Before you head to
the corner store this afternoon looking for your chocolate bar or packet of
chips to satisfy that craving that’s been eating away at you all afternoon,
have a think about what your body really needs.
I was reading an article about your health character, it suggests that ‘cravings
give insight into the type of person you are’, says Dr Alan Hirsch, author of “What Flavour is your Personality?”.
When you
are craving chocolate
What
it says about your body: You reach for the
chocolate because the flavour makes you swoon – but it does that because it
stimulates the release of serotonin, says Dr Hirsch. It’s basically an
antidepressant in dessert form that your body instinctively seeks out when your
happy chemicals are bottoming out and you need a quick lift.
What
it says about you: That depends on what
type of chocolate you long for. Dark
chocolate: you’re the life of the party, a social butterfly, and right in the
mix of the team project at work. Milk
chocolate: you’re the quiet, introspective type. Your idea of a perfect afternoon is a solo run
or one-on-one time with a good book.
When
you crave salty food
What
it says about your body: If nothing but the
saltiest chip will do, you may have a mineral deficiency. Studies have shown
that women who eat low-calcium diets want salty foods more than those who get
enough of the bone builder, says Dr Michael Tordoff, a researcher at the Monell
Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, US, an institute that studies taste and
smell. One possible reason: sodium temporarily increases calcium levels in the
blood, which tricks the body into thinking the problem is solved. But you may
have a shortage of other minerals too. In animal studies, researchers have
found that a lack of potassium, calcium and iron causes test subjects to devour
table salt.
What
it says about you: You go with the flow. Dr Hirsch’s research describes salt lovers as
having an “external locus of control”, meaning they believe that outside
forces, not their own actions, determine their fate.
When
you crave spicy food
What
it says about your body: If you’re having trouble
cooling down, your body may crave a fiery taste to make you perspire. That may
seem counterintuitive, but it helps explain why Mexican food is popular even
when temps are scorching. Some research also suggests that people become
addicted to the rush of spicy food – the spiked blood pressure, accelerated
heart rate and rapid breathing, says nutritionist Tammy Lakatos Shames,
co-author of The Secret to Skinny.
What
it says about you: You’re a
perfectionist: you love order, dislike wasting time, and sweat the details.
When
you crave lollies
What
it says about your body: This is a lot like a
chocolate craving – lusting after sweets could indicate that you’re looking to
boost your mood, or that you’re just low on energy. The body absorbs refined
sugars faster than any other type of food, giving you immediate fuel, says
Shames.
What it says about
you: Sugar fiends tend to
walk towards the wild side, says Dr Hirsch. He describes them as hedonistic,
with few regrets. They also like to stand out and feel special.
When
you crave sweet and salty
What
it says about your body: Your body needs glucose and sodium to function properly, so when
the cells get sluggish (and you get tired), you reach for the chocolate-covered
pretzels to get them revving, says Dr Hirsch.
What
it says about you: You’re a loner, but a whiz, too. According to Dr Hirsch’s data,
people who think a potato chip dipped in chocolate sauce is a match made in
sensory heaven tend to be creative but private, to the point that they appear
standoffish.
Gives you something to think about next time you go to satisfy your cravings. Up next some great foods to reach for when the cravings set in
NK xx
No comments:
Post a Comment