Swathy

The Science Behind Food Cravings

Swathy · September 14, 2023 · Leave a Comment

Originally published in April 2018.

food cravings, why do cravings happen, reasons for cravings, why do we get food cravings

This entire journey of finding out what exactly are food cravings and why do we have them is a result of my own cravings which I have been having since a few months. I have been wanting to eat sweets all the time. I either craved for ice creams at the middle of the night or the cakes and sweetmeats during the day or after every meal.

“If cravings were an indicator of nutritional deficiency, we’d all crave fruits and vegetables,” says Karen Ansel, MS, RD, CDN. “The fact that we all want high carb, high fat comfort foods, along with the research, is a pretty good indicator that cravings aren’t related to deficiencies. (Source)”

And, curiously, I do not have a sweet tooth. I, in fact, mix my sweets with snacks so as to balance out my palate. And, that made me concerned if I was getting diabetes or suffering from pre-diabetes.

I confirmed the same with my doctor since I am getting treated for my acute folic acid deficiency. He completely denied the assertion that cravings have anything to do with diabetes or pre-diabetes for that matter.

Anyways, getting back to the topic, turns out that it is quite normal to crave any food which stabilizes you emotionally. Hunger and emotions play a huge role in onset of cravings but there is a lot more involved in it. So, let us see why do cravings happen?

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Are you pregnant?

If yes, it is quite prevalent that pregnant women have the craziest food cravings ever! So, moving on.

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What are Free Radicals?

Swathy · September 12, 2023 · 2 Comments

The very air you breathe is killing you! Yes, oxygen goes into our bodies and gets converted to free radicals.

healthy food, free radicals, oxidation, anti-oxidants

I first encountered this piece of knowledge when I was reading The Immortals of Meluha by Amish Tripathi. So, lets find out why?

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Also Read : Nutrova collagen + Anti-Oxidants Nutritional Supplement Product Review

What Happens when you Breathe in Oxygen?

Once you inhale oxygen, it travels through the air pipe to the left and right lung. The lungs have bronchioles which end up in balloon-like air sacs called the alveoli. These air sacs have thin membranes of capillaries through which the blood flows and the gas exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide happens.

When you inhale, the oxygen moves across the thin membranes in the alveoli to the blood where it is absorbed by the haemoglobin and at the same time, the blood releases carbon dioxide into the air sacs to be breathed out of the body.

Freshly oxygenated blood is carried from the lungs to the heart which pumps blood around the body through the arteries. Once the oxygen has been used up in the tissues of the body, the blood returns, through the veins, to the heart.[1]

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Top 5 Reasons why you get Headaches

Swathy · September 7, 2023 · 2 Comments

heahaches, why you get headaches, migraine, cluster headaches, reasons for headaches

Originally published in December 2014.

I used to get regular headaches and I often used to wonder why I could be getting one. Today. we will read about simple habits which can be the reason why you get headaches.

If you have been a regular on this blog, you would know by now that I have suffered from consistent headaches in the past. In the past few years, these headaches have converted into migraines accompanies with shoulder and neck pain. So, let us check out the top reasons why you get headaches.

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Toxins in your system

The major cause of both tension headaches and migraines is the retention of toxins or tissue irritants within the central nervous system. These chemical irritants may cause an over-sensitivity of nerve tissues to other stimuli. – [Source: Dr. Furhman]

Have you been eating a lot of junk food and not doing any exercise and skimping on your sleep? Or, just being unhealthy in the most possible ways? Bad lifestyle and food can lead to excess toxins in your system and are the leading cause of why you get headaches.

Inadequate Breathing

The lack of circulation in the body can be one of the reasons why you get headaches. We do not breathe properly and deeply which can cause lack of proper blood circulation and sedentary lifestyle definitely does not help. When the oxygen levels fall in the body, cluster headaches can happen.

Did you know yawning can also mean your body is not getting enough oxygen?

Deep breathing is necessary. So, remember to take a break from your work and relax and breathe deeply often in the day. Other symptoms for lack of oxygen are morning headaches, being chronically tired and lack of motivation.

Lack of Protein

Protein is important in brain function and brain energy, [ Source: Livestrong ]

A vegetarian diet or improper nutrition can lead to protein deficiency. That does not mean you start binging on animal protein. The takeaway should be to have a balanced diet.

Lack of B12 and Vitamin D

B12 deficiency is known to increase the levels of free radicals in the body which cause the onset of migraines. Similarly, Vitamin D can cause inflammation and affect how neurons work which can be potential cause of headaches.

Lack of Water or Dehydration in the Body

Lack of adequate water intake is also known to cause mood disorders and depression.

Dehydration headache is an actual thing! When the body is not getting enough fluids, fatigue, dizziness and dry mouth may be experience. So, next time you get a headache, drink water and take some rest.

Now you know that not only does our lifestyle affect our mental health and physical health, it can also cause plethora of side-issues which affect us holistically. Small habits can lead to big changes.

Now, its your turn! Do you suffer from chronic headaches? Do you rely on the medicines or try to bear it out? Or, have you figured out a trigger for your headaches? Share your experience in the comments.