Anyone else craving greens???

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trulycrabby
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October 14, 2012 at 9:40 pm

Post count: 6

#2419

Hi, I’ve only been taking Bikram classes for a week, but have noticed a marked change in my food cravings, specifically for dark greens like kale and spinach, and a lot of them!!! Basically, I take a morning class on an empty stomach, then come home and make a huge bowl of fresh greens with a protein, same thing in the afternoon, then a green smoothie that’s about 1/2 fresh greens, a “green powder” food supplement, blueberries, and some protein powder. All I crave, all day long, is greens, and it’s pure nirvana when I down the green smoohie. Before Bikram, I was doing “hot yoga” at about 95F, but it didn’t cause the cravings. I take a whole foods vitamin, magnesium, vitamin D3, and vitamin C in the evenings, so it’s not like I’ve got a vitamin or mineral deficiency.

I started out slim, but have dropped three pounds this week. The weight loss is measured after I’ve replenished liquids lost in class.

Anyone else experience this?

jonny sarasana
Participant

October 15, 2012 at 2:18 am

Post count: 12

#9984

Yes! not for greens though… my first few months of bikram all i pretty much craved and ate were 3 things… greek yogurt, turkey breast and strawberries

trulycrabby
Participant

October 15, 2012 at 2:49 pm

Post count: 6

#9985

That’s pretty darned healthy. The protein I’ve been craving is tuna (low mercury, pole-caught) and turkey.

Have your cravings settled down or changed?

Cyberry
Participant

October 15, 2012 at 8:29 pm

Post count: 67

#9986

Hi TC

Your cravings certainly kicked in quite rapidly, and although I’m no expert, they do make sense to me. Whilst you are taking a magnesium supplement, sweating depletes your mineral stores, so the craving for greens – specifically spinach and kale which are good sources of calcium, potassium and magnesium – could be an indication that your body is simply ‘asking’ you to replenish its electrolyte levels.

To address these cravings it might be useful to look into electrolyte supplementation. I find the combination of half a teaspoon of sea salt and diluted freshly squeezed lemon juice also good. The cravings are likely to settle in time.

I also sometimes experience rapid weight loss when I’m not eating well. So eat a little more and don’t forget to hydrate (very) well! 🙂

Enjoy the yoga!

C.

stickymat
Participant

October 16, 2012 at 3:23 am

Post count: 24

#9988

Is there anything that a person could do to prevent these cravings? Would electrolyte supplementation prevent the cravings or just decrease how frequently they occur?

Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)
Forum Owner

October 18, 2012 at 2:50 am

Post count: 3048

#9993

Hello Sharon

So, the question is, what are the cravings you are trying to fight? Why? And if they are good cravings, why do you need to?

Also it bears mentioning that electrolytes MAY have something to do with someone’s cravings and they may also have nothing to do with them too.

Cravings can be a sign of an evolution of taste and not just a specific electrolyte need. It could be a sign that what you were attracted to before was a result of thoughts and now your cravings are a result of listening to your own body. There are many other things besides electrolytes that could be wanting in anyone’s diet.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂
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