PurelyJuicers

People view cravings as a weakness, when all you really need is some balance in your life. Wether that comes from food, love, physical activity or just plain boredom is really up to you to discover. Let's face it when it comes to sugar most of us naturally have a little sweet tooth , or some may have the need for a little salt, or maybe something sour. The question is why? First of all we have to understand that the body sends us messages and all we really need to do is listen and pay attention. We also have to understand that it is normal to have cravings once in a while as long as you have them under control and you really know what your body is yearning for then it's ok to eat what you want when you want it. But there are easy ways to break down the constant cravings and enjoy other fruits in life that are healthier for you. Here is an example, when craving sugar most people go for processed foods like a candy bar or a doughnut which will only bring your energy up for a short time then crash and cause more cravings. All that sugar cravings are telling us is that we need an energy boost. When sugar is digested it becomes glucose. Glucose is fuel for the body's cells. When you eat sugar it enters into the bloodstream and is converted into glucose at different rates depending on the type of sugars you consume. Processed  foods contain short sugar chains which are entered into the blood almost momentarily after they are ingested. Which causes a rise and then followed by a crash, then more cravings occur and so. Processed foods are rich in simple sugars but deficient in nutrients. Sugar is fuel for the cells but they need vitamins and minerals to do their job properly. Instead of a candy bar try biting into a sweet organic carrot or a rice cake and rice syrup or even a little raw agave nectar as a sweetner or a sweet veggie juice or a piece of whole grain bread with some almond butter. You can easily find out what you are missing by simply writing down everything that you eat throughout the day. I myself was recently at disney land and I had been having these insane cravings for sugar and I could not figure out why. I was eating a healthy breakfast like grapefruits, egg whites, fresh berries and a banana. For lunch I was eating a salad with mixed greens with balsamic dressing and for dinner I was eating fish and veggies. It turns out that I was missing essential fats in my day and carbohydrates which contain sugar, and can give you the energy or fuel that you need to get through the day. You can add a half of an avacoda to your salad or some organic olive oil or eating a handful of nuts and maybe adding a sweet potato to your dinner. Another way to avoid cravings is to make sure that you are drinking enough water and you are well hydrated. By having a water bottle by your side it can fill you up really fast and it will feel like there is no room for anything else. Remember that this may not always work for you, sometimes all you need is a human touch or a a little bit of love. So by keeping a journal of what you are eating and your daily activities and what you are craving you can most likely figure out what the imbalance is. Tracey Cameron, All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt! -Luc Van Pelt