Mindell's theory was that we crave food because we lack certain nutritional elements. The other reasons include stress and hormonal factors.
What makes cravings a lot worse? Sugar and salt. Remeber I have told you before about the foods that increase your appetite - like some cereals in the morning and foods high in sugar and bad carbs? Well, keep that in mind.
Dieting is very bad for your body, especially if you are on a restrictive diet that cuts down proteins or carbs completely.
Caffeine is also a poor choice. And artificial sweetners found in Coke, or Pepsi, or Sprite, or any light drink or food are no better. I will write later on why they are so bad.
Have green tea or lemon tea if your stomach can stand it. Mine, for example, cannot handle lemon tea or any other fruit tea. I am ok, however, with tea coming from flowers, like chamomile or jasmine. Or from leaves.
Eat a few times a day and never miss breakfast! The more energy you consume before your first meal, the bigger the craving gets, the bigger the mistake when you buy your meal or the candy bar.
Also, never reduce your calories below 1,000. Honestly, 1,200-1,400 can be a very safe level is you exercise a little bit.
Eat more fiber and less processed food. Take out the white flour and replace it with whole grains and rye or oats. Try to have potatoes instead of bread, or basmati rice.
The key to keeping your weight under control and stopping the cravings is eating all day through, small portions. And try not to get bored and eat without paying attention, like popcorns when watching a movie.
It's hard not to eat junk food when you know the period will hit you. Your body asks for sweets and weird stuff. You bloat like a melon. Your tummy hurts, your head hurts, and only if killing people was allowed... Well, you know the symptoms.
How can you control pain? Funny enough, there are ways. I thought there weren't - since I could live only with Ibuprofen - but there are. I used Earl Mindell's "Vitamin Bible" and I am extremely pleased with it!
First of all, you need to help your body digest the food easier and also help intestinal transit, so don't give it food that makes you burp!
Exercises ease pain during periods. Easy exercise, not heavy exercise, because heavy exercise can cause hemorrhages. It is also good to rub your tummy a little but do not take hot baths.
And about food (which can help you ease the pain a lot) - you should have:
bananas - Potassium reduces the bleeding. I always have at least one banana a day during these days;
strawberries, potatoes, tomatoes, parsley, watermelon, peanuts, sunflower seeds, figs, peaches - they all contain Potassium or help your body digest food easier, thus reducing cramps and pain.
What you should avoid at all costs:
salt and salty food - aren't you retaining enough water already?
cold drinks and food, since they intensify cramps;
any kind of caffeine - coffee, Coke, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, etc. (Note: caffeine increases your need for sweets!);
black tea;
alcohol;
spinach.
These should definitely help you. They helped me and I thought I was a lost case.
Losing weight and staying healthy is easy, when you care. Forget famishing yourself: there are other ways.
Since I was 15 I've been obsessed with healthy diets, losing weight, sports, and everything included. I read books after books and I collected articles on staying fit and healthy. Even now, 12 years later, I am still reading everything I find on the subject.
I will share with you, step by step, everything I know. Free advice.
About Me
Name: Andreea Home: Bucharest, Romania About Me: Post graduate student, happily married, who has found the perfect job in a perfect company. :) See my complete profile
