Are you one of the millions of Americans that need that cup of java in the morning? Are you part of the collectively tired generation? Have you become accustomed to a slight morning cough, hot flashes during menopause, skin rashes, or dark circle under your eyes? Are heartburn and lack of motivation part of a daily routine? Do you crave ice cream, chocolate or potato chips? These little signals are the body’s way of calling out for attention—attention we most likely are not giving it.
What is your body trying to tell you?
All day and night, the organs send out messages. More strong signals such as pain, a persistent runny nose, asthma, and chronic fatigue tell us of deeper problems. When the physical body is functioning properly, we are happy, full of energy, creative, and we don’t need a cup of java to wake up each morning
Daily Nutrition
Your body needs nutrition all day. That is why it’s good to eat many small meals during the day instead of two or three larger meals. Your body is an amazing system, complete with innate wisdom and the ability to send signals to you requesting nutrients. Your job is to pay closer attention listening to its distress calls.
Easy ways to know what your body is saying:
Crave Chocolate
Do you crave chocolate? Need more love in your life? Yes, it’s true; chocolate releases endorphins in the brain that send a feeling of being loved throughout the body. I know this might sound silly, but next time you reach out for some chocolate ask yourself “Do I need a hug?”
Crave Chips
Do you crave potato chips, French fries or pizza, especially around midnight? Your body is saying that you need more good fat in your diet. Essential fatty acids like fish or flaxseed oil will suffice. The body can’t make them from scratch but must get them from food. It’s best to take Omega 3s after your last meal. Both potato chips and French fries carry a lot of salt, so this craving means you are low in trace minerals. I like liquid trace minerals and seven drops daily in purified water is all you need.
Crave Sleep
Crave sleep? Can’t fall asleep? If you can’t fall asleep, it’s your gallbladder. Omega 3s or milk thistle herbs are good for this. Heavy thinking keeps the body awake, too. Over-thinking can place havoc on the kidneys. Kidneys become weakened with stress, over-thinking, smoking, and alcohol abuse. Next time you are relaxing, watch to see if you tap your fingers or shake your feet. Taping of the feet is a sign of kidney stress.
Wake up in the middle of the night around three? It’s most likely your feisty liver acting up. The liver does well with a milk thistle herb or burdock herbs; both do a great job to detoxify the liver gently. Do not take more than 750 milligrams a day, though. If you are on any prescription medications, consult your physician before going on any herbs.
Crave Coffee
Do you crave coffee? This alert is a sign your adrenal glands are fatigued and need help. The adrenal glands give us that “get up and go” motivation. Adrenals like vitamin B5 and vitamin C. Stressed out adrenals release cortisol into the blood, and too much cortisol in the body can increase abdominal fat, especially in women. Over time, cortisol can increase symptoms of arthritis, too.
Crave Sugar
Do you crave sugar and sweets? Under stress, we most often seek out refined carbohydrates to give us a quick lift. Sugar and sweets are in no way friends of the body. Sugar can cause a rapid rise of adrenaline levels, especially in children. Sugars also cause depletion in vitamins and nutrients, increase cholesterol, feed cancer, and suppress the immune system.
Many times when we crave sugar, we are feeding an allergy or an overgrowth of Candida in the small intestines. Candida is a specific type of yeast that’s needed to help digest foods, but it can quickly get out of balance from the intake of antibiotics and dairy together.
Sugar cravings decrease with an intake of vitamin B complex, trace minerals, and protein. Replace processed sugar with whole foods like oranges, apples, or other fruits. Even dried fruits are better than cookies or Twinkies.
A hurried lifestyle, along with feelings of fear and anger play havoc on digestive systems. It becomes impossible to digest food properly. Stress makes it impossible to receive proper nutrition from foods. Start supplementing digestive enzymes with meals; it will help a great deal!
All things in moderation!
Questions
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Chocolate and sweet treats have always been high on my cravings list! It makes perfect sense now, but I hadn’t associated my desire for sweet sugary treats to be linked in with a deeper desire for emotional connection and love. Thanks for highlighting this to me, Paula Muran! Thanks for sharing so much excellent content on your blog Paula. You mentioned candida in your post, can you recommend a protocol for treating it? I’ve read so many conflicting opinions that I’m not sure what to believe! Thanks again, Michelle
Michelle, candida is sometimes challenging to get rid of. The diet is strict. Reduce sugars of all kinds even surgery fruit and veggies. Caprylic Acid and Pau d’arco herb tea are good to try. Make sure you consult with your doctor before taking herbs with meditations. Or check at http://www.webmd.com. Also, increase vitamin B complex. Most people don’t realize what their cravings mean. Thank you!
Yes it’s always good to check with your doctor before taking any herb with medication. Milk Thistle is always good. Gives a nice gentle detox to the live and gallbladder the two organs that are active in the early morning hours. Thank you!
Very interesting. I have trouble falling asleep at night and also wake up around three or four in the morning. I’ll definitely look into a thistledown supplement. I’m glad you mentioned checking with your doctor first. I didn’t know that herbs could interact with prescription medications. The Paula Muran blog provides a great service – glad I found it.