What are cravings?
Cravings are when we have a strong impulse to eat salty, fatty or sweet foods. Our body uses cravings to indicate that we are missing some important nutrients. Hormonal changes or illnesses can also cause cravings.
Where do cravings come from?
Youths often have cravings during growth spurts, women can experience them during pregnancy and we all know the feeling of devouring a chocolate bar out of frustration. Cravings for certain foods can have many different causes.
If we eat carbohydrate-rich foods, this has an impact on our blood sugar level. It rises rapidly and increases insulin release, which in turn causes our blood sugar to fall sharply. The result: hypoglycaemia and hunger return. Sometimes we believe we are hungry, when we are in fact thirsty. Our tip: drink a large glass of water and see if this is sufficient.