Most people already know what foods are healthy. The problem people have with sticking to healthy eating is cravings for sugar, cheese, bread, wine, chocolate and fried snack foods.
I know you probably think these are your favorite foods. Youre thinking the taste is what you love. Im going to challenge this belief and suggest that its not the taste at all.
Whats happening is these foods act like chemicals that rapidly change your brain chemistry (within seconds). You instantly feel better. You feel calmer, more focused or happier and more content. Youre eating these foods to feel better. And everyone wants to feel better. its a good thing, as pleasure is actually healthy!
Without really knowing it, youve taught yourself how to choose foods in the environment to help you feel better. And you need them multiple times a day and every day. When you dont have them, you dont feel so great.
This is not a bad thing. Once you understand it and become aware of what you are doing and how you feel, you become able to make changes if you want to. The best part is you can realize that youre not having cravings because you lack willpower. Willpower is not the issue at all. Anyone with unsatisfied brain receptors will crave some sort of substance that can bring them relief, whether it be sugar, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, opiates, gluten or cheese. All of these substances satisfy unhappy brain receptors. When brain receptors are satisfied, you feel good.
Those people you know who dont use these substances are not using willpower. They are not particularly strong or disciplined people. They just have a satisfied brain and its easy for them. They dont even think about it.
If youre wanting to stop using those substances, you would use targeted brain amino acids to satisfy those particular brain receptors. In fact, thats what should be there in the first place. Amino acids come from proteins and you get them every time you eat meat or other protein rich food. Eating a diet low in protein is one reason people get deficient. However, eating more protein will not be sufficient to satisfy those receptors.
In the studio we’ve devised our own formulation of amino acids called Crave Control. It contains a few different amino acids for this purpose. We find its faster and easier to use a combination rather than the individual amino acids. However, if you learn how to use the individual ones, it can work very well. A great resource on targeted amino acid therapy are 2 books by author Julia Ross, The Mood Cure and The Diet Cure.
Amino acids for this purpose should be taken on an empty stomach. I recommend taking them on an empty stomach right away in the morning. Take another dose when you have an empty stomach between lunch and dinner. Dont take before bed.
If youre taking SSRI or SNRI antidepressant medication, keep 4-6 hours between your medication and the amino acids.
Many people report their cravings disappeared after the first dose. Others take longer. Some people need the amino acids for a few weeks, some a few months. Most people need them more when the sunlight decreases in the fall and they start to crave pasta and bread. Some people use them throughout the whole winter.
Stay aware of your responses to food and cravings and start and stop the amino acids when you know you need them. At the same time, be sure youre getting enough protein. Its the protein in your diet that will keep it running well so you dont have to take the amino acids forever!
Most people like wine, sugar and chocolate. The point is, we want to be able to eat those foods when we choose on special occasions or holidays, and not feel like we cant live without them. If you keep you brain receptors satisfied with the amino acids that are meant to be there in the first place, youll feel so much more in control of your food choices and enjoy your food more than ever.
