fighting food cravings

[anthrax]

Interesting before Xmas "heavy" meals

"People with food cravings may actually have neurochemical and hormonal imbalances that trigger these cravings," Braly says.

If you think you may be serotonin-deficient and want to increase your serotonin levels without resorting to a pint of mint chocolate chip, Braly suggests trying these alternatives:

* Identify and eliminate suspected food allergens -- paying special attention to gluten (wheat, rye, oats, etc.) and milk products.
* Avoid alcohol.
* Avoid stimulants like caffeinated drinks, cigarettes, and amphetamines.
* Increase your exposure to bright light or sunlight to 1-2 hours a day.
* Get 60 minutes of moderate or moderately intense exercise every day.
* Make sure you get enough deep, restful sleep every night.

Although they have not been proven to be helpful, certain supplements might help, according to Braly. These include:

* 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)
* Ginkgo biloba
* Acetyl-L carnitine
* St. John's wort
* Vitamin B-6
* NADH (vitamin B-3 derivative)
* SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine)

By Carol Sorgen
WebMD Feature

 

[JJFigure]

Interesting article. Although, instead of turning to supplements that may or may not work, another approach is to ask yourself why you're really eating that pint of ice cream. Are you fulfilling an emotional need or just hungry? Chances are hunger has nothing to do with it.

Just think of your body as a high performance car; would you put diesel into a high performance car or go for the super-unleaded?

ice cream = diesel gas. Sputter, sputter.

 

[Ceebs]

ice cream = diesel gas. Sputter, sputter.

Just keep telling yourself that, JJ. Still dieting? When's your show?

 

[JJFigure]

Trust me, Ceebs - I have to keep reminding myself.

Down to the last week - my show's on Saturday, Dec 14 - and feeling pretty good about my physique. That's always a relief - knowing you timed it right.

 

[Ceebs]

Cool, I'll be burning good juju for you in 6 days. If those ab shots you posted on the Women's Forum are any indication, you'll knock 'em dead.

Side note about cravings - if someone really wanted to clean up, they'd market 5-HTP as a PMS cure. During the luteal phase of women's cycles (ie. the week before menses), serotonin levels drop, so taking it supplementally would reduce moodiness and cravings. Works great, in my study of n=1...