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Posts Tagged ‘emotional eating’

12 Tips for Managing Anxiety (and depression) Naturally

Posted in ADD and ADHD, pH and The Body, Recent Posts, The Truth About Dairy, The Truth About Soy, tagged , , , , , , , on January 24, 2011 | 12 Comments »

Flashback

Many people would not know this, but I used to suffer from anxiety (a.k.a. Panic Attacks).  I am not just talking about,

“Oh. My. Gosh, I hate flying”—anxiety.

Or, “I am so going to fail this test”—anxiety.

I am talking about the “Can’t catch my breath,”

“Think I am going to die,” heart palpitations, end up in the hospital— anxiety.

It started a few months before my 18th birthday and followed me into college. All things considered, I did a relatively good job at hiding just how terrifying and debilitating it was.

Flash forward

When people ask me why I do not eat something, or find my “restrictive” “diet” painful… expressing: “I could never give up xyz,” I acknowledge their opinion, and move on. First of all, I truly enjoy what I eat, and being forced to get creative in the kitchen. Outside of that though… While a scoop of ice cream is, by no means, going to give me anxiety, or lead me down the road to depression, anxiety, or the like… the sheer fact that nutrition changed so many aspects of my life, is enough to keep me on the path that I am.

Want another example?

Say you love milk, but are not satisfied with your body. If you were to eliminate milk and start to feel wonderful in your body… Would you still love milk?

What is more important to you?

No headaches, or cake?

More energy? Or pizza?

No anxiety? Or your “old way of eating”?

You choose.

I have witnessed, both, with my own experience, and clients alike, the way a wholesome diet can gradually heal a range of ailments from headaches to disease.

Brushing the Surface

When we consume artificial foods for instance, the chemicals are absorbed into the body and the blood stream.

Imagine that food is like medicine. If you believe a tiny pill is capable of affecting how you feel, it should not be too farfetched to imagine how the build up of man-made ingredients can affect the body.

When we eat something, the components (ingredients) of that food (or beverage) are not just run off on the treadmill. Just because something contains zero calories does not mean that we are consuming air. While a diet soda may not make us incoherent, as would an alcoholic beverage, you better believe it is doing something in there.

Delving Deeper

The intestines are spongy. In the same way that the body absorbs vitamins and minerals from food, it is also just as capable of absorbing other unwanted substances. If you can envision it, the small and large intestine(s) total twenty-five feet in length. Not only does a meal have a long way to travel, but also not all food is digested and assimilated the equally.

When foods are left to putrefy and decay, they are far from pleasant and certainly not appetizing. Your body would agree.

A piece of meat for instance, is going to rot, and release poisons into the blood stream. The blood is cycled throughout the body, visiting each of the body’s organs. If the blood is not clean, it will wreak havoc… whether that means causing cardiovascular problems in one person, or anxiety in the next…

The good news is that we can cleanse and renew the blood gradually by proper eating, and other cleansing methods (exercise, etc.).

It is for this reason that it is pertinent that we choose wholesome foods that are nutrient dense, and nourishing.

We live in a society that assumes potency is associated with efficacy. In other words, when we read the Nutrition Facts, (on some well marketed food label), and it tells us that it contains X amount of protein, Y amount of fiber, and it also contains vitamins A, C, D, E, F, and G, we are going to believe it.

But really… How viable is the Vitamin C in a vitamin infused gummy worm?

Unfortunately, and in reality, the numbers found on product labels are not equivalent to how the body is actually able to absorb and utilize the stated nutrients. Additionally, foods have different pH scores, which affect the acidity of the body. In other words, there are a lot of things that should be taken to account when nourishing the body.

12 Tips for Managing Anxiety (and depression) Naturally

Specifically speaking to anxiety, which tends to coexist with other such “disorders” (such as depression), it is VITAL to watch for the following:

1.  Candida—you would be surprised at the number of women (and men) that unknowing suffer from Candida. Candida feeds off of sugars in sweets, wine, starches, breads, etc., and is worsened by certain pharmaceutical medications, alcohol, and birth control.

Tips: Cut as much sugar from the diet as possible, focusing only on natural sugars found in plant foods.  Unfortunately fruits, and honey (raw too) aid in helping Candida to flourish. Looking for sweet? Try Stevia. My personal favorite is NuNaturals brand Alcohol free products, but there are other brands out there too. For further recommendations, I highly suggest you read this article.

2.  Eliminate Soy. Why?  For starters… Soy is processed. Processed. PROCESSED. Want the full lingo?  Read on here.

3.  Eliminate dairy from your diet. Why? Read on here…

4.  Watch your alcohol intake. Reduce or eliminate. Not only is alcohol a depressant, but it also depletes the body of important nutrients. Specifically related to anxiety, it drains the body of magnesium and calcium. These two minerals are naturally calming. If you are having issues sleeping at night due to anxiety, it may behoove of you to look into taking plant-based magnesium and calcium supplements prior bedtime. (Do not take with food as it will disrupt digestive acids needed for digestion).

5.  Therapy. Talk to someone. Do not be afraid to talk to someone you can trust. Really…. Stress is highly acid forming.  It is for this reason that nervous eaters generally have indigestion (or stomachaches). It prohibits our bodies from correctly producing the digestive juices needed to breakdown and assimilate foods. When you hold something in, it tends to build inside (imagine the person that explodes, after years of internal angst). Just the same way that acid-forming foods can cause and accelerate disease, so can stress. If you were to look at twins with similar diets, one with a highly stressful job, (the other, not so much), the twin with the stressful job is bound to not only look older, but be prone to more disease.

* I have been exceptionally fortunate to have two of the best friends growing up (K and T). K, never fully understood my reasoning behind my exaggerated fear of death, but never judged, nor scoffed at the strangeness (trust me, I thought it was pretty darn strange). How many 17 year olds do you know that are legitimately terrified of having heart failure? Bizarre. *

* T, on the other hand, had the innate knack for calming me down, even when we were 3,000 miles apart. I could call her and my anxiety levels would drop substantially. T, will make one heck of a nutritional therapist.  *

What is my point…?

Some “friends” will judge. Some do not. Put yourself in a positive atmosphere. I am so happy that both of these young women were in my life, then… and now…

If you do not have a K, or a T, find someone you can talk to. :) I recommend that every person, young and old, have some sort of “therapist”, periodically. Why not? (Note: Talking is good. Dwelling is not).

Here are a few tips regarding Healthy Ways to Combat Stress.

6.  The Pill. Are you on it? If you are experiencing anxiety and you are on the pill, please take note that anxiety (and depression, etc.) is very common in young women on the pill.  Not only does it unnaturally regulate hormone levels, but it forces your body to stop doing what it was naturally meant to do. I am by no means advocating unsafe sex, but you must be willing to weigh the risks and benefits (there are options outside of The Pill).

Important note: If you are on “The Pill” for your skin (i.e. Acne), keep in mind that it is more than likely related to Candida, and it would be advantageous to explore those options as well.

7.  Caffeine. Put down that cup off coffee, tea, chocolate, etc. Caffeine revs the body up, preparing you to take “flight” (should a bear pop out of your bedroom closet).  Caffeine will keep you on edge, and feed you nervous energy. Check this article out for Healthier Alternatives to Coffee.

Looking for natural energy?

8.  Try food combining, in addition to focusing on wholesome and natural foods. The less time your body has to devote to digesting, the more energy you have to think. Also check out this article about the importance of breakfast, and how it correlates to digestion.

9. More supplements?

Supplement with Vitamin B.

When you are stressed, the body’s reserve of B vitamins is depleted.  This can lead to a slew of adverse events, specifically anxiety. Look into supplementing with a plant based vitamin B supplement.

Supplementing… what’s the deal?

Supplementing need not be a long-term deal. I supplemented for a few years until my body no longer required vitamin supplementation outside of my diet. In addition to juicing, my diet enables me to infuse my body with the nutrients necessary to feel energized, calm, cool, and collected.

10.  Exercise.

Exercise is so important to combating stress. It increases oxygen to the heart, and naturally aids in the detoxification process.

Proof?

How do you feel after a run?

How do you feel after a bowl of ice cream?

I am guessing that the run feels better, and entirely more energizing. Do not confuse the feelings. While sugar may be temporarily energizing, it is of no value to the body. Sugar is a fake energy (and extremely acid-forming). It offers no nutritional value, and tricks the body into thinking that it can keep running, when in fact it is running on cheap fuel. (Cheap fuel does more harm in the long term).

11.  Sleep.

Once you learn to manage your insomnia, be it through nutrition alone, or supplements, you will learn just how pertinent sleep is in eliminating anxiety, in addition to other ailments. A good nights rest means better concentration.  A well-rested body is less likely to reach for sugar, or junk foods.  Additionally, sleep is highly alkalizing, giving the body ample time to heal, and recuperate.  A heavy sleeper is someone who’s body knows the value of using that time to fight off unwanted disease, as well as anxiety. If you are not allergic to ragweed, sip chamomile tea prior to bed.

12.  And finally, back to your food selections… Be cautious of the foods you choose to nourish your body with. I used to be a huge fish eater. I ate fish 4-5x a week until realizing that not only was I more than likely eating a ton of mercury (swordfish), but the fish I was eating (mostly farmed) was feeding on foods that I was trying to avoid myself (a.k.a– soy, gluten, etc.). I was shocked to find out that I was indirectly eating foods I was intentionally eliminating.  It is also important to be getting ample fat… but the RIGHT fat!  Check out this article about fat.

Present

Oh… and guess what? Sure I get stressed like your average 20-something year old… sure I still am not in love with flying (hey, I like my feet on the ground), but the rest… history ;)

~ – ~

Thoughts?

Do you have any tips to add?

What is your story?

P.S. Thanks T, and K for being amazing best friends, (My sister and Mom for always being supportive and honest)… and my boyfriend… for loving me just the way I am now. Vegan, and all. ;)

~ – ~ – ~ This would also be a nice time to mention a special program my friend Marlena is hosting concerning Emotional Eating. She is wonderful. I suggest you check it out at: www.emotionaleatingfreedom.com and decide if this program is right for you.

xo,

Me

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“Everything in Moderation”? Who made up that rule?

Posted in Recent Posts, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on October 7, 2010 | 6 Comments »

The other day I overheard a woman tell another woman, “Honey… it is all about moderation.  You can’t deprive yourself.  If you want to have cake, have cake.  It is worse to deprive yourself. Deprivation is never a good thing…”

Aye.  I cringed.

I have had this conversation multiple times over the years… and it strikes 2 cords with me.

One has to do with “Everything in Moderation,” and the other has to do with the idea of “Deprivation.”

Which to tackle first…?

How about “Everything in Moderation”…

What is moderation?  We have all used this term before to describe different instances, food related, or not…

  • “Wine is fine in moderation…”
  • “Chocolate is fine in moderation…”
  • “Fat is fine in moderation…”

And so on and so forth…

But where do we draw the line between foods that are fine to enjoy in moderation, and foods that should be avoided, and eliminated, completely? 

In my opinion, there are quite a lot of foods and beverages that are to be eliminated in the diet completely.  These are foods that cause more harm, than good, like: peanut butter, cow’s milk, processed soy products, processed and fried foods, white sugar, artificial sugars, white flour, soda, etc.  All of these foods can not only cause weight gain, but also contribute to depression, aging, degeneration, disease, acne, mental disorders, hyperactivity, exhaustion, hormonal imbalance, acidity, etc. 

All around, I don’t think anyone would deliberately drive up to a drive through window, and place an order for “depression” with a side of “aging.”

When we take a look at the phrase “everything in moderation”—what do we mean exactly? 

Why would we want to put factory processed poisons in our body that will, years down the line (if it even takes that long), lead to greater problems, aside from a temporary stomachache, or headache?  This is a bit of an extreme analogy, but I would never take a taste of cleaning product.  Why?  Um… well… it is a poison.  And even though a little “taste” of it is “not going to kill me” (oh… have a slice—it is not going to kill you)… I am pretty sure it is not going to be beneficial either.  On top of that… if I start consuming more of it, you better believe that stuff is going to accumulate in the body, and cause some issues.  (Human tissue stores acidity like a sponge).  (Oh… and forget the cleaning products.. Sugars like High Fructose Corn Syrup… may as well be cocaine.  Yes, they can be that addicting). 

All packaged foods have ingredients. Tragically, in this day in age, many (not all) of them are not meant for human consumption.

  • They are meant to last for months (sometimes years), on the shelves of our grocery stores. 
  • They are meant for MASS consumption. 
  • They are priced low, because the ingredients are cheap. 

 Someone is making money, and it sure isn’t the consumer. 

Side Note:  Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with someone in the Big Food industry.  Know what he said?  “The best customer is the educated buyer (wholesale purchaser), and the uneducated (end) consumer.”

How about that.

That being said, there are other foods, like nuts, raw treats, and wholesome sprouted grains, and seeds, etc., that are “O.K.” to enjoy in moderation.  These foods are dense, so they are more difficult to breakdown, but they can be a great source of nutrients, and a tasty treat.  I am all for them!   (There are plenty of other foods that I consider to be O.K. for some people to enjoy in moderation too!  Just off the top of my head, they would be organic butter, raw goat/sheep cheeses, boxed “milks” like: almond, coconut, and hazelnut, in addition to some cereals, crackers, chips, coffee, wine, dark chocolate etc.) When you are thinking about the difference between what to enjoy moderately, and what to avoid, period—think about where the food came from.  Is it from Mother Nature?  Or factory made?

Ultimately, it is the “who, what, where, when, and why” of the food (i.e. Who made the food, with what, and where did they get the ingredients, etc.) that really matters. 

Now onto Deprivation…open ice cream store

What is deprivation exactly? 

When I think of deprivation, I think of something sort of miserable. 

  • Deprived of food?
  • Deprived of water?
  • Deprived of love? 
  • Deprived of fun? 

What I do not think of is: deprived of cake (or cookies, or Cheetos, or, Red #40, or partially hydrogenated palm oil…).  Sure!  Cake tastes great, in that moment you are eating it, but in reality, it does nothing to satisfy any of the body’s needs.  In fact, eating a “treat,” like cake, is only bound to make you crave more cake, and because cake is lacking in the nutrient department (not to mention jam packed full of sugar, butter, and likely to contain artificial ingredients galore), the body is “filling up” on empty calories, and not getting any of the nutrients it actually needs (which is why we never really feel great after eating something like that).  Instead of giving the body something delicious like avocado chocolate pudding, or coconut yogurt, which are nutrient dense, and satisfying, the body has to work overtime to balance sugar levels, and to breakdown, and eliminate the “treat” it was given.  That does not sound like a treat to me?  In fact, I touched briefly on this topic before in: Tips for Dealing with Emotional Eating. 

The point though, is that “Everything in Moderation” and “Don’t Deprive Yourself” are just phrases we have created to manage our addiction to America’s junk food debauchery.  There are always going to be certain things that we hold onto that “connect” us to others.  I for instance, will unabashedly admit to enjoying wine with my friends. 

Oh, and I love ice cream.  I grew up with ice cream.  I used to have father daughter dates to Dairy Queen—and I still hear the stories about falling asleep in my car-seat on the way home.  But twenty years later, I don’t eat it, not even in “moderation.”  Why?  Because 15 minutes of cold, creamy, goodness, is not worth the stomachache, or the bloat, or the adverse reaction I will have from it (even if not immediate). 

Am I deprived? 

No.  Maybe in the beginning, I suffered from “But I deserve to have that!” but I can say, without a moment’s hesitation, my life is much more fulfilled with Coconut Ice Cream, or a piece of dark chocolate.  Why?  Because 15 minutes after eating my treat, I feel happy, and not weighed down.  There is no adversity—just pure bliss.  And that is what I consider to be a treat:  the act of enjoying something, and winning from that enjoyment.

It is okay to “give up” something that is not beneficial.  Don’t feel like your sacrificing.  “I am “sacrificing” my fav foods for this diet.”  Sacrificing usually leads to frustration and resentment, focus on the good, the great, and the better.  Focus on the fact that you can enjoy dark chocolate, or other delicious raw treats in moderation.  Focus on the fact that you are going to feel like a million bucks, and enjoy it along the way.    

How do you feel about the phrase “everything in moderation?”

Do you feel “deprived” when you are eating healthy?

What do you do about it?

Please share your thoughts! 

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Tips for Dealing with Emotional Eating

Posted in Recent Posts, tagged , , , , , , , on April 8, 2010 | 10 Comments »

Eating for Comfort, or Emotional Eating:  Using food, or the lack of food, to deal with stress, fear, anxiety, frustration, anger, sadness, or to fill a void, etc.

Emotional Eating is often associated with overeating (although, under-eating can certainly play a part in ones emotions).

Most everyone has dealt with emotional eating, on some level, and with the plethora of junk food that is now readily available, it can be very easy to hide amongst, what most magazines like to call, “comfort” food. Comfort food can mean different things, to different people.  To many, it is a bag of chips, buttered popcorn, chocolate cake, or a pint of ice cream.  Or…If you are Rachel Ray, it may be mac and cheese, or hearty beef tacos, and sour cream. Regardless of its appearance, people eat “comfort” foods to temporarily feel comfort… unfortunately, it usually leaves us feeling “blah,” moments later.

There are two types of comfort food in my book:

1.  The unhealthy kind, or The Tricks.  These foods trick us into thinking it is “o.k.” to indulge in them, because we feel that we “deserve” it.

or…

2.  The Real Treats, the other comfort foods that can we can munch away on, and no, they don’t solve our problems, but we can feel “good” about enjoying them (or at least, don’t feel worse).

How do we decipher the Tricks from the Treats?

The “wrong” type of comfort food, (or the Tricks), usually have similar traits…

  • Typically, they are very high in sugar
  • They are high in cooked fats (like hydrogenated oils, peanut and soybean oil, milk products, or cream, etc.), and/or are high in saturated fats (other than the ones from plants sources, like coconut, or avocado).
  • They are fried, or greasy.
  • They are extremely high in sodium, and/or they are processed.
  • These Tricks also usually contain a large amount of ingredients (many of which, we cannot pronounce). The fewer the ingredients, the better.  The more natural ingredients, the better.
  • They never make us satisfied, and we always want more…

These comfort foods are Tricks because they only elevate our mood temporarily (and generally only when one is actually consuming them).  Not that eating for comfort ever solved anyone’s problems, but these are the worst foods to drown one’s sorrows in.

Why?  A healthy, happy, body does not want these foods in it. The body is an incredibly intelligent mechanism, designed to live a long, happy life.  It has no use for foods that weaken the immunity.  These foods only add to the stress that our body is under (be it, emotionally, or physically).

How do we break the debilitating effects of emotional eating, and stop reaching for the Tricks?

Successfully overcoming emotional eating means having to deal with the feelings of stress, fear, anxiety, frustration, anger, sadness, loss of control, or emptiness, that are affecting us, in the first place.  The underlying issues.  Obviously, if we were emotionally capable of quickly, and simply, dealing with the underlying issues, we wouldn’t be sucking down a bag of greasy chips in the first place.  So… we can start by beginning to break the cycle of emotionally eating, in itself…

Beginning to break the patterns of emotional eating can shed light on the underlying issue, or issues.  Someone is going to be less likely to turn to food for comfort, if they are feeling good about themselves, and not feeling confined to a pattern of consumption (or lack of consumption), that only leaves them feeling “empty”.  Often time we just need that little push, to start heading in a more positive direction… positivity, attracts more positive situations.

Switching our thought process, can change the way we view comfort food.

Tips for dealing with Comfort Eating, or the consumption of sugary, fatty, and processed foods:

I often see clients that eat a cookie to “treat” themselves, after a long day, or because they feel connected, or “closer” to the person who baked the cookies.  If you find yourself in this “rut,” ask yourself these questions:

  • Is it a treat if it leaves you feeling guilty after you consume it?  Is it a treat if it takes you farther away from your goal to lose weight, or increase your energy, improve your mood, or feel, and be healthier?

Nope!

…Because if you take a moment to think about it…. What are a few moments of “bliss,” if it leaves you feeling low, and farther away from your goal?

A Treat is something that you can feel liberated having.  It is something that you can say, “Aha! I like that, and I can have it!” It is NOT something that makes you say, “Damn!  Why did I do that?” Even better, it does not pull you away from your goal.

- A Treat could be the ability to go out, and have a glass of wine with your pals, or to enjoy a giant helping of one of these chocolate pudding recipes, or goat cheese, or REAL olive oil, on your salad.  Sure, it may be rich and “fatty,” but combined well, it won’t undo all of the good you have done.  Why?  Because it is au natural… unlike those 0-Cal pudding packs, that leave you unsatisfied, and wanting more, and more, more…

Quit, while you are ahead…

Tip 1. If you go to reach for something “bad,” ask yourself why you are reaching for it?  It could be that your cold, and looking for comfort, or looking to fill a void.  Or!  It could be that you’re THIRSTY!  The first step is recognition.  Sounds funny, but it is so true.

Can you go for one day without your daily candy bar, or bag of chips?

I bet you can– make a game out of it.

If you are cold, try making this hot chocolate recipe.  If you are craving fat, try this sweet guacamole recipe, and dip vegetable slices into it!  Take a hot bubble bath, or shower.  Get out of the house, or apt!  Go for a walk, instead.  Call a friend.  Make a “To Do” List- they always seem to motivate me.  Drink a fresh carrot juice- it is energizing, and harmless!  Do something else, to keep your mind off of those chips, that seem to be calling your name… I can guarantee you that the food is not the solution.  But if you want to nibble on something… try something harmless like carrots, dipped in salsa…(sugary, crunchy… and if you hate carrots, they will only remind you that you are really not that hungry).

Tip 2. Now here is a big one… DO NOT BUY IT.  What good are those chips, and ice cream, going to do for you if they are in your kitchen?  Nothing.  No good.  Just say no to junk… while you are in the grocery store.  Quit while you are ahead.

Tip 3. Don’t wear sweats when you eat.  They are comfy, and you’ll just keep saying… “oh, just one more bite.” Unless your cuddling by the fire, or reading a book in bed, pajamas and sweats are not something you should spend your day in.  They make you feel lazy, and want to eat “lazy” food.  I am not saying you should wear a corset, or your tightest jeans… but really, don’t wear those sloppy sweats, when eating…

Tip 4. Get positive support.  Whether it is working with a nutritionist, or just talking to a healthy friend, surrounding yourself, with the healthy people you admire, is a great way to encourage healthy behavior.  Whatever you do, do not call your Debbie downer friend.  Debbie will only give you the “okay” to indulge.  Debbie is draining, and brings us down.

~-~

These are just a few tips… how do you deal with emotions, and food?  What are you favorite healthy comfort foods?  How do you get out of a emotional eating funk?

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The Avocado- A Healthy Fat

Posted in Recent Posts, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 29, 2010 | 24 Comments »

Avocados are incredibly delicious, versatile and nutrient dense.

They are rich in potassium (higher than bananas)

High in Vitamin K- (allows your blood to clot normally, and helps to protect your bones)

Fairly high in the B-Complex Vitamins,

Contains Vitamin A, C, E, and,

Are rich in magnesium, iron, calcium and other trace minerals

Fat!  Good fat!

Avocados are extremely rich in fat- (Roughly 20-25 grams per fruit). This is the good fat, folks.  It is pure, raw, plant-based, nutrient dense, fat.  It is mainly composed of Monounsaturated fat (MUFA), and tied for second at its levels of Polyunsaturated, and Saturated fat.  The body needs some fat to function.  Growing children especially need fat.  However, there is a difference between the fat we find in an avocado, and the fat we find in a cookie.  Even if one were to compare a low-fat cookie, to an avocado, the plant-based fat in the avocado, will be more readily digested and assimilated by the body than the cookie.

Calories and fat aren’t the focus here.  Do you remember that twenty-page, research-paper you B.S.’d, and got a C+ on?  Yet, that two page, well thought out, answer to an essay question, awarded you an A…

It is all about content, content, content.  (Or in the case of your avocado, and cookie, ingredients, ingredients, ingredients).

I recently received this excellent question concerning avocados:

“I eat half an avocado a day or more. I wake up craving them…I crave them after I eat them. My body wants avocado! Though I like guacamole, I’m mostly just talking, any form of solid avocado… avocado roll, or on a salad, whatever…I’m not picky! Tell me…is this really bad for me? I know they are good fat but is there a reason my body could be craving them? Could eating them daily be hurting me?” -- Melissa

Great question! And one that would require a better understanding of what other types of fat you eat, and your exercise regimen/activity level.

Fat performs many life-supporting functions in every cell of the body. It is required to transport nutrients (specifically the fat soluble vitamins A,D,E, and K).  It is also important in the absorption of calcium, ensuring the optimal function of the nervous system, and the manufacture of sex hormones.   Additionally, it acts a source of fuel for the body, and a protective blanket for our vital organs, shielding them from trauma, and cold temperatures. 

Over the years however, we have confused our body’s yearning for nutrient dense fat, and have responded by consuming processed, or cooked fats, whether it be a burger, fried food, cookies, or chips, etc.

So… Why do we crave avocado?

Questions for the Avocado Craver:

1.  What type of diet do you enjoy? Are you a vegetarian, or vegan, that does not receive a lot of fat from animal sources, fish, dairy, eggs, fried, or processed foods?   If we are not living the mainstream American diet, our bodies are going to look for a source of fat that meets its needs.  Do not get me wrong, our body does NOT want mainstream America’s main sources of fat.  However, we are often too prone to reaching for the fat in a granola bar, than we are to actually listening to what our body really wants, and needs.

The best sources of fat we can nourish our bodies with, come from our plants—nuts, seeds, avocados, young thai coconuts, and first-cold pressed oils (like flax and olive).

* For a vegetarian, or vegan, that does not consume a lot of fat, the oils in avocado can be an ideal source of nourishment.

2.  What is your “external” body temperature? Do you find that you are cold during the cooler months, or frequently chilly?  The body tends to crave “fatty” and denser foods when we are cold.  Fat helps to regulate body temperature.

3. What is your workout regimen, and/or, activity level? Rigorous exercise places stress (good and bad) on the body, and increases the body’s demand for water and nutrients.  Sweating causes a loss of nutrients, particularly the B vitamins, potassium and magnesium—all of which the avocado is rich in.  Exercise also burns fat, and the body looks to replenish these losses.  The avocado is, not only rich in vitamins, minerals and fat, but also protein (around 3-5 grams of digestible plant protein) and carbohydrates, making it, in my opinion, an awesome, pre, or post, workout meal.

4. Fat and emotions. We cannot overlook the role that our emotions hold in this evaluation, regardless of whether or not our body needs fat, in any given day.  From our infancy, we are nourished and nurtured with mother’s milk, or infant formula.  This “milk” is rich in fat.  It is not uncommon, then, that we are psychologically prone to correlate something fatty with the need for comfort, during the stresses of everyday life.

5. Oh. And who doesn’t like the rich, satisfying creamy texture of the avocado?  It is versatile, and delicious.  Don’t underestimate the versatility of the avocado.

So, to answer your question, I do not think it is unhealthy to be enjoying a whole avocado daily, but I do think that it is important that it is combined correctly, to ensure that the nutrients are being adequately digest, absorbed and assimilated.  :)

What is your take on avocados?  What is your favorite avocado recipe?

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