It's my birthday today and for most people celebration time means feasting on so called "bad" food. However, as its that special time of the year they put aside any feelings of guilt and allow themselves a treat.
Actually this tends to happen all year round as people crave the cake, battle with feelings about the cake, give in and eat the cake, wish they hadn't even met the cake, deny knowing the cake, and so the cycle continues. Cake is a love hate relationship!!
I've written extensively in the past about cake cravings, from Ancel Key's work on human starvation to my observations of the amount of cupcake companies popping up in our starved world.
Now before we go any further lets clear something up, I'm often viewed as;
Actually this tends to happen all year round as people crave the cake, battle with feelings about the cake, give in and eat the cake, wish they hadn't even met the cake, deny knowing the cake, and so the cycle continues. Cake is a love hate relationship!!
I've written extensively in the past about cake cravings, from Ancel Key's work on human starvation to my observations of the amount of cupcake companies popping up in our starved world.
Now before we go any further lets clear something up, I'm often viewed as;
"the food police"
Whilst I'm often the health detective that is tracking down issues in the diet and lifestyle of those who consult with me, I'm far from the diet nazi that people assume. Their is only one crime in my book and that is starvation!!
As you will of read previously, starvation leads to a whole host of complaints but the one that causes people the most upset is cravings. Most of the people I've consulted with are happy to deal with most of their low calorie symptoms (emotional issues, hair-loss, etc etc) but they hate the lack of willpower and the fact that they give in to cravings.
As you will of read previously, starvation leads to a whole host of complaints but the one that causes people the most upset is cravings. Most of the people I've consulted with are happy to deal with most of their low calorie symptoms (emotional issues, hair-loss, etc etc) but they hate the lack of willpower and the fact that they give in to cravings.
Do I eat cake? Rarely, and then its always a "healthier" version thats homemade. But theirs a reason why I simply do not desire shop bought cakes.
I eat a lot of good food. Cravings are our bodies response to restriction. According to Levin Pelchat, (2009)
I eat a lot of good food. Cravings are our bodies response to restriction. According to Levin Pelchat, (2009)
"It may be the way in which foods are consumed (e.g. alternating access and restriction) rather than their sensory properties that leads to an addictive eating pattern."
In other words, our avoidance of food in general may be the thing that leads us to crave the food we wish we could avoid.
So, I have nothing against cake and if that was all I had then I'd eat it. Equally if I was starving I'd eat it and I'd feel no guilt about it. If however I'm well fed, not only on good food but also enough food. Then I'm unlikely to want either much cake or indeed any at all. No willpower involved, just a fulfilled appetite.
Anyway, thanks for the many birthday messages, if your craving cake just eat it. Then tomorrow when you wake up think about eating enough all day so that cravings don't appear.
References
Levin Pelchat, (2009) "It may be the way in which foods are consumed (e.g. alternating access and restriction) rather than their sensory properties that leads to an addictive eating pattern."
So, I have nothing against cake and if that was all I had then I'd eat it. Equally if I was starving I'd eat it and I'd feel no guilt about it. If however I'm well fed, not only on good food but also enough food. Then I'm unlikely to want either much cake or indeed any at all. No willpower involved, just a fulfilled appetite.
Anyway, thanks for the many birthday messages, if your craving cake just eat it. Then tomorrow when you wake up think about eating enough all day so that cravings don't appear.
References
Levin Pelchat, (2009) "It may be the way in which foods are consumed (e.g. alternating access and restriction) rather than their sensory properties that leads to an addictive eating pattern."
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