Most of people fall victim to a little temptation during everyday life- usually in the form of chocolate, biscuits and sugar, cheese, crisps, or some other food or drink that they love but know it will be paid for on the scale in the morning. Dr. Mehmet Oz explained that people crave food for the same reason they crave sex. While eating these types of food as well as having sex, it is released dopamine- known as feel-good brain chemical, which creates a rush of euphoria that our brains seek over. It is obvious that none of the living creature will survive as a species without sex and eating. So rather than a losing battle- tough out your cravings through sheer willpower, you have to be a bit cunning in your approach. That is why below we give you some useful and smart ways about how to win a victory over craving.

1. Find out the foods that you are powerless around– it is not weak, it is smart! Everyone’s craving foods are different, so try to figure out what sends you on a food bender, then when you identify this food you should not have them near you and you will avoid craving.

2. Do not bring junk food in the house– you are less likely to eat chips or cookies or candy if they are not available in your store-room or fridge. This is how can you do yourself a huge favor by not even bringing them home from the market. If they are out of sight they probably will be out of your mind. It is the best way, because you don’t even think about them.

3. Eat small amounts of healthy food regularly– One of the main reasons for cravings is the decrease of blood sugar which makes you feel like you need something to eat immediately. Eating small amounts of healthy food regularly (every 3-5 hours) ensures you are not suddenly ravenous when your blood sugar drops.

4. Find a healthier dainty– you can think about a craving that does not have crazy amount of calories, fat or sugar. Are you craving sweet? Dates are naturally very sweet, as are prunes, grapes, dried figs or raisins. Do you need something creamy? Try a low-fat Greek yogurt. It is lower in sugar than other low-fat yogurts, and you can mix in some honey or blueberries for flavor.

5. Let?s strike a bargain– you should make this deal with yourself: You will set a timer for an hour, and when the time is up, if you still want craving, you can have a small amount of what you want. Then find something else to do for that hour. For instance rearrange your sock drawer, go for a walk, comb through your or your kids’ closets for clothes and toys to give to charity. Do whatever that helps you to fill the time so you are not watching the clock. It is a good deal to make as most cravings do not last more than 20 to 30 minutes, so by the time the hour passes, you will have solve your problem.

6. Refresh your palate– there is a reason luxurious restaurants serve sorbet between dishes- it cleans your taste buds so you can enjoy the next one without being distracted by the flavors from the dish that came before. You can use this same tactic to quell a craving- brush your teeth or chew some gum. Be sure nothing tastes good after you have that minty taste in your mouth.

7. Call a friend– in our childhood while being unhappy, we often used to be satiated with something fatty, like mother’s milk or bottled milk that creates chain- unhappiness equals fattiness equals happiness. This information gets learned and reinforced at a very fundamental level in our brain, even before we can verbalize it. The trick is not to eat when you are feeling emotional but to find another source of comfort, like a good friend. Talking to a friend is a much more waist-friendly way of relieving stress. Phone your friend, tell her/him about your feelings and always try everything we advise to get control of your cravings so they don’t end up controlling you.