What the body lacks: how to neutralize the main causes of overeating

Have you ever felt an irresistible craving for chocolate, flour and other far from healthy products? Have you ever suddenly dropped everything and rushed to the store for your favorite treat, despite a long period of abstinence from unhealthy foods? If yes, do not rush to scold yourself for your lack of willpower. The fact is that one of the reasons for overeating is the lack of certain micronutrients – vitamins, minerals or antioxidants. What exactly is missing in the body and what foods to use to minimize cravings for unhealthy food, estet-portal.com will tell in this article.

The main reason for overeating – the body feels a lack of nutrients

Can't go a minute without a high-calorie cheese, fatty steak, french fries or a chocolate bar? Periodic craving for this kind of products – quite normal, but if you want to eat them almost every day, you should think about it. Contrary to popular belief, the body does not always need the food it requires from you.

One of the causes of overeating is the lack of certain micronutrients – vitamins, minerals or antioxidants.

For example, if you are deficient in calcium and magnesium, you would rather eat a donut generously sprinkled with powdered sugar than yogurt rich in these minerals. Therefore, in order to control the process of losing weight or adhere to a proper diet in order to maintain good health, it is important to understand what exactly is the cause of overeating and how to neutralize it as effectively as possible. This is exactly what nutritionists Jason and Mira Calton are talking about.

How to identify and neutralize the main causes of overeating

According to Jason and Mira Calton, there are several main causes of overeating and cravings for unhealthy foods, which are the lack of certain vitamins and minerals in the body. These include:

1. Calcium and Magnesium

Low levels of calcium and magnesium in your body cause you to crave sweet and salty foods. With a lack of magnesium, there is a downright unhealthy craving for chocolate. Stress and excessive consumption of sweets can lead to an even greater deficiency of these minerals in the body, as a result of which a person may well develop the habit of "jamming"; stress.

What foods to eat: yogurt, kefir, cheese, sardines and dark green leafy vegetables – calcium; nuts, seeds, potato skins, broccoli – magnesium.

B vitamins

The B vitamins, among other things, help the body fight stress. Vitamins B1 and B5 support normal adrenal function, B6 and B9 contribute to the formation of certain neurotransmitters that regulate mood and provide good health. In stressful situations, the body consumes these vitamins more intensively, which can lead to overeating. The amount of B vitamins in the body is reduced by the influence of caffeine, alcohol, refined sugar, birth control pills and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

What to Eat: Meat, seafood, dairy products, dark green leafy vegetables, bananas, potatoes, avocados, egg yolks, chicken, salmon, yogurt.

Zinc

Lack of this mineral is more common in older people and in those who often experience stress. Low zinc levels in and of themselves do not cause overeating, but it dulls the taste sensation, causing the person to tend to add more salt and sugar.

What foods to eat: oysters, crab meat, liver, eggs, green peas, nuts.

A complete balanced diet – the best way to provide the body with all the substances it needs and neutralize the main causes of overeating.

Iron

Iron deficiency in the body is typical for women in the premenopausal period, girls with heavy periods, as well as for vegetarians and vegans. One of the most striking signs of iron deficiency is meat cravings.

What to eat: meat, poultry, fish; vegetable sources of iron – dried fruits, cashews, pumpkin seeds, legumes. For optimal iron absorption, make sure you are getting enough vitamin C.

Omega-3 fatty acids

If you suddenly feel like ordering a super cheese pizza or simply indulging yourself with cheese, perhaps the reason for this lies in the lack of

omega-3 fatty acids in the body.

Foods to Eat: EPA and DHA can be obtained from oily fish – salmon, sardine, tuna, herring, eggs, fish and krill oil.

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What is missing in the body if you want sweet or salty

In many cases, the cause of overeating is an improperly designed meal plan. To avoid this, estet-portal.com recommends making the diet as varied as possible and including the maximum amount of healthy foods, that is, fresh vegetables and fruits. However, do not forget that an unhealthy appetite can be the result of various diseases, therefore, if it is not possible to get rid of cravings for junk food, it is better to consult a doctor.