MMMMMMMmmmmm Pig...

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one_raven

one_raven

God is a Chinese Whisper
Valued Senior Member
I'm fasting again this week.

When I am fasting, I spend much of time time meditating on discerning the differences between needs and desires and the differences between physical and emotional cravings. That's half the point of fasting for me.

I have found that most times when I crave food (even when I am not fasting), I am craving salty, fatty pork products...
Ham, Salami, Pepperoni, Soprasetta, Italian Sausage...

I'm trying to determine if these cravings have a physical cause.
If so, what could cause them?
For example, if I am craving red meat, my body may be lacking in iron.
What could cause craving salty, fatty pork products.

It very well could be that I just really enjoy the taste of pork - bacon is a gift from God!
It could also be an emotional connection to the foods - whenever we would have family get togethers (like on holidays) at my grandmother's house, I would always have these type of foods.

I am worndering, though, if there could be a physical need that these foods address.
There are a lot more protien rich foods than fatty pork.
It doesn't seem that pork is very effective at providing energy, compared to say, shellfish, dark greens like spinach, red meat...
 
I actually found that the best way to loose weight is to not think about anything at all, actually you got to sleep all the time
 
Salt is a powerful substance to the human palette. If your body hungers in a distressed fashion it will crave foods that have the most kick.
 
There are three "addictive" tastes that we have developed due to food processing and condiments.

Salt taste

Sugar taste

Fat taste

The easiest to lose is the salt taste; if you stop eating all salt for one month, you will no longer crave it and everything will taste salty. Its also the easiest to acquire.

Sugar and fat taste are really hard to lose. Takes more than six months and you can still crave them.
 
shorty_37 said:
Why are you fasting?
Click to expand...

Quite a few reasons.
First of all, as I mentioned above, to help discern the differences between needs and desires and the differences between physical and emotional cravings.
Also, it helps me to know and understand myself better by pushing my limits and meditating on my physical, mental and emotional reactions to it.
It is also a bit of a physical cleansing, so to speak.
It also helps keep me mindful of the extravagance and comfort in my life and contrast it with those who do not have such luxuries, and remind me that I was once one of them, and could very well be again.

The only way to grow is through suffering.

There are other, more spiritual reasons as well, but I think that sums it up well enough.

draqon said:
I actually found that the best way to loose weight is to not think about anything at all, actually you got to sleep all the time
Click to expand...
It has nothing to do with losing weight, but thanks for the helpful tip.

John99 said:
Salt is a powerful substance to the human palette. If your body hungers in a distressed fashion it will crave foods that have the most kick.
Click to expand...
I can see that...
The hungrier I get, generally, the spicier foods I crave.
The other day I ate nothing but apples, bananas and peanut butter.
My stomach was full, but I was still completely dissatisfied.
I had to eat some real food with spice to satisfy me.

S.A.M. said:
There are three "addictive" tastes that we have developed due to food processing and condiments.
Click to expand...
So you think it is as simple as an addiction to the taste and a desire to indulge in that pleasure?
 
You mentioned you ate apples, bananas and peanut butter.
What do you eat on this fast? Aren't fasts usually more of a liquid diet? :shrug:
 
Water only.
I may have a few hard candies or gum on the 4th or 5th day to get some glucose in my system and stave off the headaches and other problems that come along with glucose starvation (I learned that from S.A.M. - thanks).
 
one_raven said:
So you think it is as simple as an addiction to the taste and a desire to indulge in that pleasure?
Click to expand...

Nothing about food is ever simple

But there are indications:

1. Cannabinoid receptors in the brain CB1 stimulate food intake. Their antagonists reduce food intake.

2. The sight and smell of food stimulates the release of dopamine in the brain, even if you don't eat the food.

3. Inactivation of CD36, a fat sensor, completely eliminates the fat taste preference.

Indications are that taste is a very complex mechanism.

We even have taste buds for fat. :p
 
S.A.M. said:
Nothing about food is ever simple

But there are indications:

1. Cannabinoid receptors in the brain CB1 stimulate food intake. Their antagonists reduce food intake.

2. The sight and smell of food stimulates the release of dopamine in the brain, even if you don't eat the food.

3. Inactivation of CD36, a fat sensor, completely eliminates the fat taste preference.

Indications are that taste is a very complex mechanism.

We even have taste buds for fat. :p
Click to expand...

I do believe the existence of taste buds for fat is still discussed ..........

Anyway Raven .... I am having a deja vue ..... I guess the next thing you will say is , that you don´t like champagne .........
 
I hardly ever see Sam over there.
Monkey will sometimes give me me good advice.
Sometimes he will tell me I am a latent cannibal.
Sam always gives me good advice.
 
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