Food Cravings And Depression

First of all, you need to understand what food craving actually is. It is an intense craving for a specific food, regardless of ‘not’ being hungry. Though food craving can occur due to many reasons, such as diet plans and restricted eating, the medical reason behind it is a complex combination of emotional, hormonal and biochemical factors. One of the probable causes for food craving to occur is an imbalance in the blood sugar level. Many a times, food craving is also related with depression, a kind of mental disorder, which affects the life of a person significantly.

In depression, a person resorts to ‘comfort eating’, which results in excessive weight gain. The reason behind this is supposed to be the ‘relief’ received from the consumption of carbohydrates, which stimulates serotonin production and eases out the state of depression. Thus, eating comfort foods is an attempt to self-medicate depression. This results in craving of sugary foods and chocolate, which raise the serotonin level in the body considerably. However, one should understand that such a practice, though it provides momentary relief, leads to other health-related problems.

In order to get a hold on your bingeing, make sure you do not overindulge in fatty snacks. On the contrary, have three to four meals a day at regular intervals, which will keep your blood sugar level steady, thereby preventing food cravings. In case you are reducing your calorie intake, make sure you replace it by nutrient dense food, rather than futile products such as candy, ice cream, regular sodas and alcohol. Avoid too sugary or salted food items as well as drinks such as coffee and soft drinks, which make the craving worse.