CRAVE FOR CARBOHYDRATE. Guilty or not guilty?

Carbohydrates breakdown into simple sugars in our digestive system and provide us with energy. Without carbohydrates our bodies and minds would not be able to function properly. No doubt, many crave for a carbohydrate which is a reason for their challenging weight problem.

Crave for carbohydrate in many people is a hint of a decline in energy levels which can result from lack of nutrition, low blood sugar and addiction. Lack of nutrition can cause a hormone imbalance which can cause you to crave carbohydrate. Ultimately, most food cravings are associated with low blood sugar levels which often hit at the same time of the day, usually in the late afternoon or early morning. They may also occur when you are dieting or after a skipped meal. 

There are two types of carbohydrates: simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. Examples of complex carbohydrates are whole grain foods, legumes and vegetables. These are not readily absorbed in the body, as they first need to be broken down into simple sugars. Examples of simple carbohydrates are chocolate, cookies and carbonated drinks. These are easily absorbed and can be used immediately as energy. Hence the reason many people crave simple carbohydrates rather than complex carbohydrates, because their bodies needs an immediate energy boost

Have you ever felt that your body is feeling down, and somehow it believes that food will lift you up? Can you remember what you craved for the last time you were depressed, stressed, unhappy or just bored? These feeling can come as a result of low serotonin levels, and may cause you to crave for carbohydrates. When serotonin levels are low, your body sends signal to the brain letting it know that it is hungry. As soon as you eat, your serotonin levels are restored along with your energy. 

Chances are that you could be addicted to certain carbohydrates, and that is why you continuously crave them. For example, if you are used to eating a bowl of cereal before bedtime or a pastry after meal, your body becomes accustomed to it to the point where you crave it, even though you are not hungry.

Guilty? Here is a solution for you– Eat a wide variety of nutrients, do not skip meals especially breakfast. Try not to opt for junk foods but rather munch on healthy snacks through out the day.

What food do you crave presently?