I'm on a diet. How come I crave unhealthy food so much?

Question

Is it because I'm on my period and once I'm off of it will I crave them anymore?

Answer 1

There are many reasons for craving "unhealthy" foods. One is that they are forbidden, another is that you have developed an addiction to these foods, and yet another is that the foods you are eating are not satisfying your nutritional requirements.

To help reduce the cravings, try taking 1/4 teaspoon of molasses in a cup of hot water a couple of times a day. Molasses contains many nutrients, both vitamins and minerals including chromium, which are often deficient, and help with blood sugar balance. (Blood sugar imbalance is the cause of many cravings, especially those around your period)

If you have a bit of protein every time you eat you will find that the food is more satisfying for longer, and may help reduce cravings. Include eggs, nuts and legumes as much as possible as protein sources.

I hope the diet you are on is not one that restricts food too much - starvation leads to increased tendency to gain weight (as soon as you start eating again).

To help the diet work better, and to help reduce cravings, have a large glass of warm water with lemon juice squeezed into it first thing every morning. (Juice of up to half a lemon). This helps tone the liver, which is responsible for removing waste material, including spent hormones, from the body. This may help the hormone balance if that is the source of your cravings.

I hope this helps, and wish you success in your dietary endeavours

Answer 2

I think it's because you're human, not because you're female. The forbidden-fruit thing. And if you're on one of the stupid diets--which most of them are--you could actually be deficient in something your body really needs.
On the other hand, if you're on the only kind of diet that makes sense and that you can turn into a lifelong habit--that is, you limit intake appropriately but there ARE no forbidden foods--you should be able to have *some* of what you crave without any real problem.
In other words, if you crave Meat-Lover's pizza, you can have a slice or two, and at another meal choose a salad without cheese or meat. Of course if what you crave is a WHOLE pizza, you've still got a problem.
And even more important: Nobody ever lost weight and kept it off without appropriate diet AND exercise. It's not just the bottom line of calories in vs. calories out; when your body is tuned up better, it works better, you feel better, . . .
P.S. There are some REALLY good low-fat, lo-cal foods out there. For instance, my diabetic mother was worried that the Dreyer's Slow Churned No Sugar Added ice cream we got was the wrong kind because it tasted so good!

Answer 3

That is just the way I am. Always trying to lose weight and craving sweets.
Once I heard that what you crave is what your body cannot handle, kind of like an allergy.
I am so craving chocolate all the time. It doesn't bother me to eat it, either.
I have always had cravings whether on period or not.
You have to self hypnotize yourself or try to find something to do to keep busy where the craved for food is not at.

Answer 4

Two reasons. Because you have reduced your calorie intake it is totally normal to crave for more calories. Obviously your favourite food used to be junk food and to crave for your previously favourite food is also quite normal.

Dieting requires supreme and extreme will power and determination. Why do you think such a high proportion of people fail? Hopefully you will not become one of them

Answer 5

im not sure if its because your on your period or not but if your on a diet try not to crave stuff too much or you could one day lose yourself and overconsuming that product because your trying to get that flavor back but trying nibbling on stuff just enough to remember what it taste like

not sure if that helps or not but good luck with your diet

Answer 6

You want what you can't have