What Triggers Food Cravings?

Apart from the psychological comfort provided by certain types of food, there may be various physiological reasons why you crave certain foods. These include an unstable blood sugar level, food intolerances and chemical addiction. “Basically, your brain comprises a variety of chemicals, all of which are made up from the food that you eat,” explains Frank McGowan, a nutritionist at the Natural Health Clinic, London. “Grains, for instance, contain some amino acids which may have a psychoactive effect similar to that of opiates. This may explain why eating too much cereal can leave some people feeling spaced out. Carbohydrates increase the levels of tryptophan in the brain which is converted to the feelgood chemical serotonin. If you are depressed, serotonin levels are low and it’s natural to crave these foods. The problem is that if you don’t deal with the depression, you’ll also end up with a weight problem.”