We’re all conditioned to think cravings are bad, as if feeding yourself should be considered a sin! Yet cravings are actually quite critical when it comes to overcoming emotional eating because more than anything else, they are a direct indicator of what you’re in fact feeling emotionally.
Undoubtedly, cravings can also be physical, but for emotional eaters, that is less often the case. Usually what they really mean is you’re looking for love, or attention, or to feel more secure because some aspect of your life is spiraling out of control. So you eat, hoping to make the feeling go away, which may work temporarily, but more long term, the only real end result you’re left with is feeling guilty and ashamed of yourself for overeating and not having enough willpower to control yourself otherwise.
Uncovering my own emotional eating drivers is what led me to specialize in emotional eating in my coaching practice. In the process, I discovered they all stemmed from insecurities I developed early on in life. Fear was a main driver, including fear of being ridiculed, fear of rejection, fear of unwanted attention, and fear of just being me.
The more I work with clients, it’s increasingly obvious that what was true for me many times is true for them too. But even more than that, across the board, there are certain undeniable anomalies that consistently show up when it comes to emotions and eating.
Decide for yourself if any of the following apply to you:
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Chocolate cravings really mean a hunger for love. Need I say more? Chocolate is so often equated with love anyways, and with good reason! PEA, a brain chemical, has the same properties whether found in chocolate or in your brain, and is responsible for creating feelings of romantic love. Therefore, naturally, if you’re craving chocolate, it’s likely what you’re really craving is love.
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Dairy creates a feel-good sensation. [bctt tweet=”Considered antidepressant foods, people who are depressed often crave dairy for comfort,”] but even more notably, an inherent ingredient in dairy is the amino acid L-tryptophan. When combined with carbs, L-tryptophan triggers the production of the brain chemical serotonin, a.k.a. the feel-good hormone, which naturally boosts energy and mood.
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Salt cravings might mean you’re anxious (or angry). Stress eater? Join the club. Career, finances, and family pressures are all common drivers for emotional eaters, who are usually women. Now, there is nothing inherently wrong with craving salt as sodium is necessary for survival considering without it, we’d die of dehydration. However, excessively noshing on salty, crunchy foods is commonly a way to defuse powerful emotions like anger or anxiety and cover up emotional pain.
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Spicy foods are not always the spice of life. Mexican, Thai, or spicy Chinese food might be the cat’s meow for some people, but for emotional eaters, there’s more to the story than meets the eye. Typically, craving spicy food indicates a need for extra excitement! For emotional eaters, it’s akin to breaking the law and offers the sensation of “being caught.” If you’re a sensation seeker, you likely crave spicy food.
- Nuts and peanut butter more your thing? Check your fun-o-meter, because it’s probably off. In short, nut cravings are an expression of unmet needs for fun and pleasure, plain and simple. The chemicals in nuts, as well as their varying textures, tend to soothe fun-deprived people. So if you find yourself regularly bingeing on nuts or nut butters, make play time a mandatory part of your day!
Cravings are often seen as the enemy, dead set on ruining your diet or any attempts to lose weight, when instead, they’re really just a normal reaction to life. Armed with what your cravings mean can lead to a whole new understanding of how to stop emotional eating, not to mention a lot more self-acceptance and self-respect.
For more help, sign up for my free 7-video eCourse on how to stop emotional eating here!
Sincerely,
Angela Minelli
Angela Minelli is
an author, speaker and founder of Angela Minelli International, a heart-based global business serving purpose-driven everyday women and entrepreneurs whose self-image and weight issues are inhibiting their confidence and blocking them from pursuing their life’s passion.
Angela's joy is in taking a stand for women who are living less than ideal lives, stopped by fear and doubt, which prevents them from stepping into their innate power and delivering their God-given genius to the world. Her coaching programs and products are designed for women with busy lifestyles yet allow for powerful transformation to take place within a small segment of time.
As a natural health practitioner and digestive health specialist, Angela specializes in helping people overcome weight and energy issues through holistic, non-invasive protocols that address the root cause of their conditions, including adrenal fatigue, candida, thyroid disorders, and more.
Explore the ideals that are the cornerstone of her work at angelaminelli.com.
Reference: Doreen Virtue Constant Craving