Health

12 Tricks to Stop Cravings

Cravings are strong, and you can do little to resist them when they hit. A lot of people struggle to keep up with their weight loss diet as a result of the strong irresistible urge to devour the next available meal.

There are, however, a few tricks that can help you prevent and overcome cravings. Below are some of the most straightforward tips: Source: pexels.com

Mindful eating

Mindful eating is an aspect of broader mindfulness practice. Mindfulness, in general, is the practice of cultivating awareness and being present in the present moment without judgment. This might also be used for eating.

Mindful eating has to do with psychology and there is weight loss app psychology which has tons of resources you can use to help meditate properly.

An Indiana State University researchers investigated the effect of mini-meditations before eating or when the desire to overeat arises—focusing one’s attention on food-related behavior, thoughts, and emotions. The results showed that the meditation group’s hunger decreased in frequency.

Stop skipping meals

Skipping meals can trigger cravings for food. Always ensure you don’t skip your meals, especially breakfast and dinner. Instead of eating at once, divide your meals at set intervals.

Identify your triggers

Certain situations may trigger cravings. For example, watching someone eat, performing a task, or a particular habit. If you want to stop your cravings, you should identify the root causes first.

Set a time limit on your cravings

Craving for something itself is not bad unless it is done uncontrollably. You must control your cravings by setting a time limit for them.

You can designate time to eat, and you have to wait again once the time passes. This is not easy and requires discipline.

Sip water or green tea

Sometimes being thirsty may be mistaken for hunger. Make sure you take enough water and tea in some instances.

Water is very important for the body’s functioning, and taking enough of it will help reduce cravings.

Curb the craving with exercise

Being idle is one of the chief causes of abnormal cravings; as a starter, ensure you are not idle. Do some physical activities that will take away your attention.

Exercise is very important not only to reduce cravings but also to keep us physically fit.

Get enough Zzz’s

The importance of sleep to the normal functioning of our bodies cannot be overemphasized.

Getting enough sleep will not only reduce cravings but will also renew our physical strength and mood. Instead of rushing to eat when you are craving, go and sleep.

Take a supplement

You can take several supplements to reduce your cravings for sugar and carbs. Some of these supplements include Chromium, Magnesium, and B vitamins. When taken, these vitamins can reduce the blood sugar level and the demand for sugar.

Add more protein to your diet

Several studies prove the usefulness of proteins in reducing cravings and carb intake.

Because proteins digest more slowly when compared to carbs, they tend to keep us for a longer period. It is a good idea to include more proteinous meals into your diet.

Eat a full breakfast every day, but don’t make it too big

Breakfast is the most crucial meal of the day. It sets the foundation for the rest of the day. Eating a well-balanced breakfast can help reduce cravings later in the day.

When you eat a full and balanced breakfast, you will not have issues with other meals of the day.

Avoid alcohol and caffeine

Caffeine inhibits the adenosine receptors in the body. The adenosine receptors are responsible for relaxation and sleepiness.

However, while we may stay awake when these receptors are depressed, a craving for sugar and carb is triggered.

Aside from the demand for more carbs and sugar, caffeine also affects our taste buds by reducing our ability to taste sweet foods. This, in turn, triggers the demand for sugar and other sweet foods.

Therefore, reducing the amount of coffee we take is advisable. 2 to 3 cups per day is enough to keep us alert.

Don’t go shopping hungry

It is a bad idea to visit the supermarket or grocery store when you are hungry, as this may trigger cravings for things you did not negotiate. Before going to the grocery store, make sure you are full.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you now understand more about what’s going on in your brain and body when you’re experiencing a craving.

There’s not much you can do to avoid them completely, but there are a few things that you can do that may counteract the craving or help you deal with it effectively.

What’s more, the next time cravings strike, try some of these techniques out and see how they work for you.

One thing’s for sure: cravings don’t have to control you, and there is no reason to indulge them every time they appear.

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Health

Report Causes Pfizer Stock to Climb Approximately $1 Billion Acquired by Starboard

(VOR News) – According to a rumor that activist investor Pfizer Starboard Value has taken a holding in the struggling pharmaceutical business that is expected to be worth around one billion dollars, the stock of Pfizer (PFE) is on the increase in premarket trading on Monday.

This comes after the report was made public. The report was made available to the general public following this. Starboard Value was successful in moving forward with the acquisition of the position.

Starboard is said to have approached Ian Read, a former chief executive officer of Pfizer, and Frank D’Amelio, a former chief financial officer, in order to seek assistance with its goals of boosting the performance of the company, according to the Wall Street Journal. Read and D’Amelio are both former Pfizer executives.

The purpose of this is to facilitate the accomplishment of its objectives, which include enhancing the overall performance of the firm.

In their previous jobs, D’Amelio and Read were chief financial officers.

It is stated in the report that the hedge fund is of the opinion that Pfizer, which is currently being managed by Albert Bourla, who succeeded Read as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2019, does not demonstrate the same level of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) discipline that Read did. Bourla took over for Read in 2019. Read was succeeded by Bourla in the year 2019.

Pfizer, a multinational pharmaceutical conglomerate, has made substantial investments in the acquisition of more companies that are involved in the research and development of cancer medicines.

These businesses have been acquired for billions of dollars. The biotechnology company Seagen, which was acquired by Pfizer in the previous year for a price of $43 billion, is included in this category. One of the businesses that can be classified as belonging to this category is Seagen.

In spite of the fact that the S&P 500 Index experienced a 21% increase in 2024.

No major trading occurred in Pfizer stock that year.

Due to the fact that the demand for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines fell after the firm reached its pandemic peak in 2021, the share price of the corporation has decreased by over fifty percent since that time.

This drop has occurred ever since the company’s shares reached their maximum peak, which was during the time that this decline occurred. Not only have they not changed at all, but they have also remained essentially stable. This is in contrast to the S&P 500, which has gained 21% since the beginning of this year.

Recently, the corporation was forced to take a hit when it decided to recall all of the sickle cell illness medications that it had distributed all over the world.

Fears that the prescription could lead patients to experience severe agony and possibly even death were the impetus for the decision to recall the product. In spite of the fact that Pfizer’s stock is increasing by almost three percent as a result of the news that followed the company’s decision, this is the circumstance that has come about.

SOURCE: IPN

Health

New Study Reveals Drinking Soda Pop Increases the Risk of Stroke

If you drink too much soda, fruit juice and coffee, beware!

A recent report from global research indicates that excessive consumption of coffee or soda pop is associated with an increased risk of stroke, although the intake of black and green tea is correlated with a reduced risk. Excessive consumption of soda pop or coffee warrants caution!

Recent research indicates that it may substantially elevate the risk of stroke.

Consuming four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke, according to studies, although ingesting 3-4 cups of black or green tea daily typically offers protection against stroke. Additionally, consume more coffee; it may reduce your risk of mortality.

Recent findings from global research studies co-led by the University of Galway and McMaster University, alongside an international consortium of stroke researchers, indicate that soda, encompassing both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened variants such as diet or zero sugar, is associated with a 22 percent heightened risk of stroke. The risk escalated significantly with the consumption of two or more of these beverages daily.

Stroke Risk Fizzy Drinks and Soda Pop

The correlation between fizzy drinks consumption and stroke risk was most pronounced in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. Women exhibit the most elevated risk of stroke from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage) associated with fruit juice beverages. Consuming over 7 cups of water daily diminishes the likelihood of stroke due to a clot.

Researchers observed that numerous items advertised as fruit juice are derived from concentrates and have added sugars and preservatives, potentially negating the advantages often associated with fresh fruit and instead elevating stroke risk.

Fruit juice beverages were associated with a 37 percent heightened risk of stroke resulting from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage). Consuming two of these beverages daily increases the risk thrice.

Consuming over four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke by 37 percent, although lower consumption levels do not correlate with stroke risk. Conversely, tea consumption was associated with an 18-20 percent reduction in stroke risk. Additionally, consuming 3-4 cups daily of black tea, such as Breakfast and Earl Grey varieties, excluding green and herbal teas, was associated with a 29 percent reduced risk of stroke.

Consuming 3-4 cups of green tea daily was associated with a 27 percent reduction in stroke risk. Notably, the addition of milk may diminish or inhibit the advantageous effects of antioxidants present in tea. The lower risk of stroke associated with tea consumption was negated for individuals who added milk.

Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational reasons and should not be considered a replacement for professional medical counsel. Consistently consult your physician regarding any inquiries pertaining to a medical problem.

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Health

Following a Diagnosis of Breast Cancer, What Else Should You Know?

(VOR News) – Even though breast cancer affects one in eight American women, receiving a diagnosis can make a woman feel isolated.

Experts in breast cancer from the American College of Physicians (ACS) advise patients on how to manage their disease so that they may better cope with this awful information.

First, the kind and stage of breast cancer dictates the course of your care.

In addition to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, there are various surgical options available for the treatment of breast cancer.

Women of African descent are disproportionately affected by triple-negative breast cancer, an extremely aggressive form of the disease that has never proven easy to treat.

According to the American Cancer Society, pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an immunotherapy, has been shown to be helpful when combined with chemotherapy and is currently the recommended course of treatment for certain combinations of triple-negative breast cancer.

In her presentation, Dr. Katharine Yao said, “It’s really important that the patient and physician discuss the patient’s preferences and values when deciding what type of treatment to pursue and that they have an honest, individualized discussion with their care team.”

She is currently responsible for developing breast cancer treatment recommendations for more than 575 hospitals and institutions nationwide in her role as chair of the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Institutions (NAPBC).

Yao, vice chair of research at Endeavor Health NorthShore Hospitals in New York, pointed out that each decision made about a patient’s treatment plan should take her preferences and diagnosis into consideration.

She ought to think about whether she would prefer a mastectomy—a surgical procedure that involves removing the entire breast with or without reconstruction—or a lumpectomy, which involves a surgical procedure that spares part of the breast tissue.

She stated that “the breast cancer you have may be very different from the breast cancer you hear about in your neighbor, colleague, or friend” in a press release issued by the American Cancer Society (ACS).

“Consider that while discussing breast cancer with others.”

Throughout your journey, it is critical that you look after your emotional health because having breast cancer may have a detrimental impact on your mental health.

“Getting a cancer diagnosis does not mean that everything in your life stops to be normal.” Director of the Fellowship in the Diseases of the Breast program at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas and state head of the American Cancer Society Commission on Cancer for Arkansas, Dr. Daniela Ochoa She thinks adding the burden of a cancer diagnosis and treatment to all the other pressures in life may be taxing.

“Managing stress and emotional health is vital component of a treatment plan.”

Ochoa recommends clinically trained psychologists and social workers who have assisted people in coping with cancer to anyone receiving treatment. Learning coping techniques might also be facilitated by joining cancer support groups or cancer wellness initiatives.

Breast cancer specialists say your care team is crucial.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) defines comprehensive care as having support at every stage of the procedure from surgeons, oncologists, patient navigators, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other specialists.

After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, women should see a surgeon or medical oncologist to explore their options; nevertheless, treatment shouldn’t be discontinued after just one appointment or after surgery is over.

Additionally, you can ask trustworthy friends or family members to accompany you to appointments and aid you with research or notes. They could serve as a network of support for you.

Yao stated in his talk that “one of the most important things is that patients should search out a team they have confidence in, that they trust will have their back when they need it, and a team they feel they can get access to and that will help them when they are in need.”

SOURCE: MP