Hypnosis can help change your mind on sugar cravings
There is nothing wrong with enjoying a sweet treat here and there. As humans we have used sweets as a reward or comfort food for a very long time. Early humans sought out sweet foods for their high caloric value. These sweet treats were found in the forms of ripened fruits. Which would be seasonal in nature and not as readily available as it is today. With the introduction of refined sugars, sweets are abundantly available. We no longer have to wait for fruits to ripen to get our sweet tooth satisfied.
All humans are predisposed to like sweet foods to some extent. However studies around the world have shown that some people have stronger urges and cravings for sweets then others. With the abundance of sweets readily available in the forms of candies, cakes, cookies, ice cream, breads, and so forth this can lead very easily to over consumption of sweets, weight gain and health issues.
Eating sugars and using them as a reward or comfort food is many times a learned trait passed from one generation to the next. Many parents use sweet treats as a reward to their children for doing well, for accomplishments, behaving properly and so on. At an early age we develop positive associations in our minds about sweet foods and drinks and begin to relate these sweets treats a providing us with a sense of comfort.
In a study conducted on rats at Princeton University it showed that when rats where fed regular food combined with a 25% sugar solution in one months time the rats began becoming dependant on that daily dose of sugar. Gradually they chose to consume more of the sugar and less of the regular food.
Sugar actually changes the chemistry of the body, upon consumption of sugar a temporary surge of energy and mood elevation occurs. The more sugar or sweet foods consumed however decreases these surges, so more is needed to get the same feelings. When a person that has developed this pattern of eating to many sweets, tries to reduce their sugar intake, they can experience withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, strong cravings for sugar, depressed state of mind, and some also have flu like symptoms.
Some people choose artificial sweeteners to cut down on their sugar intake. However studies have shown that artificial sweeteners can actually increase the cravings for sugar, and people choosing diet soda's and artificial sweeteners can actually put on weight.
Hypnosis, Guided Imagery and NLP are tools that one can use to help get control of their sweet tooth and those urges to eat sugars. Hypnosis and Guided Imagery use relaxation techniques and language patterns to break through the conscious mind and communicate change directly to the subconscious mind. Hypnotic suggestions can re frame the positive association we have developed for sugars and sweets as a treat or comfort food. Hypnosis helps facilitate change in how we consume sugars, by using suggestions of the natural sweetness of fruits to replace the refined sugars of candies and soda. By using hypnosis and guided imagery to communicate to the subconscious mind change begins to take place in the root or core of our mind. It then becomes easier and rewarding to consume fruits over refined sugars or artificial sweeteners as a variable option to satisfying that sweet tooth.
When a person develops cravings for specific types of sweets like soda or certain candy NLP uses language patterns and re-frame techniques to help a person dislike that particular item. NLP tools help to re-program our belief systems. These techniques have proven to be very effective.
Hypnosis MP3's and Cd's offer an individual a more affordable means to experience the benefits of hypnosis. Office visits to a hypnotherapist can cost anywhere from $120 and up..... Using these hypnosis audio mp3's or Cd's to conquer your sweet tooth is much more cost effective. The other pleasant reward is the fact that you can use the hypnosis mp3's over and over again in the privacy of your own home. As with any habit that we have developed it takes time to change that pattern. Hypnosis helps speed that time up, but it is only with determination and repetitive reinforcement that habitual patterns can be retrained, especially if this pattern is deep seeded into the subconscious mind.
As humans it is in our make up and design that we need to feel rewarded and comforted, there are healthier rewards that we can give ourselves other then sugars and sweets. Hypnosis and Guided Imagery can be a wonderful relaxing and positive experience. The mind relaxes as does the body, without the need for chemicals or sweets to accomplish the task. Maybe now is the time to start thinking of alternative means for rewarding yourself....
References:
Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter.New York:OCT 2002. Vol.20, Iss. 8; Pg.1,3 pgs. [4
Leah Ariniello, Brain Briefings, October 2003
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