Food and Mood
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Most women would tell you they definitely feel a connection between food and mood, that a certain mood makes them eat a certain food.But did you know...
the foods you crave may also say a lot about the state of your mind and body.
Researchers in France analyzed the eating habits and cravings of more than a thousand men and women and came to the following conclusions:
- Women crave food more often than men do, with cravings peaking during times of sadness or anxiety.
- Men are more likely to eat when they're feeling happy.
- Chocolate cravings may signal that you are tired.
- An urge for salty foods or dairy products may be your body's way of telling you it wants a real meal.
- Those who had the most frequent cravings were more likely to be on a diet or actively trying to lose weight.
- Cold, wintry days can make you crave carbs like bread and pasta. People with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) may also crave carb-rich foods.
- Researchers theorize that women may experience more cravings because of the increased social pressure to be thin, which also leads them to diet more frequently than men.
It may seem like cravings overtake us without warning and without reason, research shows that they are actually very predictable, arriving at particular times and in particular situations.
You've probably noticed that you feel your strongest food yens at specific times of the day -- or month.
If you know a food craving is going to strike, you can substitute something else -- a healthier snack or a nutritious breakfast or lunch -- rather than giving in to your craving. Here are proven methods to help tame your cravings:
- Eat carbs, protein and a small amount of fat at every meal. When we eat meals that are lacking in one kind of food, we may actually trigger a craving later on.
- Don't skip meals. Think ahead and plan a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner that consist of carbs, protein and good fats. Your snacks, too, should be a combination of protein, carbs and a little fat, especially in the late afternoon, when cravings seem most urgent.
The relationship between food and mood is extremely complex, and is affected by both biological and psychological factors.
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