It is not common to hear a friend or workmate craving for an apple or a fruit bowl. But cravings for ice creams, chocolates, and chips? Well, those are cravings we’re all familiar with.
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Food cravings come from the same part of our brain that is responsible for memory, pleasure, and reward. These cravings are only satisfied when the person eats the food their taste buds have been crying out for. Upon satisfying the craving, the person experiences a feeling of satisfaction because of the feel-good hormones that are released. Quite surprisingly, if you think about it, this is precisely how the brain functions when it comes to addiction. This is why a lot of people like to eat when stressed out or unhappy. Satisfying a craving feels good, but in the long run, it has negative impacts on health and wellness. Consuming a lot of junk food has been directly linked to an increase in weight and several diseases. It can also leave you feeling sluggish and lethargic. That’s why it is so important that we find healthier alternatives to satisfy those cravings.
If you’re someone looking for a way to please those demanding taste buds without resorting to junk food, then you’re at the right place. We have compiled a list of healthy foods that your body will thank you for. These foods serve as great substitutions for junk food cravings and are just as healthy. Want to know what these are? Read on
1. Berries Or Dried Fruit Instead Of Candies
You don’t have to be a fan of Charlie and the Chocolate factory to possess a sweet tooth. Sweets and candies are one thing both children and adults can’t say no to. Candies are made from artificial sweeteners or sugar. They have no nutritional value whatsoever, and unlike berries and dried fruit s, they are bad for your health. That’s why we recommend the next time your sweet tooth comes calling, satisfy it by eating some berries or dried fruit. You could also freeze and eat them. This is a fun way to trick your body into thinking you’re eating a dessert.
2. Swap French Fries With Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges
Craving fries is a deadly craving. These fried pieces of sliced potatoes are bathed in oil and are extremely high in fat. That’s why we recommend switching to roasted potato wedges instead. These are easy to prepare. Just brush some olive oil onto them, roast lightly, dust some salt and voila! They are perfect alternatives to your fast food cravings and will have your body thanking you for them.
Even if there was someone who could turn down sweets and candies, there truly isn’t anyone who can say no to a nice creamy bar of chocolate. It’s like you can almost feel your taste buds do the waltz as the bar of chocolate melts in your mouth. Yes, we too, are all too familiar with chocolate cravings. But again, chocolate contains added sugars that are not good for health.
Dark chocolate, on the other hand, has added benefits, less sugar, and has been proven to be able to improve neuro-cardiovascular connectivity (
1).
4. Swap Sodas With Lime Water Or Chilled Water
There really isn’t anything as satisfying as drinking a chilled soda on a hot summer day. But we are all not strangers to the health implications that come with drinking a soda. That’s why we recommend lime water or chilled water. These drinks will rehydrate you and leave you feeling rejuvenated without harming your health.