Tame Your Cravings

Continued from our Retreat & Renew Daily Tip.

Whether you are a notorious sweet tooth or a sucker for salty snacks, cravings can sabotage any effort to eat healthy. Here are three science-backed ways to stave off cravings and keep your diet on track.

1) Lessen Your Stress. Chronic stress may up your chances of craving comfort foods like ice cream or mac and cheese, according to research from the University Of California - San Francisco. But taking time out for yoga or listening to music that mellows you out should help keep your stress in check—and curb the release of hormones known to trigger your cravings.

2) Pound The Pavement. Next time you’re itching for chocolate ganache, take a quick walk around the block. In a study from the University of Exeter, scientists found that a 15-minute walk helped turn off cravings in a group of chocoholics. It’s possible that walking may combat cravings by boosting mood, the study’s authors note.

3) Blow Some Bubbles. Chewing gum may make you less likely to indulge in sweet snacks, a study from Louisiana State University suggests. The study showed that men and women who chomped on gum three times an hour ended up reaching for fewer sweets than those who didn’t chew gum.