We all know that feeling when the clock strikes 3pm and a tantalising image of cookies, chocolate, or chips seems to magically drop into our heads. From sweet candies to salty treats, these afternoon and late-night cravings seem to be one battle in which we always have to admit defeat. But where do cravings come from, and can they be beaten? FEMAIL talked to Australian dietitians Lee Holmes and Kate Save to find out the science behind our cravings - and what we can replace them with/ Cravings are the result of both mental and physiological triggers that respond to either our emotions or something our body is missing. While some cravings can be psychological - for example, if you're sad or feeling lonely - others can indicate nutritional deficiencies,' Holmes explained. Often, this turns into a habitual thing, and we all know how difficult it can be to break a habit. Humans connect food to different experiences - from childhood holidays to first dates - and thus it naturally becomes tied to our emotions. So when we're feeling stressed or sad, it's no surprise that we tend to seek comfort in the kitchen. But there's also a science behind why we're reaching for ice cream instead of kale.. .
Certain foods trigger us to feel high and stimulate the happy hormone serotonin, Save revealed. People will go for sweet or salty food when they're feeling low or stressed or sad because they will literally trigger a happy spot in the brain.
But this high can become addictive, turning cravings into a habit every time you feel down. The more you repeat a behaviour, you create a pathway in the brain and can become addicted to eating a particular food or eating at a particular time of day..
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