Joshua Rosenthal - Crack the Code on Cravings: What Your Cravings Really Mean

Part I: At the Heart of It AllPart II: Physical CravingsPart III: Emotional CravingsPart IV: The Support You Crave

Crack the Code on Cravings: What Your Cravings Really Mean

ISBN: 978-1-941908-06-8

Copyright 2017 by Integrative Nutrition Publishing

Published by Integrative Nutrition Publishing

Distributed by Hay House, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic, or electronic process, or in the form of an audio recording nor may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or otherwise be copied for public or private useother than for fair use as brief quotations embodied in articles and reviewswithout prior written permission of the publisher.

Notice: This book is not intended to replace recommendations or advice from physicians or other healthcare providers. Rather, it is intended to help you make informed decisions about your health and to cooperate with your healthcare provider in a joint quest for optimal wellness. If you suspect you have a medical problem, we urge you to seek medical attention from a competent healthcare provider.

Integrative Nutrition

http://www.integrativenutrition.com

Special thanks to Jenn Valle, Genevieve Valliere-Kelley, Jesse Abercrombie, and Tim Tate for their support and dedication to the success of this project.

H ave you ever caught yourself making a statement of need when, in reality, what you coveted was truly a want? You might have said something like, I need a glass of wine after such a long day! when what you really meant was I want a glass of wine to relax after my long day. Never in human history has it been so difficult to differentiate between a want and a need as it is today.

So, of course, its easy to become confused by the cravings we feel. Developed throughout our evolution as human beings, cravings were designed to tell us which nutrients our body is deficient in so that we can remedy the imbalance through the consumption of food. However, in todays world of plenty, where every food item is available, and were constantly bombarded by innutritious options, it becomes almost impossible to hear our bodies over all the noise.

When it comes to our day-to-day lives, we seem to have an easier time being clear about what we want. Many of us have some kind of idea in our head of what were looking for in life, be it a loving, supportive partner, a fulfilling and lucrative career, or even simple daily contentment.

But when it comes to our food choices, we have a harder time discerning what we really need. We know we should pick the healthy food, but sometimes we just cant shake that craving for a so-called forbidden food.

A food craving is defined as an intense desire for a particular food (or type of food) that is difficult to resist.

Yet when you look at articles and books about cravings, none of them teaches you what they really mean. Most resources offer ways to conquer your cravings and suppress your desires without ever giving any real insight as to WHY we experience these cravings in the first place.

So many people view cravings as a sign of weakness, like their body is betraying them, but I want to share with you a radical new approach: Cravings are actually important messages from your body.

Thats right: cravings are not a bad thing. They are one of the most natural ways your body speaks to you about what you need and how to stay in balance. Once you start to see your cravings in this light, you will be 99 percent more informed than most diet experts today.

When were unable to stick to a diet or a lifestyle, were taught to see that as a personal flaw or failure. Diet advocates claim that, if we want to lose weight and improve health, we have to control our cravings and eliminate certain bad foods that get us into trouble. However, its almost inevitable that banning foods helps them to find their way back onto our kitchen shelves and into our mouths, along with feelings of guilt, shame, and sadness.

I believe that were perfect and whole just as we are right now and that were meant to live in peace with our bodies. When I began coaching and introduced this concept to my clients, it was often a big a-ha moment for them. Clients who had been punishing themselves for years, their minds cluttered with negative thoughts and fears of losing control around food, were now given permission to get curious about their cravings and stop blaming themselves for falling off the wagon.

You might be wondering how I have come to have this perspective. For years, I was a macrobiotic teacher, and I was very rigid about what I ate. Macrobiotics is an entire way of living: More than just a diet, its about learning the art of balancing every area of your life to be in line with your bodys and natures rhythms. In my teachings, I recommended eating whole and natural food, free of processed and artificial ingredients in order to live in harmony with the natural order of life.

I remember one day, driving home from a national macrobiotic conference, I stopped my car at a gas station and walked out with a box of Pepperidge Farm cookies. Then, I sat in my car and devoured the whole box. It was like an out-of-body experience. I couldnt believe what was happening. I thought to myself, Whoa! Whats up with that?

I had spent years living a macrobiotic lifestyle, eating whole grains and fresh vegetables and avoiding dairy, meat, and refined sugars, and here I was, inhaling an entire package of highly processed cookies. It was clear to me that I had been ignoring messages from my body.

Your body does not want to be shushed. The longer you work to curb your cravings, the louder your body will scream out for what it truly needs. And all bodies are different! You cant solve your cravings with what worked for your mom, your best friend, or your partner. Your body has a specific message just for you. The question is: Are you willing to listen?

Instead of denying your cravings, the goal should be to deconstruct them and learn what they mean. Its time to take a critical look at what you crave so that you can find innovative ways to nourish yourself each and every day. This isnt a one-day-at-a-time attitudeits a lifestyle change that will ensure you approach food every day in a way that will feed and fuel your body!

From now on, when you experience a craving, your goal will be to honestly ask yourself: What does my body want, and why? This book will guide you through the simple and practical ways you can deconstruct your food cravings to discover what it is youre truly craving, from both your food and your life.

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