Ever Feel Addicted to Carbs?

Have you ever tried to start a low carb diet only to discover that you have a hard time letting go of some of the high carb foods you love? You are not alone. While it may seem like you simply have low willpower, there may actually be more to it. Many people feel as though they are addicted to bread and other high-carbohydrate foods, making it difficult to begin a low carb diet. Read on to learn why this is, and to learn a few tricks to conquering those cravings and achieving a healthier lifestyle with less carbs. 

Feel-good chemicals –

The same feel-good chemicals that are released by exercise and chocolate can also be released when you take in high carbohydrate foods. Although you may not be conscious of feeling better when you eat bread, that slight increase in chemicals will subside soon, resulting in a craving for more bread or other carbs. 

Energy-

Although the carbohydrates in bread will increase energy for only a short time, it does increase energy. When that wears off, you likely crave more bread or other high sugar/carbohydrate foods to achieve that energy level again. 

Comfort – 

Breads and other high carb foods such as potatoes often represent the meals from childhood, when high carb meals were common. Eating these foods now will often provide comfort, making it difficult to avoid them. 
These are just a few of the reasons that you may have a hard time cutting bread and other carbohydrates out of your diet. There are ways to combat these cravings, however, including the following:
Exercise-
When you cut out carbs and lose the high level of feel-good chemicals, such as serotonin, you can achieve them again through exercise. If every time you crave bread you go for a brisk walk instead, you may find yourself quickly overcoming those cravings. Not only that, but increasing exercise will also leave you feeling more energetic, eliminating another trigger for carbohydrate cravings.
Substitution-
Although it can be difficult to find a good substitution for your traditional comfort foods, it is possible. Test out different low carb breads and other foods until you find one that is similar to your favorite in flavor and consistency. Eventually, you will find one that will become your go-to comfort food.
 

Thanks for reading our blog! Are you ready to start shopping for some great low carb breads and other foods to include in your healthy lifestyle? Visit us at Linda’s Diet Delites to find everything you need today!

 

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