So today, let's talk about what can cause those "uncontrollable cravings" when trying to "lose weight" and better our "health"
What's it REALLY all about???
Well . . . there are 3 types of "CRAVINGS". . . that are linked to "addictive" behavior to food . . . that "stimulate" the brain to produce "feel good" brain chemicals . . . and they would be . . .
Supportive
Dispersive
And Associative
And "nutrient-poor, highly processed" foods with a lot of sugar, fat and salt are one of the causes to "uncontrollable cravings".
Now . . . a "CAUSE" of this . . . is an "imbalance" of hormones like "leptin" and "ghrelin" because these hormones play an important role in the brain's region responsible for memory, pleasure and "REWARD".
And many times with this "imbalance" . . . "cravings" can mean that we're "dehydrated", "stressed" or "not sleeping well".
Okay . . . so what else can cause "food cravings"???
Well . . . that would be . . . "vitamin and mineral deficiencies" like . . .
Magnesium
Zinc
Chromium
Iron
Calcium
You see . . . as soon as any form of "sugar" touches the tongue . . . our "nervous system" kicks into "high gear".
The "tongue" tells the brain's "taste center" that you ate something "sweet" . . . and with this . . . it relays a message to another part of the brain that eating "sweet stuff" . . . is a "GOOD THING" and "WE LIKE IT"!
Okay . . . so let's break it down to better understand the role our "hormones" play in all of this . . .
Now . . . the "normal" action and "reaction" of the body would be this . . .
The hormone called "Ghrelin" . . . "INCREASES" our "appetite" . . . while the hormone called "Leptin" . . . "DECREASES" our "appetite" . . .
"Ghrelin" is made in the "stomach" and "signals" the brain when we're "hungry". And this function . . . is so we naturally "won't" starve.
Now . . . "Leptin" is made in our "fat cells" and "signals" the brain when we've had enough energy stored from the food we eat and we now feel "full". This "stops" us from eating too much.
So simply put . . . the hormone "Leptin" . . . REGULATES our "energy balance" . . . that suppresses our food intake . . . and therefore, creates "WEIGHT LOSS".
While the hormone "Ghrelin" . . . is fast-acting and plays the role of making us want to eat.
And "IF" we "don't" SLEEP well . . . our "Leptin" hormone levels stay the same . . . while the "Ghrelin" hormone levels "RISE" causing us to "OVEREAT" ALL DAY LONG when we wake.
So right there . . . that sets us up for "FAILER" to lose weight.
Now . . . "normally" when the food we eat includes "sugar" . . . the body "releases" a hormone called "Insulin" . . . which is made in the "pancreas" . . . and "Insulin's" job is to "ABSORB" the "excess" sugar in the blood to "stabilize" our "glucose" levels.
Therefore . . . "no" cravings
But what if the food we eat is "high" in sugar content "ALL" the time???
Well . . . this now creates and "imbalance" in blood glucose (sugar) levels because "Insulin" can't do its job fast enough.
And with this . . . blood glucose (sugar) levels "SPIKE" . . .
BUT . . . after the "spike" . . . comes a big "DROP" in blood sugar levels . . . that's TOO "DRASTIC" . . . and now we have "CRAVINGS" all over again.
It's a vicious, vicious cycle . . . that's very hard to maintain.
So next week . . . let's talk about how "EMPTY CALORIES" cause "CRAVINGS" and then I'll give you another one of my little "secrets"
As always, feel free to DM or contact me at: miraclemeadows.net/contact/