Food Cravings … Let’s Talk about Caffeine & Salt!
Caffeine & Salt…(these can cause some pretty strong food cravings!)
Caffeine
Caffeinated drinks are a staple for many. From our first sip of coffee in the morning to that cup of tea with dinner, it seems many of us are inundating our bodies with caffeine.
Overcoming caffeine cravings:
- Get enough rest. Make the time to relax and get enough sleep.
- Change your wake up time and morning routine in small ways. Take a walk first thing in the morning. Drink room temperature water with a twist of lemon. Do simple stretching to wake each part of your body.
- Use positive affirmations to begin your day.
- Switch to decaffeinated alternatives like flavored water or herbal tea.
- When the craving for caffeine hits you, do something different or drink something different. If the craving comes first thing in the morning, grab a bottle of water and go for a walk or a run instead. Even a quick 15 minute walk will give you great health benefits.
- Don’t drink caffeine simply because everyone else is. Make a conscious effort to make a better choice.
- Drink sparkling water if you crave soda.
- Boost your B vitamin intake. B vitamins are what your body uses to metabolize the food you eat; they are essential for the production of energy. Upping your B vitamin levels can help you do away with caffeine if you crave it for the energy boost. Try eating more protein, nuts, seeds, eggs, and complex carbohydrates.
Alternatives to caffeine:
- Water, sparkling water, flavored water
- Decaffeinated versions of coffee, tea, soda, sports drinks
- Herbal teas such as ginseng
- Teeccino caffeine-free herbal coffee
- Yerbe Mate
- Green tea
- Licorice tea
- Wheatgrass juice
- Reishi Mushroom tea
- Rooibos tea
Salt
It’s no secret that salt can boost food’s flavor and is important to the body in small amounts.
However, you may be getting a lot more salt in your diet than you realize.
Overcoming salt craving:
- Stay away from processed foods. Almost all processed foods have some form of sodium. A better alternative is to make your own snacks and meals and to use sea salt instead of regular salt.
- Stay away from fast food.
- Use herbs as an alternative to salt when cooking.
- Drink plenty of water. Stay hydrated.
- Reduce stress to keep your emotional salt craving under control.
- Pay attention to how you’re feeling when your salt craving hits. Are you bored, anxious, angry or lonely?
- Get a nutrition checkup. Find out what minerals and nutrients you may be missing in your diet. Once you start replacing them with healthy versions your salt cravings will lessen.
Make Major Improvements in Your Life!
Cheryl A Major, CNWC
