Understanding Cravings And A Recipe

Why do we have food cravings?

Food cravings are information. They are one of the body’s ways of seeking balance.

I used to think that food cravings are either instructive or destructive. The more I approach my body from a place of curiosity instead of a place of judgement, the more I realize that all cravings are instructive.

Often, cravings are signaling an emotional state. Whether the emotional state is happening right now or whether the body is still hanging on to a past emotional state, the body responds by secreting stress hormones - specifically, catecholamines, which are secreted by the adrenal glands and the brain.

Even though we might think that a craving for a specific food would help calm stress hormone secretion, it’s actually the opposite. We tend to crave the foods that continue the stress. An example: when I am feeling stressed, I eat chocolate. Yes, chocolate is bitter and fermented. It supports digestion. And, it also contains caffeine and often, sugar. Sugar and caffeine are both quite stimulating to the adrenal glands. Hence, more stress hormones and more stress.

How do we hold a craving with kindness and transform it into information, transform it into guidance for helping complete a stress response and restore balance in the body?

First, it is important to understand that any more than a teaspoon of sugar (8 grams) triggers a stress state in the body. The more we understand how prevalent sugar is in our food, the more we can have compassion for how easy it can be to get into a state of activated stress hormones.

That is why it’s helpful to eat sweet foods, which are activating, alongside high fiber foods, which are calming or regulating. Black beans are high in soluble fiber, which helps the body to move excess hormones out.

I enjoy making these black bean brownies because I get to enjoy the health benefits of cacao and get the fiber balance from the black beans.

Try this recipe and see how you feel afterwards. Notice what you notice without judgement.

Do you feel like you can breathe, relax, and hold your body with awareness and kindness? Do you feel activated and stressed?

Simply notice and allow yourself to be present with your body.

Black Bean Brownies

You will need:

One 15-oz can black beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup almond flour

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/3 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup olive oil

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Oil an 8x8 baking dish with olive or sunflower oil.

Blend all the ingredients together in a food processor or with an immersion blender.

Smooth the blended mix into the baking dish and bake for 20 minutes.