No more cravings

If you only think of having a bowl of crispy potato chips once you see it, relax, you're simply human. But if you catch yourself daydreaming about chocolate cake, and you're also feeling overtired, anxious or somewhat blue, then you're most likely experiencing a craving. The diagnosis is definitive if indulging in the object of your desire temporarily alleviates your symptoms -- and that's why cravings can be so hard to overcome.

Cravings are a two-pronged problem. The very origin of your craving, such as unbalanced meals that may result in low blood-sugar levels, can also be the cause of low energy, anxiety or depression, which increases the tendency to crave certain foods. Sussing out the culprits behind cravings will help in your waist-management efforts -- and can do wonders for your mood.Why do we crave?
So what causes cravings? Hormones, for one. Women experience cravings prior to their periods, but poor eating habits, which are under your control, are also villainous.

Too few carbs can lead to lower levels of the brain chemical serotonin, which can cause depression and anxiety. A couple of ounces of lean protein (low-fat cheese, fish or meat) with a complex carb (a whole grain) at each meal can stabilize blood-sugar levels and decrease cravings.

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