Some people call it a dirty word while others absolutely love them. I'm talking about carbs...as in carbohydrates. These are found in rice, bread, pasta, bagels, crackers...pretty much any type of starchy food. But why do some people dislike carbs so much?! It may be because some individuals tend to crave them more...especially in the winter.
I am one of these individuals that crave carbs in the winter and it was bugging me for awhile so I did some research. Like most people, I Googled to find what I was looking for. What I found was actually surprising.
There is a biological reason why some individuals crave carbs more during the winter and the key to this biological reason: Serotonin. During the spring and summer months, we get more natural sunlight which converts to Vitamin D in the body. Vitamin D naturally boosts our serotonin levels and helps us not only with our diet but also with our healthy mood. During the winter months, Vitamin D is low in the body due to the decreased sunlight and therefore our Serotonin levels drop. These low Serotonin levels can lead to carbohydrate cravings.
There are ways to keep these cravings at bay, though. Don't allow stress to run your life! - Make sure you find moments of happiness throughout the day.
- Don't dehydrate! - Try to drink at least half your weight in water (in ounces) throughout the day.
- Don't starve yourself! - Try to eat small meals every 2-3 hours.
- Don't stay up too late! - You need more sleep in the winter so set the alarm clock 15mins later than normal and skip the alarm a few times a week.
- Don't skip breakfast! - Always have breakfast and try to make it a combination of good carbs, good proteins and good fats...try whole grain toast with almond butter and an orange or even Shakeology.
