TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) -- Whether it's fried and salty or baked and sugary we all have that food that is at times hard to resist, the problem is we usually end up having too much of a good thing.
Experts say that's just human nature.
"Genetically we want to pack on extra weight," says The Outreach Manager at North Mississippi Medical Center's Behavioral Health branch. "Back in the early years of existence those that were more robust that kept a healthy thick weight were the survivors. They lasted the longest."
As humans food is something we need to survive, but it's also something that most of us just like.
It's at the center of social events, and something that brings us together.
Which is another thing that could spark a craving.
"When you look at food cravings one of the first things that research tells us is that food cravings are associated with a memory," says Johnson.
Ah-ha that could be the reason mouths are watering for turkey this time of year, but it may also be the way food makes us feel.
"When we eat carbohydrates that does something to our brains that releases seratonin," says Johnson. "Seratonin calms us."
There are also cravings that come about when your body is lacking something, such as maybe salt after a work out.
One of the biggest food items that people crave could actually be because you body needs something.
"Typically when your craving something such as chocolate it could be your body's way of saying you need more antioxidants," says Nutritionist Alice Anne Lee.
Experts say to understand whether your craving is something you want or need drink some water and then wait a while, and if you still want it have just a little.
They also say the best way to to keep cravings a bay and still enjoy the tasty things in life is to have a balanced diet and give into cravings in small doses because too little or too much of what you want could make cravings more common.
