Spruce them up with healthy dips such as homemade hummus, goat cheese, homemade cashew cheese and other accompaniments like olives and shellfish. Rice crackers and oat crackers are also great chip craving busters if you want try something different, or if you are in a gluten free diet.
Potato chips are best known for two things: salt and fat. Studies have shown that eating salt triggers the release of dopamine, a chemical messenger that controls your brain's pleasure center. Once your brain gets that first reward hit, it starts craving more.
Similarly, eating chips everyday will increase your risk of experiencing negative health effects (not as much as smoking mind you), but doesn't guarantee you will experience any negative consequences. Another problem – yes, there are more problems – with nutrition is we don't eat in isolation.
The carbohydrates in refined foods — like chips, soda, and white bread — move through your digestive system quickly, leading to symptoms like bloating, cramping, and gas. The high fat and calorie content don't do much for your weight and blood sugar levels either.
For example, if you crave: Salty foods like potato chips, nachos or French fries, it may indicate a high level of cortisol (stress hormone). To help manage your cortisol levels, eat high quality protein such as eggs and lean meat, and complex carbohydrates like brown rice, beans and vegetables.
A study published in the most recent version of the journal Obesity found that the body's internal clock, the circadian system, increases hunger and cravings for sweet, starchy and salty foods in the evenings.
People use the term junk food to describe a food that has few of the nutrients your body needs, and a lot of fat, sugar, and salt, which your body can easily get too much of. Potato chips, candy, and soft drinks are often considered junk food.
The deep fried potatoes might seem tempting to you, but they are not at all good for your sleep and health. Avoid french fries and potato chips at all cost during night time. The high-fat content in the food will make your body focus more on digestion than on sleep. This will also lead to heartburn or reflux.
Whether you're scouring the pantry for a bag of chips or loading up the salt on your french fries, salt is a major indicator of a mineral deficiency. Salty urges are linked to low levels of calcium, magnesium, and zinc. Some experts even think that our salty cravings are actually crunchy cravings in disguise.
Adrenal insufficiency
Addison's disease can cause a salt craving that's new, ongoing and excessive.
Odds are, you do your best to eat well. But hey, cravings happen. Instead of fighting them off (and probably feeling miserable in the process), experts say you should give in to them—and enjoy every bite.
Are you craving fats? Like sugar, craving fatty foods signals your body is wanting specific nutrients. In this case, you're likely craving fat-soluble vitamins A, K, D and E.
If left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart failure, coronary heart disease, and kidney disease," says Dr. Parcells. Other long-term side effects of eating a lot of chips are weight gain, trouble sleeping, dry skin, kidney disease, headaches, and inflammation.
It's not surprising that chips are on this list. They're loaded with saturated fat, which causes abdominal fat gain. And they boast salt, which can cause bloating. Plus, since they don't make you feel satisfied, it's hard to eat just one chip.
Fatty foods, such as chips, burgers and fried foods, are harder to digest and can cause stomach pain and heartburn. Cut back on greasy fried foods to ease your stomach's workload. Try to eat more lean meat and fish, drink skimmed or semi-skimmed milk, and grill rather than fry foods.
“While there tends to be a lot of fear around potato chips, really, they're just potatoes, oil and seasoning,” says dietician and nutrition therapist Rachael Hartley. “There's nothing inherently dangerous about potato chips, and certainly, you could eat them every day if you'd like.”
Chips are fine to eat when consumed in moderation, but watch out for high sodium content and trans fats. Note serving sizes before digging into a bag of chips. Kale chips and popcorn are great alternatives to make at home. Crunchy fruit, vegetables, and nuts are other chip alternatives.
What you may be craving is something crunchy, like salty potato chips and pretzels (Snyder's own personal vice). Cravings for salty, crunchy foods might indicate "frustration, anger, stress, or resentment,” she adds. “Crunching down with your jaw is cathartic, almost like punching a wall.