Everybody has had a craving for a certain food at one time or another, whether that is for a good salad after a vegetable-drought or your favorite ice cream on a warm summer evening. But some people suffer from insatiable cravings that drive them on a regular basis. I’m talking about a “get between me and my chocolate and you risk kissing the floor” type cravings. If you are one of those people, or know somebody that has these, read on.
Most of the time, these strong, often insatiable cravings are caused by imbalances in brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is often associated with mood; new research is showing that it is also likely responsible for cravings, especially for sugars, sweets, carbohydrates and soda as well as increased appetite.
If your serotonin levels are low, your mood will suffer, and you will also be more likely to crave carbohydrates, especially in the mid-afternoon and evening. For those trying to lose weight, this is a recipe for disaster as your willpower is no match for your brain chemistry, and you will eventually give in to the cravings and “blow” a diet. Whether you are trying to lose weight or not, having these strong cravings can make us feel out of control, which can lead to anxiety, depression, despondent and stuck.
This was a huge problem for me. If I hadn’t become a naturopathic doctor, I think I may have ended up being one of those “speed-eater” guys–the ones that stuff huge quantities of food into their mouths as quickly as possible without throwing up. I’ve seen some of those contests, and I think I would have done pretty well. The reason was that I NEVER felt satisfied, and I was ALWAYS hungry. I never understood when people said things like, “The last bite of food just doesn’t taste as good as the first,” or “I’m stuffed–I couldn’t possibly eat another bite.” Even though I was physically full with a distended stomach to prove it, my brain was still sending the signal to EAT. Somehow, the connection between my brain and my stomach wasn’t working. It wasn’t until I learned about neurotransmitter imbalances that my overwhelming desire to eat finally made sense.
We’ll go over just how this occurs in Part 2 of this series.
