Conquering Cravings

How our brain, gut, and hormones derail our good intentions

Cravings are complicated things driven by emotions and bacteria. But people who struggle with an unhealthy hunger for junk food can take steps to get their cravings under control. Shutterstock

Hunger is a signal that reminds us to eat. This built-in, biological cue ensures our survival.

A food craving, however, is a cry for comfort, in the form of cookie dough ice cream, cheese fries, a cola, or some other intensely flavored concoction.