Food Cravings VS Addictions VS Habits

Have you ever had cravings for chocolate or ice cream that would not go away?
Have you ever started eating cookies or potato chips and could not stop till you ate the whole bag?

Afterwards you feel like a failure because you did not control your craving.
You are not just being weak.  There are many reasons why this is happening.

 Cravings VS Addictions!

It is easy to think we are not addicted and simply overwhelmed with cravings.
A craving is a strong desire to consume a particular substance that we sometimes have control over and sometimes don’t. (my definition)

An addiction is a persistent, compulsive dependence on a behavior or substance that interferes with your life despite the known consequences. (again my definition)

 I was a sugar addict and a chocolate addict!  That being said, sugar did not devastate my life the same way as heroin or alcohol could. I was not breaking into candy shops at night to steal sweets or spending every last penny to pay for a daily chocolate fix but it did affect my life.

I am happy to say I am no longer an addict.

 5 Reasons Your Addictions Are Not All Your Fault:

1. When the body is deficient of the nutrients it needs to function, it will reach out for anything to get any form of nourishment. You cannot blame the body for being so hungry.
2. If you have candida, bad bacteria or parasites; they are always very hungry and want quick nourishment right now!  They love sugar and refined starches the best.

1. When you crave foods like cereals, grains, and sugar, you maybe addicted to them according to James Braly, MD, York Nutritional Laboratories and author of Food Allergy Relief.
2. Food additives like MSG are often added to make you addicted to the foods that they are put in.
3. The processed food industry spends huge sums of money to get us addicted to their food.  It is easier to get existing customers to eat more than to create new customers.

Causes of Cravings or Addictions

Chemical:
One view of cravings or addictions is that they are simply chemical in nature.
Chocolate and sugar for example, gives us a rush of serotonin and dopamine, the same kind of rush you get from street drugs.  We could achieve that same chemical result with healthier means. (see below)

Emotional:
Cravings are often linked to strong memories of past pleasure.  We want to re-experience that emotional feeling.  For example when you were a child, your Mommy may have fed you cookies when you were sad.  You are now trying to re-experience that safe comforting feeling from your childhood.

Spiritual:
Many people view addictions as an indication of a deep rooted void in life that needs to be filled. This will never totally work.  One really must be willing to work on themselves.  AA, for example, is a deeply spiritual program that has helped millions.

 Top Food Addictions.
These are some of the top food  addictions and cravings from our recent poll. Participate in the poll yourself and find out how you match with others.

1. Sugar
2. Salty Snacks
3. Chocolate
4. Caffeine
5. Fatty foods.

To overcome my sugar addiction I learned how important it is to:

• Keep my body nourished.
• Be fully hydrated
• Get regular exercise
• To get extra nutrition with supplements

We may not be at fault for our addictions but we are responsible for dealing with them.
That means being strong and not giving in easily.
It is all about creating new habits which truly take time.

“Everything is habit forming, so make sure what you do is what you want to be doing.” — Wilt Chamberlain

It usually also requires a significant support system and a greater awareness of what is happening.

To help others with this I’m offering a Free Webinar on Dealing With Cravings and Addictions.  Many of  my classes also offer the nutritional and emotional support needed to create new healthy habits.

Also read: New Healthy Vibrant You For the New Year

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