The Science of Cravings

The science behind cravings says that we reach for foods that make us feel good because they give our serotonin levels (the brain chemicals that make us feel happy) an instant boost. So, we reach for that chocolate bar or pint of ice cream when we feel low - knowing that it will give us an instant high.

One way to beat cravings, is to make sure that our serotonin levels are not depleted because of things like stress, not getting enough sleep or exercise, or not getting enough Vitamin D (i.e. sunlight).

Being fatigued only makes your cravings worse, so try not to get to the point where you are starving, and therefore desperate for something to pick you up. Looking after ourselves, by not being stressed or overtired, is probably the best way we have of beating cravings.

There is another brain chemical that comes into play with cravings - dopamine. Without high enough levels of dopamine, we can feel low.

Fortunately, there are a number of foods that we can eat that will naturally raise our levels of serotonin and dopamine.

Tuck into brown rice, yogurt, cashew nuts, chicken or turkey as all of these contain the chemical tryptophan, a known mood booster. Other mood lifting foods include bananas, pumpkin seeds, avocados, and almonds - these contain the chemical tyrosine.

Really, the best way to control your cravings is to be sure to eat every three hours and make sure you never get to the point where you feel overly hungry, as this is when we are most vulnerable to cravings (and most likely to make poor choices).