Toxic Hunger

Continuing on the trend of healthy eating and drinking, apparently there's such a thing as "Toxic Hunger" and that's what we all experience everyday instead of real hunger. From the DietBlog: Overcoming Toxic Hunger: A major cause of obesity:

Most people never experience the healthy sensation of feeling hungry. Most of us keep eating to avoid hunger! But actually, feeling hungry is healthy. It directs your body to consume the amount of calories it requires for optimal health and ideal bodyweight.

Hunger, in the true sense of the word, indicates to us that it is time to eat again.

Instead of TRUE hunger, people experience TOXIC hunger--detoxification or withdrawal symptoms that they mistakenly consider hunger.

What is Toxic Hunger?

Toxic hunger is the group of symptoms a person experiences as our body mobilizes toxic wastes for elimination.

When our diet is low in nutrients, we build up intra-cellular waste products. So when digestion stops, our body goes through a period of "cleaning." Meaning our tissues release toxic substances into circulation for removal. Our cells can harbor toxic products that will eventually make us sick.

These uncomfortable "detox symptoms" occur after a meal is digested and the digestive track is empty. We start to feel shaky, head-achy, weak, get abdominal cramps or spasms, which we believe are hunger symptoms because they are relieved by eating.

What is Real Hunger?

Consider that real hunger is not often experienced in our modern, overfed population. Most people no longer even remember or are aware what hunger even feels like. Most people are surprised to find that true hunger is felt in the throat and not in the head or stomach.

An Alternative to Hunger

Now, you do not want to go hungry and deny yourself food to achieve an ideal weight. However, there is another answer. When we eat a high nutrient diet, rich in colorful vegetables and fruits, you will better meet the nutrient needs of our body--thus reducing or eliminating the withdrawal symptoms, that I call toxic hunger.

These super foods eliminate toxic hunger and overeating:

• Berries: blackberries, strawberries, blueberries
• Seeds: flax, sesame, sunflower
• Green Leafy Vegetables: kale, bok choy, spinach
• Colorful Raw Foods: tomatoes, carrots, peppers
• Steamed Greens: broccoli, string beans, asparagus

High-nutrient eating enables us to deal better with all types of stress, but in the case of hunger. Eating more high-nutrient foods will enable you to avoid "stress hunger" and not have the cravings and drive to overeat.

And there you have it. I admit I've never felt hunger in my throat, even though I'm fasting. However, I do remember that towards the end of the fasting month, your stomach does get really hungry. Though I suppose 'toxic hunger' must be what you feel about 1-hour after eating Chinese food, though. Put that in your hat and sit on it.