Constant Craving: What Your Food Cravings Mean and How to Overcome Them

by Doreen Virtue

     Do you crave chocolate, bread, cheese, fries, or other foods? If so, there’s a reason why, as Doreen Virtue’s breakthrough book explains. Each food craving actually corresponds to a specific underlying emotion; so once you understand the meaning behind your particular craving and apply the information and affirmations within these pages, you’ll be able to heal your cycle of emotional overeating.

     In addition, you’ll read scientific studies about the mood- and energy-altering properties of each food, which will help you see how your appetite perfectly mirrors your emotions. This comprehensive and empowering guide will also show you how to give “food readings” to yourself and others, allowing you to accurately interpret the meaning behind many cravings.

 

     Constant Craving is a one-of-kind book that will give you the emotional, physical, and spiritual tools you need to make friends with food . . . and your appetite!

 

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Self Help, Spirituality, Food, Ebooks

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Please do not buy my old books or cards, as I have repented and denounced them after Jesus saved me and opened my eyes to new age deception.

Here is my testimony of why I left the new age to follow Jesus: https://youtu.be/zZSH8mvIbdk

Reviews

[Ayça · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really dislike this book. I think it's encouraging the whole diet culture. The author talks about some foods as "bad, fattening food". I kept reading a bit to see if there was anything I could get out of it but I stopped when she was talking about how she made a patient stop eating potato chips by making her imagine bugs on them. No, thank you. Most of us already have unhealthy relationship with food and we are in constant reminder of our weight and how we must lose weight and what the author is encouraging is not healthy. I see this book as a waste of money and I won't even try to sell it in a secondhand page cause I don't want anyone to get these unhealthy advices.

[Toni · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's no secret that I struggle with my weight and being the avid book reader that I am, I am always reading about weight loss topics. Most of them give you a lot of scientific data, diet tips, and exercise options. But if you've ever watched a reality show with people trying to lose the pounds, you know that the issues go beyond just stopping at too many fast food restaurants or not being able to push yourself away from the table. There is almost always and emotional reason behind our food addictions and until we deal with those underlying problems, releasing the weight will be difficult.

Constant Craving takes it a little further by pointing out the emotional ties to specific food cravings. For example, chocolate is my craving of choice, and that points to a need for reassurance, love and support. To help you through the process of understanding and overcoming your cravings, Virtue provides alternate foods, exercises, meditations, affirmations and other alternative methods to use. This was a very enlightening and interesting take on the issue of weight loss and I found the tools easy to use and effective.

[Caterina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yazarın geçmişine baktığınızda, 1990–2017 yılları arasındaki üretimlerinin “New Age” olarak tanımlandığını göreceksiniz. Bu dönemde yayınladığı kitapların isimleri ve içerikleri de bu anlayışı yansıtıyor. Ancak Doreen Virtue, 2017 yılında Hristiyanlığa yönelmiş ve o tarihten itibaren daha önce yazdığı tüm kitapları reddettiğini açıkça beyan etmiş.

Amazon yazar biyografisinde şu ifadeler yer alıyor:

“Doreen has renounced her pre-salvation materials from 2017 and earlier. Please don’t buy any product from Doreen Virtue published in 2017 or earlier. Doreen doesn’t sell any new age books or cards — other people are illegally selling bootleg printings and others are selling used copies.”

Ayrıca Christianity Today dergisinde yayımlanan röportajında da bu değişimi şöyle dile getiriyor:

“Having to admit that I was wrong to the entire world — my books were published in 38 languages — has been deeply humbling. I still feel guilty knowing that people continue to use and sell my old products, even though I have begged them to stop…”

Bu bilgileri göz önünde bulundurmadan, yalnızca kitaba odaklanarak okumak eksik bir değerlendirme olabilir. Yazarın bugün geldiği yerle geçmişte yazdıkları arasındaki bu çelişki, eseri yorumlarken dikkate alınmalı.

Ben kitabı, yazarın “terapist kimliği” üzerinden değerlendirerek okumayı seçtim. New Age geçmişine ve bugün tüm bunları reddetmiş olmasına rağmen, özellikle ani yeme krizleri ya da belirli yiyeceklere duyulan takıntılı arzuların psikolojik altyapısına dair tespitlerini dikkate değer buldum.

Okuma sürecimin sonunda bu eseri yapay zekâ ile tartıştım (evet, bu kısımdan da bahsetmeden geçemem 😊). Bana elimdeki Türkçe baskının, 2017 sonrası republish edilmiş (yeniden yayımlanmış) olabileceğini söyledi. Günahı vebali AI’ın boynuna. 😄
Elimdeki 16. baskıda, New Age söylemlerine rastlamadım. Sadece birkaç yerde “Tanrı” ifadesi geçiyordu — ki bu da yazarın Hristiyanlığa geçişini yansıtan bir iz olabilir.

Sonuç olarak; kitap itinalı ve sorgulayıcı bir zihinle okunursa katkı sağlayabilir. Aksi hâlde, daha nitelikli ve tutarlı kitaplara yönelmek elbette mümkün.
Bu nedenle kararınız ne olursa olsun, önce yazarın geçmişini ve bugün geldiği noktayı bilerek okumanızı öneririm.

[Clarissa Draper · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book based on a fellow blogger's review. I did like it. The premise is simple, you are getting fat because you can't differentiate between real hunger and eating to fill an emotional need.

There is a six-step program outlined in the book to help you discover if you are eating for hunger or not. I think it's somewhat helpful but this book won't help you lose weight unless you truly work out why you're suffering from emotional hunger. This might mean seeking professional help.

In the back of the book there is a list of foods people crave and what it means when you crave them. I think that the emotions indicated are at times too simple and obvious. However, you may find the book helpful.

[Toni Wheeler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doreen Virtue might be just a little wack-a-doodle (the woman wrote a book about talking to fairies), but I say don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. While I'm not sure I buy her theories about specific food cravings representing specific emotional issues - and she's very specific - I'm on board with the idea that we often eat to avoid uncomfortable feelings. This book didn't do a whole lot for me personally, but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to someone struggling with food issues. There are some valuable insights here, particularly for those who don't yet realize they're eating their feelings.

[Birdie · Rating 2 out of 5]

According to author Doreen Virtue, "we intuitively crave foods that perfectly match our emotional needs..." The descriptions of what different cravings mean was kind of like reading horoscopes: "your love life is lacking" or whatever. Until I read about craving salty, crunchy things (like Wheat Thins). I don't have the quote, but it was something about feeling frustrated by change that is out of your control! Maybe she's onto something!

[Korinn Hawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very insightful book with a lot of information. At times it felt like too much information and I did skip over sections but felt like I took from it what I was supposed to. The essence of it is that when you overeat it is often for emotional reasons so asking yourself why you want to eat when you are not hungry can help in healing your eating patterns. I also have found that asking myself "am I eating for emotional or physical reasons" is helpful as she too suggests in the book.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little new agey at times, but a lot of good advice about figuring out what you're really feeling when you eat as a self-soothing mechanism.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having dealt with and mostly overcome serious food cravings, overeating, emotional eating and food addictions, I have a decent understanding of the underlying causes and how to help oneself overcome them. However, this book significantly fleshed out my knowledge and understanding on two levels. One is the function of food cravings, especially in regard to craving very specific foods and textures (hint - cravings are not "bad" - it is your wise body seeking to maintain homeostatis when we have ignored our emotions and thus are out of balance). This book is very specific in that regard and from what I have personally experienced with food cravings, is 100% spot on. Secondly, this book added to my toolbox of methods on how to help myself when cravings pop up again when life feels hard. The affirmations are particularly helpful in how they are specific to each kind of craving and the unprocessed emotions behind them. When I read the ones that were particular to my cravings, I felt very emotional, like a good release was happening, and I was getting to the root of what I needed to feel and look at in my life. I have taken lots of notes from this book that I will keep referring back to.

[Daylynn Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loaded with interesting information! Whole sections for chocolate lovers & bread lovers.
Peanuts & cashews raise blood pressure! Don't know how much for either though. Louise Hay said holding weight in your belly could be resentment toward your mom, in your legs= resentment toward dad. Pickles are a stimulant! Aged cheese is too! She explains why you crave foods you are sensitive or allergic to! If you crave peanut butter cups, you want more fun in your life. Has a whole candy section in it & what your cravings mean. Yes, there is a difference between craving & just a food preference. Also a difference between emotional eating & eating to satisfy hunger. Great book for reference & if you want to help others break their addictions/habits or you want to become a holistic nutritionist! :) Really enjoyed her perspective.

[littlesunshineemily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fiziksel açlıktan değil de gerçek anlamda bazen farkında bile olmadığımız, duygusal açlık (ağız açlığı, zihin açlığı gibi açıklıyor kitapta yazar) kaynaklı yeme isteklerinin altında yatan/ yatabilecek olan nedenlerini ve kendince çözümlerini açıklıyor kitap. Çözümler aslında klasik, hepimizin bildiği çözümler; tek eklemesi o duygusal nedenin farkında olup ona karşı bir çözüm geliştirin demek. Fakat çözümün ne olacağı size kalmış oluyor, burası biraz yavan :) Onun dışında, nasıl bir yiyici olduğunuz ve yeme isteğinizin altındaki duyguların ne olduğunu görmeniz açısından farkındalık sağlayan bir kitap.

[Melda Akkaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bu kitap açlık hissimizin ya da yemek yeme davranışımızın altındaki nedenlerin neler olabileceğine ilişkin kendimize karşı içgörü kazanmamız gerektiğinden bahsetmekte. Yazar bu konudaki kendi tespitlerini çeşitli araştırma sonuçlarına dayanarak da desteklemiş ve gerçekten beni etkileyen ve aklımda kalan birkaç araştırma sonucu oldu. Emin olmadığım kısmı ise hangi yiyeceğin hangi duyguya işaret ettiğine ilişkin spesifik karşılıklarının kitapta liste biçiminde verilmiş olması. Yazarın yabancı olması ve yemek kültür farklılığına rağmen bahsettiği araştırma sonuçları Türk toplumu için aynı sonucu verir mi sorusunu aklıma getiriyor. Ama onun dışında temel olarak alınacak bilgiler kitapta var.

[Bengü Güven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sağlık personeli, düzenli ve dengeli beslenen, düzenli egzersiz yapan biri olarak eksiklerim olduğunu düşünerek aldığım bir kitap. Eksiklerimin ise beklediğimden çok daha az olduğunu farkettim. Aslında her yeme isteğimin duygusal durumumla çok uyumlu olmadığını farkettim. Sağlık ile ilgili fazla bilgisi olmayanlar için açıklayıcı bilgiler vermesine rağmen bunların yer yer yetersiz kaldığını söyleyebilirim. Yazar özellikle egzersiz yapmanın önemi üstünde durmuş ki egzersizin en iyi antidepresan olduğunu zaten kanıtlanmış. Kısaca egzersiz yapın, mutlu olun...

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. It was fine. There was some interesting insight about the link between different emotions and food tastes/textures, but I found it largely simplistic and highly repetitive. It could’ve been summed up with the third part, which is what food cravings mean, rather than the fluff the first two parts were, I found. It did fit for me personally why I love certain foods opposed to others. I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend but it was interesting I guess. *shrug*

[Aija · Rating 3 out of 5]

Izrādās, ka tiešām viss ir mūsu galvās. Arī mūsu ēdiena izvēle ir emocijas un dažādi iekšēji pārdzīvojumi. Guvu arī dažas personiskas atbildes par savām ēdienkārēm.
Tikai visu laiku nomāc jautājums - ko tad īsti ēd tie, kas nesirgst ar bailēm, dusmām, saspringumu un kaunu? Laikam jau tikai dzer tīru ūdeni!

[Sharron Bardsley]

Doreen gets to the truth about why you eat the foods you crave to eat.
She gives you a breakdown of every category form high fats, sugar,carbs spices and drinks.Informed advise on how to overcome these cravings and to help you understand the meaning behind that which you crave.

[Irissska · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, it took me 3 tries to finish it, and i wouldn't say i found something which was both useful and new there. Same old stuff and new info i wont use.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Info

This book is packed full of very useful information. After looking up my own cravings, I can say this book is right on!

[ASLI · Rating 3 out of 5]

İt s discoverable

[lqmzjjx · Rating 5 out of 5]

中文版译名《食物与情绪》一本让我相见恨晚的书。愿意给五星，作者的论点，论据和解决方法都很现实且实用。我归纳后再加一点个人建议：
1、每日冥想1-2次5-10分钟。
2、有暴食冲动时想象胃里蝴蝶翩翩起舞，你被爱和美好环绕。
3、接纳失败的自己，肯定并相信自己。
4、及时补充微量维生素如：VB6 色氨酸等影响血清素分泌的物质。
5、薄荷 苹果和香蕉的味道容易让人精力充沛 且 易有饱腹感。

[SB · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read in a long time. Author posits that each and every food craving we have corresponds to some emotional need. She includes a chart at the end listing foods and the need not being fulfilled- the food list is VERY detailed; she even distinguishes between soft peanut butter and crunchy peanut butter! All of the emotional needs of myself and my family were eerily accurate; I traced all my past cravings to those emotional needs she listed and ran this against the foods craved by my family- their personality/ current phase in life was described perfectly! Me and my mother howled with laughter over how true some of the descriptions were. I like how the book isn't really about food though and how your cravings derive from the present state of your life and how satisfied you are. The author forces you to see the bigger picture and says that once you tackle the emotional problems/worries or even just simply acknowledge and understand your cravings then they'll disappear. I only finished it today and recently just fished a chocolate bar from my recycling bin so we'll see how it goes in the future.... Very engaging and well-written and perfect for people who want to understand why they crave certain foods and how they can break their addiction.

The only problem I have with this book is the insinuation that fat makes you fat! In fact fat keeps you fuller for longer and sugar makes you fat-not fat. The author can be forgiven though as I think this book was written in 1999 (but I think the whole "fat makes you fat" epidemic occured in the 80s?? As a 90s child, can't be sure of this).

[Bri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the information was really good but the author's writing style was not. It seemed too informal for a book about scientific research on food in the body. I mean, some colloquialism is good to connect with the reader, but this was the entire book.

Other than that, I felt I learned a lot and I'm definitely keeping the book for future reference. The tips she gave for controlling the appetite were helpful and actually work!

[GONZA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty interesting and with some new useful information even if, in the end, it seemed to me that all the cravings are for similar emotional reasons.

Parecchio interessante e con alcune nuove informazioni, anche se, alla fine, mi sembrava che tutti di vari desideri di cibo avessero alla baste le stesse emozioni.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND HAY HOUSE FOR THE PREVIEW

[Madeleine Gustavsson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must say that I am kind of torn apart. One side of me really like this book while the other side does not. The good thing with this is that is very easy to read, for those who do not have English a main language, and the most important thing is that it is very insightful.
But in the end is got kind of boring and I lost the interest. So I just ended it cause i felt that I had to.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book by Ms. Virtue. Certainly explains why I crave some of the food that I do. It is like you can watch the trend of where you are and where you have been, simply by what your body is craving to eat. I found it very interesting, and a book that I will keep to reference back to over time.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. As always DV is easy to read and makes a lot of sense. I learned a few things too. DV always has great information to share and this book from 20 years ago still has info to share to better your life....

[Marcie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had great hopes of better understanding food cravings. This book outlines the underlying emotions behind cravings. I felt there was some useful information, because t most of it just didn't jive with me.

[Ann-marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really helps to get over those cravings. Plus learnig why you have them & how to overcome them.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very insightful!

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative. Something ill keep reading