A FitPerez.com reader wrote into to registered dietician Lisa DeFazio about a subject very close to all of our hearts…
Junk food cravings!
She wrote:
I lead a very healthy lifestyle, eat unprocessed foods and work out. However, recently every week I’ve had a day when I crave pastries or chocolate and I end up eating a whole box of chocolate raisins or 5 granola bars. How do I deal with those cravings?
A perfect question for Lisa D, who responded:
First of all, being a woman, it is important to mark your monthly cycle on the calendar because your cravings may be linked to PMS-which is normal. On the weeks that it is NOT PMS, you are probably restricting carbohydrates in your diet by just eating protein, vegetables and fruit, and at a certain point your body needs more glucose (sugar) for energy. The body’s intense craving for carbs make you go for high sugar foods like chocolate.
So, it is important to include carbs in your daily diet as that is your body’s fuel especially when working out. The best choices are whole grains and high fiber carbs like oatmeal, sweet potatoes, wheat bread and brown rice. These foods keep blood sugars stable, and will prevent the weekly intense sugar cravings for pastries and chocolate. People who diet too strictly and restrict carbs usually binge on sugar eventually because your body can’t survive without carbs!
Thanks, Lisa! Great advice as always.
Got a question for Lisa?? Email them to us at Tips@FitPerez.com, and be sure to check out her website for more tips and tricks!