Unhealthy desires

How often have you eaten that extra piece of cake post a yummy meal, only to feel guilty later? It's a fact that, once you cross the rational limit of eating, you don't realise where to stop and go on and on without feeling full. But, this is definitely not a healthy thing. Overeating, in fact, is the worst punishment one can inflict on one's stomach. The best way to resist temptations is to stock healthy food. "The first step one should take for developing a healthy lifestyle is to have a healthy kitchen. If your refrigerator does not store chocolate bars, cakes and your kitchen racks are not decorated with packets of chips and other deep-fried snacks, you will not be able to eat them," states dietician Mamata S. Another way of stopping yourself from eating fatty snacks is to serve less portions. "Do not sit with the whole packet of chips or an entire box of chocolates. You are bound to eat a lot and lose count of the calories. Serve the same in a plate in small portions," she adds. Exercising is also a way to stop one's self from eating extra. "It works because, once you start exercising, you feel guilty about overeating. People who exercise realize that it's easy to eat 700 calories, but to burn them it takes a whole lot of effort. For a sinner, it's easy to eat 3000 calories in one meal. But the idea is to strive towards good health by exercising. Once you do that, you will not be tempted to grab that packet of chips or eat that yummy chocolicious cake," says nutritionist Pooja Ammul Goel. The reason for overeating is generally because you crave for a particular kind of food. The main cause for sweet craving is the insulin level. If one has simple carbohydrates like white sugar, cold drinks, chocolate and rice in the diet, the insulin level shoots up and drops faster. Hence, when the insulin level drops, you are tempted to eat that bar of chocolate or that extra piece of gulab jamun. People who often get these cravings should include complex carbohydrates like oats and wheat in their meals, so that the insulin level is maintained. For people who just can't keep that sweet tooth in check, dietician Anuradha Inamdar suggests, "Choosing healthy dishes with a sweet taste can satisfy your taste buds. The craving for a calorie-filled dessert might disappear." Fruits and vegetables with a naturally sweet taste not only satisfy the taste buds, but also prove to be beneficial for your health as they are rich in vitamins, mineral and other important phytochemicals. "Dress up your carrot with honey to keep your sugar cravings at bay," recommends Inamdar. It is believed that the more flavours and variety of dishes you have in your meals, the more you are likely to overeat. "Keep your meals simple and healthy. If you love Aloo paratha, make sure that the other things that you have with it are healthy. Serve more salads and sprouts, which are quite filling and do not allow you to eat extra," advises dietician Megha Kadakia. You might have many reasons to overeat. But the only solution is not to get tempted and motivate yourself to be fit.