LuckCong's Health Blog

In The Origin Diet, dietitian Elizabeth Somer asserts that certain cravings were central to human survival and evolution. "Fat and sugar were scarce hundreds of thousands of years ago," she writes."Fat was a precious source of calories (supplying more than twice the calories per gram of either protein or starch), and our ancestors had no need to develop an appetite shutoff valve for fat. Instead, when they found fatty food, they ate all they could get and developed an unlimited capacity to store extra calories."

The quest for fat and sugar, Somer believes, is now hardwired into our brains, governed by dozens of chemicals including endorphins. Serotonin, for example, is the "feel good" chemical. When levels are low, we seem to crave sweets and carbs, which raise serotonin and improve mood. This may help explain why many women crave chocolate near their periods.

What about the cravings that many pregnant women experience? Growing research suggests that odd food yearnings - and food aversions - may protect the fetus. Some pregnant women lose the desire to drink coffee or wine and turn green at the sight of fish, meat, eggs or vegetables. Instead, they crave sweets, fruits (especially citrus) and dairy products.

One explanation: These foods are least likely to carry harmful organisms or natural toxins. "It may be your body is telling you to keep your fetus away from anything that might be toxic," says Frances Largeman, managing editor of FoodFit.com, a website promoting healthy eating habits.

Largeman acknowledges that the theory doesn't account for why some pregnant women hunger for pickles and others for apple strudel. Cravings are difficult to explain scientifically, she says, "because people don't eat nutrients; they eat food." And everybody's preferences differ.

One explanation: These foods are least likely to carry harmful organisms or natural toxins. "It may be your body is telling you to keep your fetus away from anything that might be toxic," says Frances Largeman, managing editor of FoodFit.com, a website promoting healthy eating habits.

Largeman acknowledges that the theory doesn't account for why some pregnant women hunger for pickles and others for apple strudel. Cravings are difficult to explain scientifically, she says, "because people don't eat nutrients; they eat food."And everybody's preferences differ.
Some experts think cravings are as much a reflection of our social and psychological makeup as they are of our physiological impulses. "Food adds solace to our lives," says Jeff Hampl, a spokesman for the American Dietetic Association. "Often, cravings are tied to a childhood experience and good feelings associated with it. There's a subconscious desire to replace those emotions."

This would explain my predilection for rapini, since my mother serves it every Thanksgiving. Yet regardless of the reason, Largeman - who craves salmon sometimes - thinks you should satisfy a craving when it strikes. "A craving usually just gets worse," She says,"and it could lead to binging."

But most of us long for foods that aren't as nutritious as salmon. What should we do?

First, make sure you're experiencing a true craving - not just plain old hunger or thirst. "Sometimes people don't realize they're physically hungry," says O'Neil."If it's actually hunger, eating something reasonable such as a piece of fruit rather than a chocolate bar might do the trick."
Another option, he says, is to"leave the scene of the craving. Change your setting and engage in other things that don't involve food."

Finally, if your craving just won't be rebuffed, indulge it - judiciously."If you have a salty craving," says Largeman, "it's better to buy a single-serving bag of salt-and-vinegar chips than to buy a large bag and keep it around the house." Or try a less potent alternative - say, low-fat chocolate milk or a frozen fudge pop rather than a slab of fudge.

For years, Catherine Monk would ignore her sweet tooth, then splurge on half a pint of ice cream. Now wiser, she settles for a few table-spoons every night."That does it for me," she says.