Are you about to have pint of that ice cream you’ve been craving? Well here are 5 Surprising Ways to Fight Your Food Cravings:
1. Distract Yourself
If only ice cream will do, it is a craving, not hunger. Cravings usually last for 10 minutes. Once you recognize it is a cravings, distract or divert your mind. You can do this by calling someone, running an errand, listening to music, exercising or meditating.
2. Giving Someone a Hug
Hugs and other types of physical affection releases oxytocin, a feel-good chemical that fights stress hormones, thus making you feel happy and calm. Therefore you are less likely to seek comfort from food. Try for 6-8 hugs daily that last from 10-20 seconds each.
3. Get Minty Fresh
You can try brushing your teeth or gargling with mouthwash. When you have a clean and fresh mouth, you do not want to mess it up.
4. Massage It Out
Relieving tension via acupressure points helps regulate the hypothalamus, the part of your brain that controls hunger and stress hormones. To curb your urge to eat, use both hands to massage both sides of the spine where your hairline meets your neck. Do it for 2 to 3 minutes.
5. Take a Power Nap
Cravings also sneak up when you are tired. Focus on the fatigue, try shutting the door, closing your eyes and re-energizing.