GOT a sweet tooth for chocolate? Flinders University researchers think they have the answer to melting chocolate cravings - just in time for Easter.
According to the psychology team, self-awareness techniques can fight back and erase those "chocoholic thoughts".
"If we tackle the issue when it first pops up in your mind - particularly if you are not hungry - then it's much easier than waiting for those cravings to gather force," said lead researcher Sophie Schumacher.
"Learn to nip off these cravings at the bud - by giving yourself a constructive distraction such as a walk in a forest - to help lower the intrusiveness of the thoughts and vividness of the imagery."
"We found it was important to target the initial craving thoughts before they become full-blown cravings."
The research team tested a theory called elaborate-intrusion theory by analysing cognitive defusion and guided imagery techniques and their impact on chocolate cravings.
Cognitive defusion, or distancing yourself from the thought, targets the first stage of craving when the thought of chocolate first appears while guided imagery, replacing that thought with another image, targets the second craving stage.
"We found that cognitive defusion lowered the intrusiveness of thoughts, vividness of imagery before, and craving intensity for both the general test group and those who craved chocolate and wished to eat less chocolate," Ms Schumacher said.
So next time you're having choc cravings, distance yourself from the thought and imagine a white, sandy beach instead!
