Do you feel like eating flour in the cold season? (Carbohydrate Cravings) Is it depression?

During the rainy season, on slightly dark, cold days, do you also have a strange desire and craving for flour foods like bread, buns, rice, and noodles? You're not the only one who feels that way. Many people feel more like eating carbohydrates, that is, starchy foods, during this time. Sometimes, without realizing it, we turn to these foods to improve our mood and give ourselves a little happiness. So, is this desire that you have normal, or could it be a symptom of a weather-related depression? Let's talk about this in detail.

Why do I have a special craving for these carbohydrate foods?

There could be several reasons for this. Let's see what they are.

Are you on a diet?

If you are on a diet that is high in protein and low in carbohydrates (like rice and bread) to lose weight, it is normal for your body to crave carbohydrates. It is like a survival mechanism . Our body needs carbohydrates for energy. When it is low, the body sends signals asking for it. This is not related to the weather, but a result of your diet.

Or is this seasonal affective disorder (SAD)?

However, if you are a person who eats normally and is not on a special diet, and your cravings for flour are especially pronounced when the weather gets colder, drier, or rainy, it could be a symptom of a condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) . Some people also call this the "winter blues."

Simply put, when we eat foods containing carbohydrates, our brain produces more of a chemical called serotonin . This is also called the "feel-good hormone." Some medications for depression also work by increasing the levels of this serotonin in the brain.

So, a person with SAD, without even realizing it, turns to these carbohydrate foods to improve their mood, that is, to reduce stress. It's like making a medicine for themselves. These people can get an extra 800 calories a day from these foods. While some gain weight because of this, others try to control their weight by exercising or reducing their main meals.

Is this desire of yours normal or is it something to pay attention to?

To determine whether your craving for carbohydrates is normal or not, ask yourself these questions. The table below will help you with this.

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Let's understand this further with a real incident.

Imagine this person. Let's call her Nimali. Nimali is very active during the sunny days and during the long days. After work at the office, she goes for a walk, goes out with her friends.

But as soon as the rainy season starts, and the daylight hours shorten, he completely changes. He stays at home, doesn't feel like going anywhere, and is very tired. One afternoon, he feels more depressed and sad than usual. At the same time, he has a strange desire to eat a "kottu" from the roadside stall.

"I really want to eat that tower," he thinks.

Regardless of the rain or cold, he goes out to get that toy. He does this several days a week throughout the winter. This is what we call a driven craving . These kinds of cravings are often associated with SAD.

What can be done to control this situation?

If you have these symptoms and feel like they're getting out of control, the best and safest thing to do is to talk to your doctor about it. He or she can determine if you have SAD and give you the right advice.

In the meantime, there are a few things you can do to help control your cravings for these foods to some extent.

Plan your meals.

Since these cravings tend to increase in the evening, eat as many healthy, protein-rich foods as possible in the morning and afternoon. Around 4 p.m., when the sun is setting and you're feeling a little melancholy, have a small carbohydrate snack. For example, some popcorn (without butter), or a low-sugar cereal. For dinner, choose something like pasta, rice, or potatoes.

Choose healthy foods that comfort your mind.

Choose foods that contain carbohydrates, but that you can't finish quickly, but can enjoy slowly. A good example is hot chocolate . Milk and chocolate contain carbohydrates. Also, you can't drink a hot chocolate in one gulp. You have to savor it. It gives you peace of mind.

Make things like soups and stews

A hot soup or stew made with lots of potatoes, sweet potatoes, and vegetables is great during the cold season. These satisfy your carbohydrate needs and fill you up. They're also a great solution when you're too lazy to cook every day. If you make a big batch on the weekend, you can use it for several meals during the week.