Every food corresponds to a certain
mood. When your cravings are out of control,
it’s because you want to feel more energetic, happier, or more relaxed. Your
cravings are for the food that will produce the desired effect. Hunger and cravings
are two very different things: if you were just hungry for a bowl of ice cream,
you’d stop eating it at the first sign of satiation instead of finishing off the bowl,
having another, and then maybe two more spoonfuls right from the carton.
Or maybe you would’ve opted for something else.
Every food contains minerals, amino acids, textures, smells and other
mood- and energy-affecting properties. Some are stimulants, some are
depressants, and some activate the pleasure centre in our brains. Many
mood-altering or “psychoactive” properties of food are identical
to those found in prescription medications for depression, anxiety and
asthma! For example, the feel-good chemical in chocolate is
phenylethylamine (PEA). This is also the main ingredeint in Ecstasy
and MDMA. Actually, it’s found in such high amounts in raw cacao
that people have “cacao parties” and get buzzed off of this chemical,
naturally (I’m not kidding, you can Google it). Tyramine and pyrazine,
found in foods like nuts, coffee, pickled foods, sour cream, and aged
cheese are the main ingredients in antidepressants and asthma
bronchodilators. There are also reasons behind craving certain
textures (crunchy, soft and creamy, and chewy). Two peopl
e that crave the same food, but with different textures, would
have two very different issues. (More on food texture cravings
here.)
Chocolate: Hungry for Love
The chemical I mentioned before, PEA, is the chemical that
the brain creates when we’re feeling romantic love. “Chocoholism”
is way of seeking love, intimacy and romance.
Dairy for Antidepressants
Tyramine (found in higher levels in cheese) is a stimulant.
Choline (found in milk) has a soothing effect. L-tryptophan
(also found largely in milk) combined with carbohydrates stimulates
the production of serotonin, creating a happy sensation. This
combination is found in ice cream, pizza, creamy sauces, and a
long list of other common foods.
Well, actually for stress, anger, and anxiety. Craving salty
foods is a sign of adrenal weakness. Your adrenals manage
your stress response. Often salty snacks are also crunchy - the
crunch gives your jaw a physical outlet for stress (people usually
hold anger in by clenching their jaw).
Chances are if you like to spice up your food, you like the rest
your life to follow suit. Feeling stuck, bored or generally
dull might make your body convert this frustration into cravings
for spicy foods. Bernard Lyman, a psychologist, researcher
and author writes that “sensation seekers [are people who]
seem to need extra excitement and often enjoy taking risks.”
Sensation seekers have been correlated with cravings for spicy,
crunchy or sour foods with strong cravings for novelty and change.
Breads, Rice and Pasta for Comfort
Comforting and calming. Usually craved in times when you need
a friend to talk to or some way to express your feelings.
These kinds of cravings indicate a fear of feeling empty,
being alone, of facing the truth of taking responsibility…
basically, a feeling of fear in general.
Everyone is different. Your cravings could also be very
physiological, so take a second to check in with yourself
and see how you're feeling. Are you hungry, or are you emotional?
Do you ever wonder what to buy at a health food store? Do you dread 
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