Food Cravings Peak Around 3:45 p.m. as Experts Tie 2 Daily Urges to Blood Sugar Dips
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 14
Food Cravings Peak Around 3:45 p.m. as Experts Tie 2 Daily Urges to Blood Sugar Dips
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 14
Surveys show Americans report an average of two food cravings a day, with urges strongest around 3:45 p.m., a pattern experts link to the familiar mid-afternoon slump.
Light lunches or skipped meals can trigger blood-sugar spikes and drops that push the brain toward salty or sweet snacks; circadian dips and sleep deprivation can intensify that pull toward high-calorie foods.
Environment and emotion also shape cravings, experts said, with stress, routines and easy access to junk food making unhealthy choices more likely.
Dietitians said cravings should be treated as signals rather than failures, recommending satisfying, nutrient-dense meals, planned snacks and mindful eating to reduce the late-day crash.
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