Control Those Cravings
Q & A with Trainer Chris Powell
Monica of Tempe is trying to stick to her diet plan.
Dear Chris,
What's the best on the go snack that doesn't need to be refrigerated, to control hunger?
Hey there Monica!
Great question. Using certain foods to control cravings is one of the most important things we can learn when living a healthy nutrition lifestyle. Here’s the secret: Fats!
I know, I know. Fat can be a scary word…but dietary fat and body fat are two very different things. Body fat is the stuff we want to get rid of. Dietary fat is essential in our daily nutrition, to help stabilize blood sugar, balance the hormones, and CURB CARBOHYDRATE CRAVINGS. The professionals will tell you that the best dietary fats that don’t have to be refrigerated are going to be nuts. Remember this: Some of the best nuts you can eat are P-A-W-S:
- Pecans
- Almonds
- Walnuts
- Soy Nuts
Whenever we crave, we want Sweet and Salty, right?? Why?
Because when your blood sugar (which is basically carbohydrates in your blood) drops to lower levels, your brain wants more fuel and it knows that most of the sweet and salty foods today can be broken down quickly into sugars – to feed the brain again!
So how can fats help? When fats are digested, they release a chemical into the blood called CCK. That CCK travels to the brain to tell it that you are ‘full’. How long does it take? After you eat the dietary fats, it can take about 15 minutes – and your cravings will go away! When your blood sugar levels drop and you experience cravings, fats (instead of carbohydrate) help to stabilize blood sugar and make you feel ‘full’.
HERE’S THE RULE YOU SHOULD FOLLOW WHEN EATING FATS:
If your goal is weight loss, I recommend you try to avoid eating carbohydrates with your fats. Fats and proteins are okay to combine, but avoid any sugary or starchy carbohydrates (breads, crackers, rice, pastas, potatoes).
Of course, always consult your physician before making any dietary changes.
Keep up the good work and curb those cravings! 
~Chris
Learn more about Chris.
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