Module 7
Carbohydrates: Brain Chemistry and Your Emotions
Be sure to take time to watch the video and participate in the written activities and journaling.
Cravings & Emotional Eating Video
Do you have a love/hate relationship with carbs?
Learn how carbs hijack your brain chemistry and discover the REAL reasons behind your cravings & emotional eating. It’s not just about the food!
When you’re stressed out, your body produces high levels of cortisol which can trigger cravings for salty, sweet, and fried foods.
Numbing yourself with food can be a way to temporarily silence uncomfortable emotions including guilt, anger, resentment, and shame.
Emotional eating isn’t located in your stomach. You may find yourself “hungry” within an hour of eating or “hungry” all the time.
Weight can serve as a protective shield to keep us safe from unwanted attention or to keep us “invisible”.
We often nurture ourselves with food when we’re anxious, lonely, or bored because carbs stimulate “feel-good” chemicals in our brains.
Some foods can be addicting. We may experience intense cravings and once we start eating it may be nearly impossible to stop.
Childhood patterns with food often carry into adulthood. You may feel like you deserve a treat, especially after a hard day.
If you feel unfilled and empty, food can be a way to distract your from underlying feelings of dissatisfaction with your life.