Have you ever wondered why you have to have that chocolate after you eat? Or why you need something salty? Or why you need a glass of wine to relax?

Of course, none of these things are bad on their own, but just when we feel the “need” for them.

Cravings can come for a physical need. Often we are deficient in a nutrient, so we will crave the food that will provide it for us.

Also, our body is always striving for balance internally, so we may crave sweet after eating a lot of garlic or onion. Or if you’ve eaten something that is highly acidic, your body may seek to balance that out.

Sometimes we are eating the nutrients we need, but aren’t absorbing them. That’s a big reason I recommend a detox. It helps you clean out your system so you are better able to assimilate nutrients.

Some people have body’s that are sensitive to wheat, sugar or other things, so when they eat them they will want more.

Cravings can also come from feeling like something we need is outside of us. So, we reach for whatever we think will satisfy that – chips, chocolate, cookies, wine.

But, what is it that we are really reaching for?

Is it love? Is it companionship? Is it stability? Is it acceptance?

Think back to the last time you had a craving. What did you really want?

With all of the instability in the world today, it is easy to want to reach for something to make us feel better.

But, remember you have the inner strength to get through anything. It may not feel like it, but you do.

Find ways to cultivate that inner strength. Go to a yoga class, read motivational books, listen to inspirational audio tapes, take a person who has overcome a trial to lunch and get ideas of how they did it, attend seminars that help you remember that strength.

We have a tendency to think we are weak and that we can’t do it. But, we have the power to overcome and get through anything. All struggle helps us grow.

So, the next time you have a craving, stop and ask what you really want. If you do give in, don’t judge yourself. Reaching for something outside of us is a habit, so by finding a healthy replacement we can enjoy a more healthy and peaceful life.

Want to use this article in your blog or Ezine? You can as long as you include this blurb: Celebrity trainer, professional speaker and talk show host, Jeanie Callen Barat “The Fitness Jeanie” inspires, enlightens and empowers you to create a life you love. To receive a FR*EE meditation with The Fitness Jeanie, visit www.TheFitnessJeanie.com.

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