Overcoming food addictions can be extremely hard. We want to make healthy choices but sometimes we’re dealing with strong cravings that hold us back and slow down our recovery from chronic disease.
If you crave dessert after meals, use food as a reward for accomplishing something, binge on foods that you know aren’t good for you or need a treat at night before bed or while watching your favourite show, this blog is for you!
For those of us suffering with an autoimmune disease, we know that we should avoid certain foods – especially processed foods that feed the infections in our bodies that cause inflammation. But how do we deal with strong cravings for things like bread, sugar, alcohol or chocolate?
Food addictions are real and they can be tough to break – similar to drug addictions. Overcoming these addictions is all part of the recovery process.
How do I know it’s a serious problem? Are you:
- Binge eating – over-eating and eating until you feel stuffed
Hiding your binge eating - Feeling guilty but continuing to eat the wrong foods again and again
- Making excuses – reasons why you eat so much or eat the wrong foods often
- Trying to limit certain foods but giving yourself cheat days
- Not able to stop eating certain foods
5 Ways to Become Free of Food Addictions
1. Mindset: Have the mindset of a Wellness Champion. You need a strong and clear intention and a why – what do you want to accomplish and why do you have to succeed. You must also uncover your limiting beliefs – the excuses that we tell ourselves that keep us from moving forward, making changes, and living the life that we want to live.
Keep in mind that when you are actually ready to give up these addictive foods you also need to mentally prepare, and understand that the first 10 days will be the hardest. Then it gets easier if you have completely avoided those foods. Once the cravings subside you will feel so much better and your taste buds will change – you won’t even miss them!
2. Treat infections – it’s likely not just the food that is causing the addiction:
Chronic silent infections in the body will make you crave these foods, (especially sugar) similar to a drug addiction. When your binge on these foods so do the infections that are making you sick!
3. Be prepared:
- Remove the foods and snacks that you’re addicted to from your home so you’re not tempted
- Stock up your fridge with lots of healthy, tasty foods to replace the foods you are addicted to
- Eat food as close to its natural state as possible, to avoid hidden sugars, fillers and other ingredients that will perpetuate your cravings
4. Eat regular meals and snacks:
This will maintain your blood sugar level, so that it won’t drop and you will feel more satisfied and not as tempted to eat the wrong things.
5. Avoid sweet-tasting foods:
Anything containing artificial sweeteners, sugar, alcohols and even stevia will keep your sweet tooth alive. Too much sugar in fruit or hidden sugar in processed foods will keep the addition strong.
6. Join a community or get an accountability buddy:
This will place you with others who value health and wellness, and who really care about your success and will cheer you on and encourage you to stay the course.
Food cravings are nothing be ashamed of, they are just a part of the recovery process. The most important thing you can do is recognize them, and take steps to overcome them. I created a video to discuss how to overcome food addictions further with you – just click below!
Clinically diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the age of 28, Pam chose an alternative approach to recovery. Now decades later and still symptom free, she coaches others on how to treat the root cause of chronic disease, using a holistic approach. She can teach you how, too.
Pam is the author of Become a Wellness Champion and founder of Live Disease Free. She is a wellness expert, coach and speaker.
The Live Disease Free Academy has helped hundreds of Wellness Champions in over 15 countries take charge of their health and experience profound improvements in their life.
