Got food cravings? Try brushing teeth or drinking water first
Gannett News Service
Want to get over sudden food cravings? Try these helpful aids:
1. Wait it out. Cravings have the life span of a fruit fly. "They hit hard but last only 10 minutes," says Dr. Pamela Peeke, author of "Fight Fat After Forty" (Penguin, 2001). So, in the spirit of "I can do anything for 10 minutes," call a friend or pluck your eyebrows. After a measly one-sixth of an hour, the feeling will pass.
2. Brush your teeth, floss and rinse with mouthwash. A little oral hygiene and you won't crave anything but minty freshness.
3. Take daily magnesium supplements. 400 milligrams of magnesium a day can curb a chocoholic's urge within a week, says Dr. Allan Warshowsky, a supplement expert at the Continuum Center for Health & Healing in New York City. The mineral (which is an ingredient in chocolate) helps stabilize blood-sugar levels.
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5. Drink lots of H20. Advises Peeke: "Expand the stomach muscles with water and feel your craving disappear."
6. Try acupressure. "The little triangle of cartilage where the ear meets the cheek is called the appetite control point," says Stephen Shimer, co-author of "Healing With Pressure Point Therapy" (Prentice Hall, 1999) and a licensed acupuncture practitioner in Fairfield, Calif. Each time a craving arises, pinch the area with your thumb and index finger for 30 seconds.
7. Soothe yourself. According to a 2001 French study, women cave in to cravings when sad or stressed. Instead of eating, play your favorite CD or curl up with a great book.
8. Don't deprive yourself. Doing so may lead to binging. You won't find solace in a cookie jar, but you will find a cookie, and that's a lovely treat now and then. Just don't empty the jar.
See Fitness Magazine for more stay-in-shape tips.
