Surely each of us in certain periods notices a craving for one type of product,

for which perhaps never before had a special love.

And if you want to eat chocolate or drink a cup of coffee,

then this is not surprising,

but if suddenly you have an irresistible desire to eat a spoon or two of clay or gnaw on ice,

then this clearly indicates that the body is missing something

and it is trying to fill the deficit with such strange products.

In continuation of the article you will find informative information

about the reasons why you are drawn to certain types of products.      [  more]

Clay cleanses the body of toxins

If you suddenly want to eat a handful of earth or clay, then your body needs to get rid of toxins, or...

You're pregnant – many women preparing to have a baby are known to have some pretty eccentric gastronomic addictions.

In the 1990s, in some countries, the sale of this unusual "delicacy" was even established,

because in megacities it is not so easy to find land suitable for consumption.

Recently, experts are increasingly talking about the fact that the earth really helps

to cleanse the body of toxic substances.

Previously, it was believed that only people and macaw parrots eat earth and clay, but recently researchers have noticed that such a "kitchen" is popular among other animals, especially during the ripening of fruits, since immature fruits and berries contain a large number of toxic alkaloids.

For example, to make edible unripe potatoes containing solanine -

a bitter and poisonous glycoalcaloid, the fruits must be coated with alumina.

It contains kaolin (white clay), which neutralizes bitterness and "pulls" solanine from potatoes.

So do not rush to twist your finger at the temple,

learning that one of your friends once ate some earth -

he acted in accordance with the ancient instincts of self-preservation and health care.

Wanted beans or rice - you do not have enough protein

Some of the amino acids we need, such as lysine and methionine, the body cannot produce on its own, so they have to be obtained from food. Lysine is found in legumes, and wheat, rice and corn are rich in methionine - if now you terribly want to eat any of these products, your body clearly lacks protein.

Cereal and legume dishes are widely represented in many culinary cultures of the world, firstly, because their combination serves as an excellent substitute for meat, and secondly - because it is, hell, incredibly tasty! The taste and aroma of beans and cereals are so impeccably in harmony with each other that for a long time it was believed that if you do not use these products together, the lysine and methionine contained in them will not be absorbed by the body. Later, this opinion was recognized as erroneous, but there are no fewer beans and cereals. The popularity of the culinary duo "beans-cereals", containing the necessary amino acids, suggests that the body tells a person what kind of dishes he "should" like.

Pulls on sharp, so you need to "cool down"

You probably noticed that in countries with a hot climate they love incredibly spicy food - this is due to the fact that hot seasonings, especially chili peppers, provoke intense sweating, protecting the human body from overheating. The alkaloid capsaicin contained in acute products stimulates the receptors of the mouth and nasal cavity responsible for thermoregulation - they make a person sweat, getting rid of excess heat.

Tea with milk saves from tannins

 

Contrary to numerous commercials, black tea is not such a harmless drink. In it, like coffee, contains tannins - phenolic compounds that give these drinks astringent properties and bitterness, as well as contribute to the cleansing of the digestive tract. The body reacts ambiguously to the presence of tannins - for example, having drunk strong black tea in the morning, you may well feel nausea. Fortunately, there is a way to soften the bitterness of tea and coffee and protect the stomach from excessive activity of tannins - add milk to the drink.

I must say, adults of homo sapiens are not evolutionarily predisposed to the use of milk - we can drink it only due to the fact that the human body for several thousand years has adapted to dairy products, adjusting the production of enzymes necessary for the processing of lactose. Individuals of other mammal species after reaching adulthood cease to consume foods containing lactose and if, say, a tiger is drunk with milk, this will turn into digestive problems for him, while some people are also known to have lactose intolerance, which can be called a kind of "digestive rudiment". Impressive is the fact that humanity began to drink milk relatively recently, and our taste buds already "advise" that with its help you can reduce the activity of tannins.

Ice as local anesthesia

 

The desire to include ice in their diet is often experienced by people suffering from anemia. Of course, ice itself can not satisfy the need for iron, but for some reason it really helps - with a lack of iron in the human body with anemia, inflammatory processes begin, accompanied by pain in the oral cavity. Ice does not allow you to cope with the main cause of the disease, but it significantly reduces pain, so if you periodically want to gnaw ice cubes, there is a reason to think about including foods high in iron in your diet.

Thirst for ginger speaks of heart problems

Ginger is one of the most useful seasonings of plant origin. It helps to get rid of nausea attacks, relieves coughing and helps with headaches. Nevertheless, doctors say that even people who do not suffer from the above ailments sometimes have a strong desire to eat ginger. According to the results of some studies, ginger reduces blood clotting, which can cause heart attacks, strengthens the muscles of the heart and lowers cholesterol levels in the blood. Due to its miraculous properties, ginger can serve as a healthy alternative to the vaunted dietary supplements with three-digit price tags.

Coffee instead of painkillers

If you have eaten ginger, but the migraine does not go away, it makes sense to drink a cup of coffee - caffeine also helps with headaches and can even prevent its occurrence. Some doctors talk about the dangers of frequent consumption of coffee, while others argue that you can drink two cups of this drink daily without risk to health. Caffeine allows you to relieve physical and emotional discomfort, in addition, this natural stimulant is effective in the early stages of depressive states. According to some reports, many people with the help of coffee, no matter how strange it may sound, provide themselves with a healthy sleep - the human body gets used to a certain amount of caffeine and when giving up coffee, a person begins to experience problems with sleep.

Falling in love with chocolate

When the victorious march of chocolate around the world was just beginning, it was not at all like a modern favorite delicacy. Cocoa beans were served on the tables of the European nobility in the form of a specific bitter drink with seasonings and many cups of this dessert were literally drunk by aristocrats through force before confectioners guessed to add sugar to grated cocoa beans, although the indigenous peoples of the American continent have long mixed chocolate with various sweet ingredients. Later, Europeans discovered the recipe for chocolate with milk and from that moment the world was doomed to an all-consuming, indestructible passion for all kinds of chocolate desserts. What is the reason for the extraordinary popularity of chocolate?

Some say that the "fault" is the phenylethylamine contained in cocoa beans - a chemical substance released in the human brain when he is in love or feels happy. Surely you have heard an expression like: "Loving is like eating a lot of chocolate." At the same time, for example, cheese contains even more phenylethylamine, but its popularity does not go to any comparisons with the universal love of chocolate.

Some experts associate "chocolate fever" with anandamide, an analogue of cannabinol, the main psychoactive component of marijuana. Anandamide, which is also called the "molecule of bliss", lifts the mood and relieves fatigue, although experts note that if a person wants to achieve an effect similar to the effect of marijuana, he will have to eat at least a kilogram of chocolate.

In addition to anandamide and phenylethylamine, cocoa beans contain theobromine, a substance similar to caffeine, which is known to be addictive. For what exactly people love chocolate, scientists have yet to find out, since it contains about 380 active substances. But does it really matter? After all, love is an irrational feeling and instead of trying to find out its nature, it is better to just enjoy every bite.

 

 В гареме султана девушек не морили голодом. Наоборот, кормили семь раз на дню! Но они оставались стройными. Как им это удавалось? Яна Бай-Лилик, автор уникальной диеты наложниц раскрывает этот секрет только нашим читательницам  Эксклюзивные рецепты средневековых красавиц — для вашего стола!

Сегодня речь пойдет о завтраке. Точнее? о завтраках, их ведь насчитывалось сразу три. По времени они распределялись примерно так:

• 8:00 – легкий,
• 10:00 – основной,
• 12:00 – кофе.

То есть сначала организм надо было разбудить. Потом накормить. И потом еще взбодрить, ведь день в гареме проходил довольно активно, требовалось много сил. А ночь могла внезапно стать бессонной: если султан прикажет, кто же ему откажет…

Все последующие приемы пищи проходили также с интервалом в два часа (подробнее о правиле семи трапез читайте здесь). И не забываем о главной особенности завтрака наложниц: маленьких тарелках и пиалах. Каждый подход к еде – не больше 250 граммов

 

Intermittent fasting is not a diet, but rather a way of eating. This system doesn't tell you what you need to eat, but when you need to do it. The regime consists of periods when you eat, which are replaced by periods of abstinence from food.

 

 

 

 

You do not need to starve for a long time to lose weight, it is enough to do it for a short time. Intermittent fasting has gained great popularity in recent years. The idea of such fasting is to not get any food in a certain short period of time. This method promises rapid weight loss, improved metabolism and even helps to prolong life.

Intermittent fasting is not a diet, but a way of eating.

Benefits of intermittent fasting Methods of intermittent fasting

This system doesn't tell you what you need to eat, but when you need to do it. The regime consists of periods when you eat, which are replaced by periods of abstinence from food.

It is believed that fasting is an evolutionary feature, and our body copes well with food restriction. Our ancestors did not always have food in abundance, and it was not possible to store food in refrigerators or go to supermarkets, and therefore the body is accustomed to long periods of fasting.

We can say that temporary restrictions in food are more natural for us than eating 3-4 times a day.

Simply put, what you eat is effectively digested during fasting. The fasting period is usually longer than the period when you eat. Once you've digested the food and you don't get any other food, your body has no other way but to burn calorie stores.

 

 

 

 

The benefits of intermittent fasting

Experts call several advantages of intermittent fasting:

Promotes Weight Loss Without Severe Calorie Restriction

Reduces insulin resistance and blood sugar levels, protecting against type 2 diabetes.Reduces inflammation and oxidative damage in the body, preventing aging.

Reduces risk factors for hypertension and high cholesterol.Animal studies have shown that intermittent fasting prevents the development of cancer.

Promotes the growth of new nerve cells and protects the brain from damage, preventing Alzheimer's disease.

It is not surprising that with all the popularity of this system, various types of intermittent fasting have appeared.

All of them are considered effective, and the choice depends on the personal preferences of the person.

Methods of interval fasting

1. 16/8 method: no meal 16 hours a day

The 16/8 method is that you eat for 8-10 hours and then don't take any food for 14-16 hours.

During the "window" when you are allowed to eat, you may have 2 or more meals.

This method is known as the Leangains protocol and was proposed by fitness expert Martin Berkhan.

This system is very simple, and essentially you just don't eat anything after dinner and skip breakfast.

For example, if you finish dinner at 8 p.m. and then don't eat anything until 12 p.m. the next day, you starve for 16 hours between meals.

Women are advised to abstain from eating only 14-15 hours, as shorter periods of fasting have a better effect on health.

If you can not do without breakfast, it will be difficult for you to get used to this method. Many of those who skip breakfast instinctively eat on this system.

During fasting, you can drink coffee, water, and soft drinks to reduce hunger.

Also, during the "food window" it is better not to lean on junk food and not to overeat, otherwise the system will be ineffective.

This is one of the most natural methods of intermittent fasting and does not require much effort.

 

 

 

 

2. Method 5:2: diet 2 days a week

The 5:2 diet involves 5 days of normal nutrition and restrictions to 500-600 calories 2 days a week. This method of periodic "fasting" was proposed by the British journalist and doctor Michael Mosley (Michael Mosley).

On the days of restriction, women are recommended to eat about 500 calories, and men about 600.

For example, you eat as usual on all days except Monday and Thursday, when you eat two small portions (about 250 calories) a day.

There are no studies that have tested this particular system, but there have been many studies that have shown the benefits of intermittent fasting.

3. Eat-starve-eat: fasting 24 hours 1-2 times a week

The method consists in refusing to eat for 24 hours 1 or 2 times a week.

This method, proposed by fitness expert Brad Pilon, has been popular for several years.

So, for example, you can finish dinner on Monday at 19:00 and not eat until the next dinner until 19 hours.

You can also refrain from eating from breakfast to breakfast or from lunch to lunch. The end result will be the same.

Water, coffee and soft drinks are allowed, but not solid food.

If you are starving for weight loss, it is very important to eat normally in the rest of the time. That is, the amount of food consumed should be the same as if you did not starve at all.

The problem is that for many, fasting during the day is quite an ordeal.

However, you do not have to start with a 24-hour fast, but you can start with 14-16 hours and then increase the interval.

4. Fasting every other day

Fasting every other day suggests that you limit yourself to eating every other day. There are several ways of such fasting and some allow the consumption of about 500 calories on fasting days.

Many laboratory studies have shown that intermittent fasting has a positive effect on health.

Complete rejection of food may seem too extreme and is not recommended for beginners.

Adhering to this method, you will go to bed hungry several times a week, which is not very pleasant and can be an impossible task for many.

 

 

 

 

5. Warrior diet: fasting during the day, a portion of food at night

This power system was proposed by artist and former commando Ori Hofmekler.

The warrior diet assumes that during the day you eat some raw fruits and vegetables, and in the evening you have a hearty dinner.

In fact, you starve all day (20 hours), and before going to bed in the interval of 4 hours you have the opportunity to have a large meal.

The warrior diet was one of the first popular diets to apply the method of intermittent fasting.

At the same time, the choice of products is similar to the paleo-etiet - whole, unprocessed products, as they are represented in nature.

6. Spontaneous skipping meals

You don't have to stick to a clear structure of intermittent fasting to feel the benefits of this method.

You can simply skip a meal from time to time when you're not hungry or too busy to cook.

Many experts believe that eating at a strictly defined time is a mistake, and a person will not go into starvation mode and will not begin to lose muscle.

The human body is able to cope with long periods of hunger, not to mention skipping one or two meals from time to time.

So, if you are not very hungry on a day, you can skip breakfast and eat a healthy lunch and dinner. If you travel somewhere and are left without food for a while, arrange a short hunger strike.

Skipping 1-2 meals when you feel the need for it is a spontaneous method of intermittent fasting.

However, try to eat healthy foods during other meals.

 

Breakfast is one of the most pleasant and important meals, when you can afford to eat what is no longer possible in the evening, if you of course watch your figure. Most of us really have no idea how to fill your hungry body and often waking up, throw in your mouth everything that comes to your eyes.

As you may have guessed, this is the wrong approach and if you do not want to have a heaviness in your stomach or feel hungry after half an hour, then you need to know which foods are the best choice for a cheerful and productive start to the day.

oatmeal

 

 

 

 

 

No wonder oatmeal has become the classic basis of the morning diet. It is rich in fiber, which is digested, for a long time gives a feeling of satiety. In addition, oatmeal contains useful omega-3 fatty acids, potassium and folic acid. This is exactly what larks need in the morning.

However, for maximum benefit, you should abandon instant cereals, especially if they are with different flavors. They have practically no useful substances, but in the composition of a lot of sugar and flavors. The ideal is oatmeal, which is cooked for 20-30 minutes.

bollocks

 

 

 

 

 

There is a theory according to which for breakfast you need to eat foods rich in carbohydrates, and proteins to eat in the afternoon. Nevertheless, oats will feel much more cheerful if in the morning they please themselves with a delicious omelet with vegetables, a simple glaze or a soft-boiled egg.

Such a breakfast will provide you with the necessary amino acids and vitamins D and B12, which are found in large quantities in eggs and are easily absorbed by the body. And do not be afraid of cholesterol, which often frighten lovers of egg dishes. If you do not have serious disorders or a number of chronic diseases, then 2-3 eggs per day will not affect this indicator in any way.

curd

 

 

 

 

 

Another protein product recommended for breakfast is not very fatty cottage cheese. Just 200 grams will fill you with enough energy to work efficiently until lunch. For variety, you can combine cottage cheese in fruit and berry puree or honey. This will add a pleasant sweetness without compromising your waistline.

Whole grain bread

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone knows that carbohydrates are energy. But do not start the day with buns and white bread. Such a breakfast will instantly raise the level of sugar in the blood and instead of the desired vivacity you will feel a slight dizziness and fatigue.

Give preference to bread from coarse flour. It will bring much more benefit to the body, saturating you and filling you with much-needed energy in the morning for a long time. We recommend making a healthy sandwich by putting a few circles of cucumber, lettuce and a couple of pieces of lightly salted salmon on a slice of bread.

banana

 

 

 

 

 

Among the fruits, the real kings of the morning diet are bananas. They give an excellent charge of vivacity and energy, saturate the body with vitamins and minerals. In addition, bananas do not contain fruit acids and, enveloping the stomach, prepare it for further meals.

Bananas go well with the rest of the products recommended in the morning. You can safely add them to cottage cheese and cereals, and, for example, spread a thin layer of peanut butter on a slice of whole grain bread and put a banana sliced into circles on top. It turns out very tasty and enjoyable.

Berries

 

 

 

 

 

Berries are an excellent source of vitamins, antioxidants and other nutrients. They normalize the work of the gastrointestinal tract, and also help to preserve youth and beauty. Be sure to include them in your morning menu, adding to cereals, yogurts or smoothies. In season, you can use fresh berries, and the rest of the time frozen, which retain all their useful properties.

Greek yogurt

 

 

 

 

 

This fermented milk product is a source of easily digestible protein and calcium. We recommend eating Greek yogurt for those who find it difficult to get up early. It is quite saty, but does not leave a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen. Combine it with fresh fruits or berries, nuts or seeds. So you will get the maximum benefit and enough energy for a great start to a new day.

kiwi

 

 

 

 

 

The peculiarity of this fruit is the high content of vitamin C, which acts on the body better than any energy. In addition, it is thanks to this vitamin, as well as the fiber contained in kiwi, that the digestion process is more actively launched, which means that energy from food will be better absorbed throughout the day.

smoothie

 

 

 

We asked the doctor what is strictly forbidden to do on an empty stomach.