DescriptionThere are a number of theories as to why people
crave certain foods, including:
self-imposed food restriction
a psychological desire for a ‘‘comfort’’ food
hormonal changes
gender differences
response to stress
Food restriction. The theory of food restriction
holds that people desire those foods that they feel
should be avoided. According to the dietitian Debra
Waterhouse, food cravings do not cause weight gain,
but denying the cravings does. This creates a vicious
cycle. For example, a person may feel guilty for want-
ing a giant cinnamon roll that he or she smells upon
entering a shopping mall. The urge is avoided, but a
couple of hours later, the person may want the cinna-
mon roll more than ever, give in to the craving, and
quickly eat the entire cinnamon roll. This leads to even
stronger feelings of guilt, along with the resolve not to
eat anything remotely similar for some period of time.
Soon, however, the craving strikes again. The cycle
becomes one of denial leading to deprivation, then to
overindulgence, and then back to denial. This denial-
deprivation-overindulgence pattern confirms the neg-
ative view of all food as either good or bad. It would be
better, however, to imagine a world where foods are
not designated as bad and not allowed, but where
reasonable portions of any food can be part of a
healthful diet. Portion control is the key.
Comfort foods. Certain foods are usually served
during holidays or special occasions. These foods
become associated with comfort and happy times, elic-
iting feelings of relaxation and reduced stress, and are
thus called ‘‘comfort foods.’’ Some common comfort
foods are ice cream, macaroni and cheese, meatloaf,
pudding, cookies, and chicken. One’s cultural back-
ground plays a large part in comfort-food choices.
Mood also plays a roll in cravings for comfort food.
Women are more likely to eat when they are sad, mad,
or anxious, while men look to food when bored or
lonely.
Those who find themselves reaching for comfort
foods frequently should ask themselves if they are
truly hungry, or whether they are using food to soothe
their mood. For those who are feeding emotions with
food, it is helpful to begin to replace the food with
healthier activities, such as taking a walk, participat-
ing in a favorite form of exercise, or reading a good
book.
Hormones and cravings. How do hormone changes
affect food cravings? For women, these cravings can be
more intense than for men. Hormonal changes tied
to the menstrual cycle are often a cause of cravings.
Immediately prior to the menstrual period, the body’s
estrogen level drops, as does the serotonin level in the
brain.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, or brain chemi-
cal, that plays a role in maintaining a relaxed feeling.
When the level decreases, irritability and mood swings
increase as does the craving for carbohydrate- and fat-
rich foods such as chocolate, cookies, cake, potato
chips, and roasted nuts. There is nothing wrong with
eating a piece of chocolate, of course, but when choc-
olate and other craved foods become the mainstay of
the diet and healthier choices get overlooked, then the
cravings have gotten out of control and health may be
compromised.
Gender differences. Is there a difference between
the sexes when it comes to food cravings? According to
Waterhouse, the foods most frequently craved or pre-
ferred by men include hot dogs, eggs, and meat, which
are allproteinfoods, while women reach for choco-
late, ice cream, and bread. She attributes these differ-
ences to sex hormones and body composition. Men
have larger amounts of the hormone testosterone and
about forty pounds more muscle mass than women.
They eat increased amounts of protein to build, repair,
and synthesize muscle.
Stress response. Many people today lead stressful
lives, which can lead to stress eating. Increased stress
results in a need forcarbohydratesto provide energy
for the stress response, also known as thefight-or-
flightresponse (a defense reaction of the body that
prepares it to fight or flee by triggering certain cardi-
ovascular, hormonal, and other changes). When cop-
ing with stress, a person needs increased energy to deal
with the demands placed on the body. CarbohydratesKEY TERMS
Calorie—Unit of food energy.
Estrogen—Hormone that helps control female
development and menstruation.
Neurotransmitter—Molecule released by one
nerve cell to stimulate or inhibit another.
Serotonin—Chemical used by nerve cells to com-
municate with one another.
Testosterone—Male sex hormone.Cravings