Do you crave particular foods? Do you especially have food cravings when you're dieting?
Here are some of the mysteries of food cravings explained. All right, maybe not explained, but expressed.
DO YOU KNOW THAT
- 80 to 85% of craving episodes lead to eating the craved or similar food
- energy dense foods are generally what people crave (foods high in fat and carbohydrates)
- cravings still commonly occur even after a long period of dieting and successful weight loss
- food cravings do not decrease with weight loss
- food cravings need to be addressed in order to prevent weight gain
- successful weight loss occurs as a result of you giving in less to your desire to eat the foods you crave
- missing favorite foods is one reason people give up a weight loss diet
- it is the portion size of craved foods rather than the frequency with which you eat them that is associated with increased Body Mass Index (BMI)
- food cravings are common in the eating habits of all people, not just those who are dieting or those who have weight to lose
- food cravings occur more often with less restrictive rather than more restrictive diets - This is an unsolved mystery
...more on food cravings at another time.
