One of the toughest things about trying to lose weight and eating right is dealing with cravings that can sabotage the best laid diet plan. Some people struggle with that urge to grab something sweet – like a piece of German Chocolate cake, or a large ice cream sundae covered with butterscotch and chocolate topping, with layers of nuts and whipped cream. My personal struggle tends to be the craving for bread and chips. Why can’t THOSE two things be at the bottom of the food pyramid?

I ran across some interesting information on Pinterest that could help all of us who have set out in the near year to shed a few pounds to  deal with the cravings that seem to haunt us each and every day.

(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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1 ) If you are craving sweets what you may be lacking is chromium, carbon phosphorous, sulfur, and tryptophan. Some healthy foods that contain those missing elements include broccoli, grapes, cheese, chicken, fresh fruit, eggs, cranberries, cabbage, turkey, sweet potatoes, dairy, and nuts.

(Photo illustration by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
(Photo illustration by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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2) If you are craving bread (I’m listening!) you could be short on nitrogen. You should eat more high protein foods like fish, meat, nuts, and beans.

(Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images)
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3) If you have a hankering for fatty snacks, like potato chips( I’m still listening) or carbonated drinks you may suffer from a lack of calcium. Some healthy alternatives include mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, cheese, and sesame.

(Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)
(Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)
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4) If you are craving coffee, it may not be the caffeine. You could be lacking phosphorus, sulfur, and iron. A lot of things could help here including chicken, beef, fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, legumes, garlic, onion,sea salt, and black cherries.

(Photo by Miguel Villagran/Getty Images)
(Photo by Miguel Villagran/Getty Images)
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5) If salty foods are your downfall, you may be suffering from a lack of chloride. Try putting some raw goat milk, fish, or unrefined sea salt into your diet.

So if any of these cravings are threatening to derail your diet, and you’re not finding real relief, my personal suggestion is to go ahead and  give in to the cravings once in a while. Give yourself a treat occasionally to reward yourself for all the times you said “no” to unhealthy choices. But don’t over do it. Moderation is always key.

 

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