Cravings: Friend or Foe?

By Rupina Meer • January 25th, 2012 • 7307 Views

We're quick to vilify cravings and aim to crush those pesky urgings as quickly as they rear their ugly heads with herculean will power. But if you descend into the heart of your cravings, you'll find that they're vital messages that are key to unlocking your body's optimal vitality…

Cravings Are Not the Enemy

Why is it so difficult to tame the beast of our cravings? And why do we want to tame them? Many people view cravings as byproducts of a flawed will power. But in reality they are vital messages that the body sends out in an attempt to start a dialogue with us. Messages that are too important to ignore. We have this sophisticated bio-computer called the human body that never makes mistakes. No matter how involved we are in the day-to-day madness of our lives, our hearts never skip a beat and our lungs diligently expand and contract to pump our life force. Once we realize that, it's easy to conclude that cravings are the body's solution to underlying imbalances. It all comes down to building a trusting dialogue with our bodies, instead of labeling cravings as the evil enemy that needs to be vanquished or ignored.

Shh, Listen. Really Listen, To your Cravings

We're typically hurtling through life at 95 mph. Is it any wonder that we don't take the time to slow down and actively listen to what our bodies are trying to tell us? The next time you're overcome with a strange craving, try taking three conscious breaths to get still, and really descend into the heart of your cravings to decode what your body is really asking for.

Primary Causes of Cravings

You'll find that most cravings fall into one of these categories:

• Dehydration -- your body typically doesn't send the message that you're thirsty till you're on the verge of dehydration. Dehydration often masquerades as hunger, so the next time you're overcome with a craving, try hydrating yourself with a full glass of spring water and wait 15-30 minutes to see if that takes care of the underlying craving—you'll find this often does the trick.
• Lifestyle -- often we eat because we are craving entertainment. If you're bored, try to deal with the issue directly rather than distracting yourself with snacks. We could also be starving in the areas of love, affection or fulfillment. Touch can be so therapeutic, so don't be afraid to ask for a hug when...
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  Tags : Nutrition, Wellness, health, get fit, cravings, holisitic nutrition, get lean

Location:  Orange County, US

Rupina Meer, Board-Certified Holistic Health Coach received her training from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN). Health Coaches from Integrative Nutrition’s world-class training program learn from luminaries in the field of health and wellness including Drs....