How to unlock food cravings
What is it that leads us astray with our eating, even when we know better? At times in my life, I have felt like some kind of demonic force takes over, leading me in the direction of what I know to be the wrong kind of food.
But the more I’ve come to understand that demonic force, the more I’ve been able to unravel or unlock my food cravings and make decisions that bring me into balance.
One aspect of cravings is the search for emotional comfort, and although this may seem obvious, the drive to satisfy our emotional needs through the wrong kinds of food is strong. Why? Because subconsciously we know these foods shut down the mind and numb is just long enough to give us a moment of ease and escape.
Of course, it is completely normal to seek solace from what you eat, you are not somehow meant to be above the desire for food. However, in order to break free from cravings, you have to a) learn to listen to what’s happening in your body, emotionally and physically, and b) learn with your head what foods can really help your heart and body, so that you can weave this information inside yourself, in order to make better decisions in the future.
EMOTIONAL CRAVINGS
Usually we know when there is an emotional need driving our cravings but we’re generally in such a rush to squash the feeling that we never have the chance to see it for what it is. Perhaps you feel restless or unsure about something, maybe there’s sadness or loneliness, or perhaps you can’t quite find the courage or strength to handle a situation or person. The more you can step back and enquire, the clearer the real need or want becomes.
PHYSICAL CRAVINGS
A physical craving can actually be harder to identify because it can appear like an emotional craving. For example, ongoing cravings for sugar or carbs can seem as if they are emotional, and they might well be. But they can also be the result of glucose depletion, something that is far more common than you might imagine.
You might be thinking how on earth could we be depleted in glucose in a world that is suffering from an obesity epidemic? Well, the answer is 1) we’re not getting enough of it from the right sources; 2) our diets are too high in fat, which blocks the ability of glucose to move into the cells where it is needed; and 3) we are living on adrenaline, which depletes our glucose reserves even further.
Glucose is critical for survival. The body runs on glucose and mineral salts. The vital organs - the brain, the heart and the muscles - cannot function without glucose, and if the body detects a lack, it will do everything it can to get what it needs. So often, those cravings for stimulants, such as chocolate, wine, coffee and the wrong kinds of carbs is your body’s longing for glucose. BUT it is a longing for the right kind of glucose from fresh fruits and vegetables.
HEALING CRAVINGS AND ADDICTION
The first step to healing your cravings is to enquire within. Ask yourself, what is happening in my body? Is this craving emotional or physical, or both? Either way, the right foods can help.
All the healing foods, which includes fruits, vegetables, herbs & spices and wild foods, have gifts to impart. For example, if the craving feels physical, you can top up with dates, melons, mangoes, bananas, coconut water, raw honey, potatoes or sweet potatoes, all of which supply an immediate source of glucose. It is also crucial to bring in enough mineral salts that help restore the brain. Mineral rich foods include leafy greens such as spinach and kale, cranberries, wild blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, apples, tomatoes, cucumbers, kiwis, dates, and melons.
Glucose is so critical for the body that it needs to be topped up every one and a half to two hours with the right kind of glucose to prevent the adrenals releasing adrenaline to compensate. If there is no glucose in the bloodstream, adrenaline will be pumped out so that we can function and get through the day but this is false energy and only makes us more exhausted in the longer term.
If the craving is emotional, you can also use the healing foods to help. For example, apples are ideal when you feel low or depressed, as they change the energy within and around you, helping you to attract happier and brighter things. Grapes are incredible if you feel isolated or lack a sense of belonging. All you need to do is look at how grapes grown in nature in their clusters. Potatoes also have this quality of growing together as a network, helping us to feel this quality of being connected. While lemon balm is an amazing herb for fear or worry. If you feel fearful or endlessly worried about what the future holds, bring in lemon balm tea to soothe the soul. You can read more about the amazing gifts of each of the healing foods in Medical Medium's Life Changing Foods book.
By working with your cravings in this way, you undertake a deep journey of self-discovery and come to know yourself and food in a very different way. Remember, the healing foods are so much more than just a fuel. They have a spirit of their own and they are here to help you on your way!