Evolution is still catching up to grocery stores. Quite simply, our taste buds have not yet evolved for modern living. For example, food with sweet taste is rare in nature (thus highly desirable) but common in the modern grocery store. There were no ice cream cones in the forest when taste buds evolved. Processed food is unrecognizable to our taste buds and digestive tract. One of the best ways to eliminate food cravings is to avoid refined, processed foods and cook from scratch.

Cravings Come from Imbalance

All cravings are a sign of an imbalance. A balanced, content person feels satisfaction. Many cravings, including hunger, are natural and normal, however all cravings arise from dissatisfaction and deficiency. Many people believe that cravings come from the tongue, but they come from organs and tissues that stimulate the taste buds. Clients come to my office drinking coffee because they "like the taste." I ask them to list their ten favorite foods and check the ones they consume daily. Usually the only food checked is coffee. I ask them to remember their first taste of black coffee which was inevitably unpleasant. What changed? It's possible that the body learns to like coffee without our conscious participation because of its effect on our metabolism. Life craves energy.

Sometimes these cravings are restorative, guiding you to the right foods your body needs. Other times, they are pathological. For example, people with weak kidneys crave coffee. People with weak lungs crave cigarettes. People with weak livers crave alcohol. People with low metabolism crave sweets. These kinds of cravings stimulate the deficient organ instead of restoring it. The best way to restore deficient organs is by treating them gently and identifying the cause of strain.

Finding the source of cravings is more complex than it first appears. Usually, behind the deficient organ is a behavior, lifestyle, or personality trait or psychological trauma affecting them. The ego may stubbornly cling to old behavior patterns. Elminating the craving might require a psychological as well as a physical restoration.

Cravings by Dosha

Vata Cravings
Vata people generally have insufficient fluids to digest heavy foods. They often feel gasey and constipated. Vata people crave light foods such as salads because they intuitively want to avoid burdening their weak digestion. Others will crave stimulation from coffee when fatigued to stimulate dry adrenal glands. Vata people should find nourishing, easy to digest foods like rice-based soups with ghee and mild spices.

Pitta Cravings
Pitta people crave passion and high levels of mental activity. They like to eat spicey foods and drink wine. Instead, they should try to cool their passion and mental activity, cultivating patience and satisfaction with the present.

Kapha Cravings
Because of low metabolism and poor circulation, Kapha people get easily overwhelmed by daily life. They have a great awareness of their taste buds and tend to rely on food when stressed. Kapha people crave heavy comfort foods. They have plenty of stored energy but cannot mobilize it. Instead, Kapha people should focus on exercise, eating less and bitter greens which will improve metabolism and release stored energy.

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