (premenstrual syndrome). Hormone changes can cause a drop in blood sugar levels, which leads to sugar cravings. Serotonin levels the “feel good” chemical in your brain also tend to be lower during this time. For some women, this food is chocolate! Just like other PMS symptoms, such as cramping, bloating, and moodiness, cravings are likely caused by fluctuations in your hormones. Right before you start your period, the levels of the hormones estrogen, serotonin, and cortisol in your body will shift.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. What food would you suggest to be taken? If you can help me out on this.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Hi, so nutrition is different for every person based on their physiology and gut biome. But I will share some general food groups with you which help most people. You can take vanilla milkshakes when it comes to dairy products. For ice cream cravings, make this dairy-free cherry chocolate chip ice cream. If ooey-gooey pizza’s on the brain, take one slice but thin crust low fat, no cheese. In the mood for a candy bar? Skip the Snickers and make these chocolate-covered caramels containing dates and sunflower seeds. Then once the cravings subside, you can go back to eating clean and healthy. Hope this helps for now. If it doesn’t then I might want to ask you some diet specific to you and then suggest.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Thank you so much for the information 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Hope this helps. Good luck.

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Really helpful tips. Thanks for sharing

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Glad you liked them. Thank you for stopping by.

      Like

  10. A helpful davice from Jaime Oliver (The Naked Chef) is to drink a full glass of water before every meal. That way you feel fuller sooner and don’t over eat.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh that’s the best tip ever. Water doesn’t have any calories, easily available and fills up the stomach. Flushed the system of toxins as well :):)

      Liked by 1 person

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