Many people tend to eat sweets, carbohydrates or chocolate more than usual when they are suffering from depression or stress because these foods greatly affect a person’s emotional level.
The Turkish site Delgam published a report by writer Nancy Schimmelpfenning, in which she states that it is not necessary to deprive ourselves of the foods we like, but we must understand the reason for their desire in such cases to that the diet keep balanced and nutritious, in order to better know the relationship between food and moods. It can more control this desire.
Why do you want to eat so much?
The author indicated that there are many factors that increase the frequency and intensity of the desire to eat, the best known of which is psychological or emotional stress, taking many medications, hormonal imbalances (especially during pregnancy or menstruation), and physical disorders and mental health problems (such as type 2 diabetes). I, depression, eating disorders, etc.).
The Serotonin Theory
The author shows that this theory explains the desire to eat by an imbalance of serotonin in the brain, which leads to depression, because this substance acts as a neurotransmitter that regulates mood, and that is why when you feel depressed, you are usually attracted to meals that increase the production of serotonin in your body, such as sugary and carbohydrate-rich foods, which has been proven by numerous scientific studies.
want to eat chocolate
Chocolate stimulates the production of natural opiates in the brain which give us a feeling of euphoria. Chocolate also contains xanthine and theobromine, which have addictive properties. And while beverages like coffee and tea contain theobromine, chocolate remains the richest source of this substance.
Chocolate also contains tyramine and phenethylamine, which are vital amines that cause increased blood sugar and blood pressure, increased alertness and feelings of satisfaction.
Phenethylamine has been called a “love drug” because it increases the pulse, giving a feeling similar to love.
How to deal with the strong urge to eat?
The writer warned of the negative physical consequences of consuming a lot of sugar in the face of long-term stress, even though it can make a person feel satisfied when consuming sugars, and she also warned of her emotional consequences, which can increase symptoms of depression, especially for those who feel guilty when they feel a desire to eat or be unable to resist.
The author indicated that there are several ways to deal with the factors that cause depression other than the desire to eat, as she mentioned some of them:
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Accept personal behavior
In the event that the desire for food is caused by boredom, you can count on healthy snacks at your fingertips.
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Do activities and organize meals
Exercise can help when you’re resisting the urge to eat because regular physical activity stimulates the release of endorphins that “feel good” about your mood.
The needs of the body must be understood, because the feeling of thirst and not hunger can be the reason for the desire to eat, but if water is drunk and the feeling of hunger persists, it is necessary to stop and thinking about what to eat, because the food you want at the time may not be what your body really needs.
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Awareness of body needs
When you stop eating for a long time, the body looks for quick sources of energy, which explains the strong desire to eat sweets in this case, but it does not achieve a feeling of quick satiety, which makes its consumption much higher than the required consumption. need, and for this reason it is recommended to eat nutritious foods that stop the feeling of hunger and give The body needs energy.
The foods and snacks that the body consumes should also be chosen consciously instead of mindlessly eating them throughout the day. There is no such thing as bad food per se, but the impact of food on health is determined by their quantity and frequency of consumption.
Consult a doctor
If efforts to control food cravings do not work, a doctor can be consulted about it. Sometimes the constant craving for certain foods can be an indication of a health problem.
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