Are you midday crashing? Craving sugar like it’s the only food group on the pyramid (or on the planet, for that matter)? Last week, if you caught my blog, I talked about sugar cravings. Did you miss it? Catch it HERE. There may be something to those mid-afternoon sugar cravings, though. Sugar Cravings may be a sign of dehydration.
Yes, yes, yes…I know you hear it all the time to drink more water. And while that is true, drinking INFUSED water with citrus or fruit will help absorb the minerals in the water that your body is craving. Infused water will also help to alkalize the body. (note: if you filter your water by reverse osmosis, it’s a good idea to use liquid mineral drops to replace the minerals taken out by the filtering process – use 2-4 drops per 8 ounces glass of water)
Dehydration can make it difficult for the liver which uses water to release glycogen and other components of stored energy. That can lead to food cravings, according to John Higgins, M.D., associate professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Texas in Houston and the chief of cardiology at Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital. Cravings for sweet foods are common at such times because the process of glycogen production involves water and glucose, the body’s circulating sugar. Dehydration makes it more difficult for the body to produce glycogen.
If you are exercising or live in a dry climate, it is especially important to hydrate. Dehydration can mask itself as hunger. Up your water intake. Not only does the drinking water keep the sugar cravings down, it also helps your body function properly.
Bonus Recipe:
Make your own vitamin-infused water using 20 ounces of water. Let it sit in your fridge for a few hours.
Here are some of my favorite infused water combinations:
Lemon + Raspberries + Rosemary (or mint)
Orange + Blueberry + Basil
Cucumber + Mint + Jalapeño
Lemon + Thyme
And for those of you who happen to have fruit trees in your yard, you can use some of those surplus fruits to infuse your water – give it a whirl!
I hope you try and enjoy some of these combinations; have fun and experiment!
To your health,
Patti
