Stay Hydrated to Manage Food Cravings

Hunger can be triggered by many natural things going on inside of your body but appetite is a more creative process that can include your brain’s response to the sounds, smells, and sight of mouth-watering foods. These triggers can lead to overeating. Natural feelings of hunger plays a major role in achieving effective weight loss but ravenous hunger can cause a host of problems, like slowing your metabolism, compromising your immune system, and triggering binge eating.

Appetite can be emotional and something that needs to be managed, but hunger plays a crucial role by letting your body know you are burning up the calories you are consuming rather than storing them for later as fat deposits. To help you control the natural sensations of hunger or appetite, eat your food slowly and enjoy every bite. This can make mealtime more satisfying with a lesser consumption of food. Chances are you will be satisfied with less food.

If you are struggling to manage food cravings or stomach grumblings, do not skip meals. The right intake of real food can keep your blood sugar levels stable. Moreover, try applying some of the proven tips discussed below:

• Stay Hydrated – Staying hydrated is often overlooked but it can be a huge part of the weight management equation. Studies have shown that people who consume a glass of water before meals tend to eat less.
• Protein & Fiber Snacks – So-called high volume foods like fruits and vegetables contain both water and fiber to help fill your stomach. Volumetric food studies suggest you can eat as much as you want of high volume-low density foods.
• Reduce Sugar Intake – Refined carbohydrates like cookies and candy may taste good but they tend to leave you feeling hungrier shortly after you consume them. Reduce sugar intake and add nutrients to better manage hunger.
• Eat Slowly – Eating more slowly will allow you to concentrate on the quality of the food you are consuming instead of worrying about quality. Eating slowly also minimizes effects of binge eating.
• Add Spices – Since spices only need to be consume in small amounts, they provide intense flavor to the food item you are eating but do not make a significant contribution to the overall calories in your menu plan.

The benefits of simple forms of exercise like walking routinely can go way beyond burning calories. Exercise can increase your metabolism for immediate effects while improving your outlook for the rest of your day. Since you will usually fill up before you’ve overconsumed calories, it is generally okay to eat as much fresh fruit and non-starchy vegetables as your appetite desires, but never fried or coated with sugar.

A temporary return to old eating habits does not have to mean failure. Identifying negative situations and personal difficulties quickly can allow you to discover alternative methods for coping rather than relying on overeating. Effective strategies that encourage weight loss can also play an important role in long-term weight management. Contact Metabolic Research Center to learn more about our proven strategies for maintaining a healthy weight.