8 reasons why your body craves junk food

THERE is no way to justify eating junk food, so why do we crave it?

We keep reading about how harmful junk food can be for our health. It can lead to cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, obesity, high blood pressure and a myriad other health problems. But most of us are unable to control these cravings – not all the time anyway.

Kajal Wattamwar and Bushra Qureshi, dietitians and co-founders of Healthy Steady Go, have this to say about why you crave junk food:

Beliefs around food

A lot of us believe that healthy food cannot be tasty. Many adults don’t like eating fruit and vegetables; after all, they didn’t like it when they were children. Good news! You aren’t 5 any more.

Don’t let those old beliefs stop you from trying healthy food. Did you know your taste buds change every 5 – 6 years and that it takes up to 10 to 12 tries before you develop a taste for certain foods? We know junk food is delicious, but healthier versions of our favourites can be made equally tasty.

Not sleeping enough

A lot of people view sleep as a sign of weakness. Research shows that a lack of sleep leads to more cravings for unhealthy food.

A recent study which analysed brain activity and compared those who slept for 9 hours a night to those who got only four hours found that in those who slept less, the areas associated with pleasure lit up more when subjects viewed pictures of ice cream and pizza compared with vegetables and yoghurt.

“Sleep deprivation adversely affects all systems in our body, leading to an increased craving for comfort.”

Stress

In a stressful situation our body releases a stress hormone known as cortisol.

Fats and sugars have been scientifically proven to give comfort.

As a result, our body ends up craving more of such foods. A study backed this up by concluding that sugar seems to lower cortisol and stress signals in the brain.

Eating too quickly

With our busy lifestyles, most people finish their meals in 5 – 10 minutes. Eating too quickly can create miscommunication between the gut and the brain and signals of satiety can be missed, leading to overeating.

Hormonal imbalances

The hormones released during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy can weaken your resolve to stick to a healthy diet. Leptin and serotonin, which are involved in the coordination between your gut and brain, can cause super-strong food cravings.

Insufficient water

Thirst is often misinterpreted as hunger. Protein helps with satiety levels. A lack of both can prompt us to reach for a quick-fix in junk food.

Nutritional deficiencies

An underlying nutrient deficiency can also lead to cravings for specific foods. For example, magnesium deficiency causes you to crave chocolate, nuts or beans.

Sugar lows or a deficiency in chromium or phosphorus can lead to sugar cravings. A sodium deficiency can make you crave salty chips.

Friends/ family/colleagues

It’s natural that when one person voices their craving for junk food, their companions will start craving it too.

Did you know: pica is a condition in which people crave non-food items, such as chalk, dirt, coins and ice chips. |