The Crave Rave

You’re sitting at the computer, clicking here, clicking there, when you suddenly realise what’s happened. Your pupils dilate, skin tingles and the hair on the back of your neck stands tall, like a platoon of erect soldiers. You begin to sweat and grind your teeth. You’ve got a sugar craving. Searching each draw of your desk you find a stray Tim Tam from morning tea, which you kept as a reserve for a time like now. Within a flash, nothing but crumbs sit in your lap. That sick feeling in your stomach is guilt.

Why do we crave certain foods more than others? Why do we crave at all? What I’d like to explain and clarify a little more is exactly why it happens, what it means and how to reduce it from happening anymore. Wouldn’t that be great?

First of lets better understand the body. The digestive system is your bodies fuel chute for the Doc’s Delorean. It is where all fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals are absorbed into the bodies blood stream, ready for use or storage for a later date. So that they absorbed by the body they must be broken down into smaller molecular structures. The digestion of carbohydrates begin in the mouth, proteins are digested through the stomach and fats are digested in the intestines.

When your digestive system isn’t working efficiently due to disease, bacteria or, more commonly, parasites (processed foods and non-organic meats are one of the highest causes behind intestinal parasites which exist in 85% of people in the 21st century) your ability to process and absorb nutrient deteriorates. This then means thats you do not take in vital nutrients needed to function efficiently. TA-DA! you have a craving.

Now I know what all the females out there are thinking, “You can’t help chocolate cravings. All women get them, especially around the time of their menstrual cycle.” However, studies have shown that chocolate cravings are caused by a deficiency in magnesium in the body. Something which happens around “that time of the month.” Magnesium can be found in raw nuts, legumes and fruits.

Other common cravings are

• Bread/toast – This is a sign you need to take in foods high in nitrogen, such as fish, meat, nuts and beans
• Alcohol – This is a sign you need to take in foods high in protein, such as meats, poultry, legumes, beans and nuts
• Oily snacks/fatty foods – This is a sign you need to take in foods high in calcium, such as leafy greens, nuts, seeds and oranges
• Carbonated drinks – This is a sign you need to take in foods high in calcium, such as leafy greens, nuts, seeds and oranges
• Tobacco – This is a sign you need to take in foods high in both silicon and thyrosine. Foods high in silicon are nuts and seeds, and foods high in thyrosine are oranges, red fruits and vegetables (vitamin C)

Thanks for reading and also thanks for the question F

Helping you better yourself

Andray

Stop Killing Yourself!, Stop Killing Yourself!, Stop Killing Yourself!

We all know that in the modern world, finding food that is free from additives is a chore. You actually have to make an effort to look for logos marking a product as “no added sugar” “preservative free” “no added salt” “no added flavourings” and “no added colours”. What happened to food just being food? MSN health and fitness have recently released a report naming the 10 top culprits which are added to common consumer items, which may be killing with each bite.

1.Sodium Nitrate (also Sodium Nitrite)
Sodium Nitrate is added to meat products such as bacon, ham, hot dogs, luncheon meats, smoked fish, and corned beef to keep them looking lusciously juicy and red, and also enhancing the flavour of the meat. It has been linked to numerous cases of cancer, and Christine Gerbstadt, MD, MPH, RD, LDN, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association has noted that “This would be at the top of my list of additives to cut from my diet…. Under certain high-temperature cooking conditions such as grilling, it transforms into a reactive compound that has been shown to promote cancer.”
2. BHA and BHT
Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) and Butylated Hydrozyttoluene (BHT) are instable chemical substances found in cereals, chewing gum, potato chips, and vegetable oils. The are antioxidants which prevent fats and oils from oxidizing and in turn going rancid. At this stage in time they arn’t definitely going to cause the mutation of cancer cells, however the risk is there.
3.Sodium Cloride
Salt may taste good, but too much refined salt with low mineral content, has some dire effects on your body. The minerals in rock salt are essential for the body and salt also help reserve food, however excessive salt can lead to cardiovascular dysfunction, leading to high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure.
4. Monosodium Glutamate(MSG)
MSG is often associated with Asian foods, however it is most commonly found in soups, salad dressings, chips, frozen entrees, and restaurant food. It is an amino acid which has been linked to the damaging of nerve cell tissue in infant mice. This is bad bad stuff.
5. Trans Fats
“Trans fats are proven to cause heart disease, and make conditions perfect for stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, and limb loss due to vascular disease,” says Gerbstadt. In recent news we’ve heard a lot on trans fats and we all know that it should be avoided and research has shown that we shouldn’t consume more than 2g of tans fats per day. Even though the warning sirens are out there fast food chains and restaurants still serve many foods chock full of trans fatty acids.
6. Aspartame (Artificial Sweeteners)
OK, so where do I begin on this one? Have you ever caught yourself going for an ordinary soft drink, hesitating, then instead reaching for the “diet” alternative? Well, Aspartame, also known as “nutrisweet” or “equal” is a food additive found in low-calorie desserts, gelatins, drink mixes, and soft drinks, which when exposed to too regularly may cause cancer as shown in research in 1970 and 2007, by the the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Now I’m not saying go for the sugary drink, go for the water instead
7. Acesulfame-K
Acesulfame-K is a relatively new additive to the game. It is an artificial sweetener found in chewing gums, baked gods and soft drinks. “K” stands for the chemical symbol for potassium, 200 times sweeter than sugar, and although alternate research institutes have found it to be “harmless” in moderation, research on the new substance is thought to be biased. further reasearch is needed so for the mean time. STAY CLEAR!
8. Food Colorings: Blue 1, 2; Red 3; Green 3; Yellow 6
The FDA had previously already banned many harmful food colouring substances, however the five listed above are still used widely in foods nowadays. they have been linked to thyroid cancer, tumour formation and also bladder cancer.
9. Olestra
Olestra, otherwise known as Olean is found in most potato chips. It is a substance which prevents the absoption of fats and oils. The reason why this is harmful to your body is because this causes diarrhea, abdominal cramps and gas. The fact that Olestra prevents the absorption of fats and oils means that it also prevents functional nutritional absorption. This means that vitamins and minerals will simply pass through without being used.
10. White Sugar
Simple sugars are found everywhere nowadays. It is an effective sweetener and works as a preservative. Yet the average diet should not take up more than 10% of your daily diet, however many Australian diets now consist of 20%, 30% or even 40% simple sugars. Sugar has adverse effects on your health by leading to problems with weight control, tooth decay and blood sugar levels in diabetics; it also replaces good nutrition. To process the sugar your body needs to use vitamins and nutrients, which means that vital stores will be robbed.