Enjoying a treat, whether it is high in sugar, fat or salt once in a while is acceptable, says Ms Teo. The problem arises when there is overindulgence, in frequency or in portions, leading to excess weight gain. This consequence can lead to chronic health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease.
Food cravings are related to childhood habits and visual cues
Do you get a craving for dessert or something sweet like chocolate after dinner every day? And are these cravings preventing you from achieving your weight-loss goal? If you answer yes to these questions, you can console yourself with the fact that you are not alone.
“There are psychological and physiological theories as to why we might crave high-sugar and high-fat foods,” says Ms Teo Soo Lay, Dietitian, Department of Dietetics, Singapore General Hospital (SGH).
Your craving for desserts after dinner could be a habit cultivated during childhood. Or a craving for candy and salted snacks like potato chips could mean you have associated that particular food with a psychological sense of comfort or reward.
For instance, calorie-dense foods like potato chips, popcorn and salted peanuts are often consumed during social group activities such as watching a movie or…
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