Cut the Cravings

They strike without warning and leave their hapless victims scrounging up change for the nearest vending machine.

Food cravings can be a vulnerable dieter’s worst enemy. Different from hunger in their specificity (if it’s ice cream your body demands, no amount of frozen juice bars or fresh strawberries will truly suffice), cravings are a common but potentially risky phenomenon.

Whether triggered by physical needs like low blood sugar, emotions such as stress and anxiety, or sensory cues like the smell of a co-worker’s popcorn, food cravings are impossible to avoid completely.

Serious food cravings have been linked to episodes of binge-eating, which can lead to obesity and its associated health risks, as well as eating disorders.

And what happens when someone who is working hard to achieve fitness and nutrition goals gives in to the call of the drive-thru? Dietary slip-ups like this are discouraging and can derail even the most noble efforts to get healthy.

According to Science Daily, new research examining the psychological aspect of food cravings suggests it may be possible to reduce the power of cravings through mental imagery.

Participants in one study reported a reduction in their craving for a certain food when instructed to envision something unrelated such as a rainbow or the scent of eucalyptus. Another study found similar successful results when participants experiencing a food craving watched a pattern of flickering black and white dots.

Giving in every once in a while is not a crime, nor will it undo all of the progress you’ve made toward your health goals. But if you find the craving is more about seeking comfort than satisfying hunger, there are some things you can do to cope.

WebMD offers these suggestions: