OT - Tone-up Tuesday
Junk food can be addictive. Junk food is often heavily processed, meaning it can be full of artificial flavorings, chemicals, salt and sugar, all of which is perfectly measured out to make the food as tasty (and addictive!) as possible.
Junk food cravings can happen to the best of us (not me, as I have NO willpower!) and they seemingly strike out of nowhere. One minute you're enjoying a tasty and HEALTHY dinner... the next you're foaming at the mouth for something sweet or salty or carb-filled. Before you start feeling guilty (I'm having an affair with CHOCOLATE CAKE!!!), your junk food cravings may be your body's way of telling you it's lacking important nutrients.
CHOCOLATE
Your body may be lacking magnesium, which is a mineral present in more than 300 chemical reactions that keep your body working properly! To say magnesium is important is an understatement. If you find yourself dreaming about swimming in Willy Wonka's chocolate river while nibbling cake, add leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and fish to your diet.
SWEETS
Your body could be dehydrated, but if you sip some water and find your junk food cravings are still going strong, don't jump for the cookies or a candy bar! Instead, eat fruit for an instant - and natural - sugar fix. Sugary foods can also signal a lack of chromium, carbon, sulfur, or tryptophan. Add more foods like chicken, cheese, broccoli, and nuts to your diet.
CAFFEINE
Your body might need iron. Eat more chicken, turkey, eggs, and spinach. A caffeine craving could also mean you're super dehydrated. If you find yourself perpetually glued to your coffee mug, try having a glass of water beforehand to see if your craving disappears.
SALT
Table salt lacks trace minerals as it's processed. Eat pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and flax to increase your mineral intake. Switching to sea salt can make a world of difference.
RED MEAT
Red meat can also signal that you're low in iron, so chow down on leafy greens like spinach and kale, and add more vitamin C to enhance how your body absorbs the iron. When you crave protein, your body isn't speaking in code - it simply wants more protein! Eat more chicken and fish, add more green veggies to your diet, and drink protein smoothies when you're on the go. Nuts and seeds are a convenient protein-rich snack.
CARBONATED DRINKS
Believe it or not, but if you're constantly drooling over Coke, your body is lacking calcium. Increase the amount of dairy products in your diet (milk and yogurt), and throw in some leafy greens like spinach and kale for good measure.
FATTY FOODS
Your body is begging your for more calories. Obviously, the key is to focus on healthier fats, such as avocados, almonds, and coconut oil, as opposed to French fries.
CRUNCHY FOODS
If you're looking for a crunch, make popcorn instead of eating potato chips. Pop on the stove with coconut oil, air pop, or buy healthy pop corn. Season with light salt, garlic, chili powder... and number of seasonings or spices to liven it up. BONUS: Popcorn is high-fiber!
FRENCH FRIES
Try oven-roasted sweet potato 'fries'. Sweet potatoes are more nutrient-dense and have a lower glycemic index than potatoes. They also have more potassium and carotenoids.
CANDY
Eating grapefruit will not only satisfy your sugar craving, but it can also help naturally suppress your appetite. The night amounts of fiber in grapefruit can satisfy hunger and help people avoid the temptation to overeat, since it is a bulky food. It stimulated cholecystokinin to be released - a hormone that regulates digestive juices and acts as a hunger suppressant. Try it sprinkled with cinnamon and broiled!
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Comments
Well since this diet, I've
Well since this diet, I've lost 12 lbs. Still have a way to go. Progress seems slow and plodding but I have a coach that I weigh in with every day.
And today is Mardi Gras! And St. Valentine's Day falls on Ash Wednesday! Here comes Lent!
Thinkthrice, are you on a
Thinkthrice, are you on a particular diet and are you giving up anything for Lent?
I'm on one of those custom,
I'm on one of those custom, expensive diets where you get assigned a personal coach. LOTS of water, mineral supplements, NO non-complex starches. No potatoes, no rice, no bread, no pasta, no corn, no carrots, no beans.
LOTS of vegetables, unrefined coconut oil/avocado oil/grapeseed oil
No dairy except a cup of kefir
eggs, five oz of steak or chicken breast, or 5.5 oz of certain seafood such as mahi mahi, scallops, etc.
For Lent? My Amazon.com addiction (J/K)
As I'm chowing down on
As I'm chowing down on Valentines conversation hearts. }:)
Classy, I just received a box
Classy, I just received a box of Russell Stover chocolates from a coworker. DAMMIT!!!
Hand it over. I'll throw it
Hand it over. I'll throw it away for you. Bad Bad
One is an orange cream.
One is an orange cream. Blech!!!!
Aniki great blog. Years ago
Aniki great blog. Years ago in my teens and 20's I had a serious eating disorder. It was something I will never forget and had to learn how to eat. It was a low in my life. That is why I never judge anyone on how skinny or over weight someone is. It took years to get to a healthy weight. Now I could lose a few but I never get on a scale. Never. Everything you listed is very helpful. But the one that I can relate to is red meat. My low iron level is still a problem. I have a hard time eating red meat. When I do the next morning I feel much better. It is not that I don't like it. It is a mental thing for me. I can try and eat anything now. And I do. I think this blog is great information, thanks!
Queensway, I'm a recovering
Queensway, I'm a recovering bulimic. I say recovering because, like an alcoholic, it's an every day struggle. If I fall off the wagon to binge/purge, I can be at a healthier weight... and do horrible, unhealthy things to my body. The majority of my willpower goes to fighting the urge to purge, which is why I have little to nothing left when it comes to healthy eating. It's a substantial pain in the arse.
My MIL told me being freezing
My MIL told me being freezing can mean your body is craving iron too... She got me on iron supplements and it's done a WORLD of difference for how cold I had been previously!
That doesn't help with weight-loss... But it helps with comfort!!! And when I'm comfortable I find myself binging a lot less!
Interesting, PA. I have
Interesting, PA. I have iron-rich blood. Maybe that's why I'm rarely cold!
I used to be on a SUPER high
I used to be on a SUPER high iron diet... I started getting freezing after moving to the south where everything is deep fried and there's a very noticeable lack of green (unless it's breaded and friend)... Started iron supplements and boom! My body temp is again regulated!
That could be it Aniki... In which case... Wanna trade?...