In a lovely moment of synchronicity, while I was drafting this article I received a newsletter from one of my inspirations and teachers, Geneen Roth, on the very subject of cravings. To describe that compelling, elusive feeling that captivates us when we have a craving, she cites no less an authority than Winnie the Pooh:

"In The House at Pooh Corner, A. A. Milne wrote that for Pooh, 'Although eating honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called.' Pooh might not have known what those food cravings are called, but I do. They're called desire. They're called anticipation. They're called wanting--and if we let ourselves feel them, have them, and love them for their own sake, we set ourselves free."

This is why I recommend that you take a look below the surface of the initial craving, with the understanding that the body always strives to maintain balance. Ask yourself, what does my body want and why? The body is amazing. It knows when to go to sleep, wake up, go to the bathroom, maintain 98.6 degrees. Your heart never misses a beat. Your lungs are always breathing. The body is a super-computer, and it never makes mistakes. Your mind can make a mistake drinking too much alcohol or eating too much sugar, but your body will always be there for you; instantaneously re-organizing itself to clear out the inappropriate materials from the bloodstream.

So, what's really caused the body to go out of balance, and respond with a craving? Some cravings are signs of physical imbalance; some, as Geneen alludes to, run deeper. With this mode of thinking, the main causes of cravings are:

1. Dehydration. The body doesn't send the message that you are thirsty until you're on the verge of dehydration. Dehydration can be perceived as mild hunger, so the first thing to do when you get a strange craving is to drink a full glass of water.
2. Lack of "primary food." Primary foods are the things that nourish us other than what we ingest. Being dissatisfied with a relationship, having an inappropriate exercise routine, being bored, stressed, uninspired by a job, or lacking a spiritual practice, may all cause emotional eating. Eating can be used as a substitute for entertainment, or to fill a void.
3. Yin/yang imbalance. Certain foods have more yin (expansive) qualities while other foods have more yang (contractive) qualities. Eating foods that are either extremely yin or extremely yang causes cravings in order to maintain balance. For example, eating a diet too rich in sugar (yin) may cause a craving for meat (yang).
4. Inside coming out. Oftentimes, cravings come from foods that we have recently eaten, foods eaten by our ancestors or foods from our childhood. To re-construct these cravings, consider eating a healthier version of your ancestral or childhood foods, eating just a small amount of them, or using a tongue scraper to clear away old tastes.
5. Seasonal. Often the body craves foods that balance out the elements of the season. In the spring, people may crave detoxifying foods like leafy greens or citrus foods. In the summer, people crave cooling foods like fruit, raw foods and ice cream, and in the fall people crave grounding foods like squash, onions and nuts. During winter many crave hot and heat-producing foods like meat, oil and fat.
6. Lack of nutrients. If the body has inadequate nutrients, it will produce odd cravings. For example, inadequate mineral levels produce salt cravings; and overall inadequate nutrition produces cravings for non-nutritional forms of energy like caffeine.
7. Hormonal. When women experience menstruation, pregnancy or menopause, fluctuating testosterone and estrogen levels may cause strange cravings.
8. De-evolution. When things are going extremely well, sometimes self-sabotage happens. We crave foods that throw us off, thus creating more cravings to balance ourselves. This often happens from low blood sugar and may result in strong mood swings.

(With gratitude to Geneen Roth and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, from which the causes of cravings are adapted.)

YOUR ASSIGNMENT
Next time you have a craving (especially if it's for a food or behavior that's less than health supportive), take the time to step back and deconstruct it a bit. Ask yourself, what are you really hungry for? How does that food make you feel? The answer may surprise and enlighten you, and lead you to your true feelings and desires.

When you're ready to take the next step in understanding your cravings, and learning to feed your body (and soul) what it truly needs, contact me to find out how I can help.

Tiny and delicate, sesame seeds are among the most ancient of seeds, believed to have originated in India and found in Middle Eastern, Asian and African cuisines. They're loaded with minerals, especially copper, manganese, magnesium, calcium and zinc, as well as B vitamins and fiber. My craving for them leads me to believe that my diet has been lacking in those minerals, which have important anti-inflammatory, hormonal and bone-health properties. They also contain cholesterol-lowering phytosterol compounds (for a complete nutritional summary of sesame seeds, go here).

Sesame seeds can be used to great deliciousness in sweet or savory preparations. Tahini, a paste made from ground, hulled sesame seeds, is the backbone flavor of hummus, and can be used much in the same way as peanut butter as a spread for whole-grain bread or crackers. (Arrowhead Mills makes a nice organic brand of tahini.) Halvah is a Middle Eastern sweet made from ground sesame seeds and honey, purportedly eaten by the women of ancient Babylonia to maintain their youth and beauty. Gomasio, a condiment used in Japanese and macrobiotic cuisines, is comprised of sesame seeds, sea salt and occasionally other seasonings, such as seaweed, and used as a milder, more healthful alternative to salt. It's a delicious and subtle seasoning to rice, vegetables, fish and, yes, popcorn. You can make your own gomasio by combining sesame seeds and sea salt in anywhere from a 5-to-1 to 15-to-1 ratio, depending on your taste; or you can buy it readymade in the Asian food section of the supermarket.

Sesame oil is great because of its relatively long shelf life. It's wonderful addition to cooking, and toasted sesame oil (the darker kind) adds a distinctive nutty finish to Chinese and Japanese dishes, especially. Sesame oil also makes a wonderful massage oil, since it's readily absorbed through the skin. An Ayurvedic remedy to calm frayed nerves and relieve insomnia is to rub some gently warmed sesame oil into the soles of your feet before bedtime.

This is from Natural Health Magazine, one of my go-to resources. It's a great salad dressing, and can also be used as a wonderfully satisfying sauce on buckwheat soba noodles (just add some of the noodle cooking water to the dressing to thin it out). Add some diced veggies, a little tofu and you're good to go. You also get the nutritional and digestive benefits of a "live" food like miso.

Ingredients

• ¼ cup miso paste (a fermented soybean paste found in the refrigerated section of the supermarket)
• ½ cup tahini
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon flax seed oil
• ¼ cup finely chopped parsley
• ½ cup water

Directions
Combine ingredients in a food processor or small bowl. May be refrigerated for up to one week. Serves 12.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving: 85 calories, 7 g fat (1 g saturated), 3.5 g carbohydrates, 3.7 g protein, 1.4 g fiber, 184 mg sodium (8% Daily Value).

Register through the South Orange-Maplewood Adult School for the following high-content, high-value cooking demonstrations:
Tuesday, 3/4 7.00-9.00 p.m. GLORIOUS GREENS
Ever wander through the aisles of the market and wonder how to prepare some of the fantastic green vegetables you see there? Greens are the #1 healthy food missing from modern American diets; yet they are packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and, of course, delicious taste. This cooking demonstration and tasting is an excellent opportunity to learn about the many benefits of greens -- and quick, easy ways to prepare them. $24 + $10 materials fee

Tuesday, 3/11, 7.00-9.00 p.m. GREAT MEALS WITH GRAINS Too busy to spend long hours in the kitchen cooking up delicious, health-promoting meals? This cooking demonstration and tasting will help you see that with a little advance planning, and an understanding of how to use whole grains as the backbone of your meals, you can create many delicious food options from one main dish. $24 + $10 materials fee

Tuesday 3/18, 7.00-9.00 p.m. COOKING WITH SEA VEGETABLES
Sea Vegetables (formerly known as seaweed!) are a staple and healing food in many coastal parts of the world. They are among nature's nutritional powerhouses, loaded with concentrated minerals, vitamins, fiber, enzymes and protein - yet they are still mysterious, if not even a little scary, to many in the U.S. Learn the ins and outs of dulse, arame, hijiki, nori, laver, wakame, kombu and all the rest, and how to incorporate these amazing, delicious gifts of the sea into your daily diet for maximum health benefits. $24 + $10 materials fee

FREE PUBLIC SEMINAR!
Wednesday 3/12, 7.30 - 8.30 p.m. HEALTHY HABITS -- SHORTCUTS AND STRATEGIES/lecture. Learn quick and easy secrets to incorporate more health-supportive foods, activities and behaviors into your life to save you time and help you look and feel your best.
Location: Maplewood Memorial Library, 51 Baker Street, Maplewood
Registration: 973-762-1622

Register through the Adult School of Montclair for:
Monday 3/17 & 3/24 SHINING LIFE HEALTHY VIBRANCE AFTER 40 FOR WOMEN
An empowering and enlightening 2-part series in which participants learn a holistic approach to health and wellbeing for the over-40 woman. This incorporates whole-foods nutritional guidance; movement and meditation; and an exploration of how to bring balance to the elements of life that feed our souls on a deeper level during this time of profound growth and transition. $25

FREE PUBLIC SEMINAR!
Saturday 3/29, 1.00 - 2.00 p.m. NUTRITION FOR HEALTHY SKIN/lecture.
Have you ever wondered about the effects of your diet on your skin? The skin reflects the health of the body -- and when it comes to vibrant, healthy skin, what you consume is as or more important than what you use externally. Find out what foods truly "feed your face" (and the rest of you) to help you achieve a naturally healthy glow and prevent signs of aging. And, since what you put on your skin gets absorbed into your body, understand why it's critical to use beauty products made from pure, organic, nutrient-rich ingredients.
**Delicious & healthy food and skin-care samples will be provided, and attendees will be entitled to a complimentary makeup application using Ecco Bella Flower Color Cosmetics!
Location: Ecco Bella, 50 Church St., Montclair
Registration: Seating is limited -- call 973.655.9585 X13 to reserve your place

Do you want to improve your eating habits, feel confident in choosing and preparing better food for your self and your family, find balance in all areas of your life, and experience a lasting increase in your energy? Not sure where to begin -- or how to stay on course? As a Holistic Health Counselor, I am committed to being your guide and advocate on the path toward health and vitality. I can help you clear away the clutter of old food and lifestyle habits so that your best self can shine out to the world. Working together, you'll learn to tune into your body's innate wisdom, find clarity about what really nourishes you, and move closer to the balance that's essential for accomplishing all that you came here to do. Please contact me to schedule a get-acquainted conversation.

email: shininglifenutrition@gmail.com

phone: 973.944.4878

web: http://www.shininglifenutrition.com