It’s 3 in the morning and your growling stomach is not letting you sleep peacefully? Are you craving sugar, salt, or caffeine again? If yes then you are not alone. Cravings for junk food is not a problem limited to you only.
Cravings are a diet’s worst enemy. You are likely to eat a healthy meal for lunch and dinner but snacking on chocolate or chips in between or at night will ruin all your efforts. Before starting a diet curbing your cravings for junk is of paramount concern.
Eating a salad for lunch and steamed chicken for dinner will be of no use if you end your day with a bar of chocolate. Usually, such random cravings are a result of some underlying implication. So it is important to diagnose the cause and work towards its treatment.
It is important to keep in mind that normal cravings for a particular food are absolutely normal and should not worry you. But irresistible and recurrent cravings can hint at something wrong going on either with your lifestyle or your health.
Ways To Curb Cravings For Junk
Some simple tips and tricks can help you curb your cravings for junk
1. Plan Your Day
Smart planning will help you stick to your ideal routine. Planning your wake-up time, all your meals, other activities, and sleep time will help you stick to your desired routine. Writing your plan can help further in sticking to it religiously. The craving usually happens when you let yourself divert from the normal routine and gift yourself some lazy time.
This simple tip will help you a bundle in avoiding all the cravings for junk. This will keep you stay in diet mode if you are on one.
2. Drink Water
You are likely to confuse your need for water with the need for food. If you feel the sudden urge to have chocolate or chips try drinking a good amount of water. Your craving is likely to die, showing that your body was just asking for water.
Drinking plenty of water and keeping yourself full with it will prevent unnecessary cravings. Staying hydrated is not only beneficial for curbing your cravings but shows a number of other health benefits too.
3. Fight Stress
Usually, cravings are a result of an emotional trigger. Stress eating is a serious issue for many. If you are stressed you are likely to show abnormal eating behaviors. Stress is more likely to induce cravings in women. So if you are one, you need to be more conscious of it.
Instead of going towards comfort food to combat stress be a little more kind to yourself. Try and explore your feelings and work on them instead of burying them under food. Avoiding such episodes of stress by meditating, exercising, and or consulting a professional if the levels are toxic, is the way to go.
4. Sleep Tight
Late-night cravings are nothing new to people who tend to stay up late. In fact, you are most likely to munch on something unhealthy at night. Not allowing yourself to sleep in time and binge-watching dramas will do no good to your mind and health.
Sleep disturbances contribute to your overall mood and energy levels. Both of these are a direct cause of food cravings. According to a study in 2016 insufficient sleep leaves the body in sleep debt. This sleep debt can lead to excessive consumption of food which further leads to an increased risk of obesity.
5. Eat Right
If you want to avoid unhealthy munching then treat yourself at proper meal times. Hunger and lack of nutrients can lead to certain cravings. Eating a proper nutrients dense meal at mealtime will keep you full for long. You are less likely to crave junk if your stomach is full of nutritious food.
In this regard fibers and proteins play an eminent role. Both of these nutrients will keep you full for much longer than simple carbohydrates will. Rich sources of healthy protein like chicken, red meat, fish, and quinoa should be your friends if you want to keep random cravings at bay.
6. Cleanse Your Pantry
If you haven’t been able to curb your cravings by the above methods. It’s time for you to learn the hard way. Take some time out for a pantry cleanse. Sweep out all the chocolates, chips, and sugars. Fill your pantry with vegetables, fruits, and all things healthy.
Now that you have failed to curb your craving and have decided to have a bite. Surprise yourself with an empty pantry. Now you are likely to have a fruit or go back to your bed.
Keep in mind that all of these are general tips that might help you curb your cravings and help to stick to your diet. Cravings can also be a result of some underlying health complications. For instance, uncontrollable craving for sweets can be an indication of prediabetes. It is wise to get yourself checked and consult a nutritionist for proper meal planning.
Book an appointment now, to start your journey towards health. You can book an appointment with top nutritionists in Pakistan through Marham by calling at Marham helpline: 0311-1222398 or by online booking facility through the website or Marham mobile app.
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