How to manage food cravings

A study in the June 2007 issue of the Journal of Psychology: Applied, showed that visual and olfactory distractions can be more effective than auditory interventions in reducing food cravings. This means that if you’re craving an unhealthy food, you could try to redirect your attention using a visual stimuli (a favorite vacation spot, a beautiful image) or use your sense of smell (aroma therapy?).

One useful principle in “craving management” is stimulus control — which means keep the temptation out of sight, out of reach, or literally out of the house. I know people who themselves allow occasional indulging but they limit it to specific situations, such as eating desserts only on specific occasions and only at specific places.

Kind of like limiting smokers to designated smoking areas. After a while, it becomes such a hassle to smoke (both the physical limitations and accompanying social pressures) that some smokers naturally lessen their consumption of cigarettes. (I don’t have the research to support this. Its just my theory.) Probably not a good comparision. It’s w-a-y harder to quit sugar than it is to quit cigarettes. Take it from me. I’ve done both. I believe sugar addiction is lot more difficult to kick successfully (and easier to relapse) than cigarettes .