Not Sure How You Feel? Think About What You Ate

The foods you crave may say a lot about the state of your mind and body.

Researchers in France analyzed the eating habits and cravings of more than a thousand men and women and came to the following conclusions:

Women crave food more often than men do, with cravings peaking during times of sadness or anxiety.

Men are more likely to eat when they're feeling happy.

Chocolate cravings may signal that you are tired.

An urge for salty foods or dairy products may be your body’s way of telling you it wants a real meal.

Those who had the most frequent cravings were more likely to be on a diet or actively trying to lose weight.

Researchers theorize that women may experience more cravings because of the increased social pressure to be thin, which also leads them to diet more frequently than men.

However, the relationship between food and mood is extremely complex, and is affected by both biological and psychological factors.

Source: International Journal of Eating Disorders, 2001; 29, 195-204

This appeared in ACE FitnessMatters, ACE's official magazine.
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