Tip Kill Bad Gut Bacteria to Stop Cravings Search Skip to content Menu Menu follow us Store Articles Community Loyal-T Club Loyal-T Points Rewards Subscribe to Save Search Search The World s Trusted Source & Community for Elite Fitness Diet & Fat LossEating Tip Kill Bad Gut Bacteria to Stop Cravings Cravings aren' t all in your head They' re partly caused by what' s going on in your gut Here' s how to fix it and kill the cravings by Dani Shugart October 28, 2015November 29, 2021 Tags Feeding the Ideal Body, Nutrition & Supplements, Tips Your diet creates an environment for your gut bacteria – both good and bad. Researchers call it an ecosystem. Problem is, when you try to change your diet, your "bad" gut bacteria will demand to be fed, making you experience cravings. It's a lot like withdrawal symptoms. Bill Roberts explains: "Metabolically-unfavorable gut bacteria can cause cravings of the junk foods that best feeds them. They can also cause you to feel dysphoric (bad) feelings when they're deprived of their favorite foods. The good news is, you can break their control fairly quickly by not giving in. When you consistently don't give in, these bacterial populations reduce, you become metabolically healthier, and you start feeling better than ever." Think of it almost like a relationship between parasite and host. To continue thriving, your gut bacteria consumes what you give it, and makes you feel physically deprived when you go without it. How to Fix It If your gut's ecosystem makes you crave what you consistently eat, then change your cravings by changing your gut's ecosystem. Want to crave healthy foods? Then consistently consume them. Feed the good gut bacteria. How do you get rid of the bacteria that makes you want more crap food? You starve those little bastards. Yes, you'll feel "deprived" at first. Count on it. But you can survive without junk food. The bacteria that feeds off it can't. Eventually you won't feel as compelled to have low-nutrition foods densely packed with calories (i.e. junk food). Get The T Nation Newsletters Don' t Miss Out Expert Insights To Get Stronger, Gain Muscle Faster, And Take Your Lifting To The Next Level related posts Diet & Fat Loss Maximize Protein Synthesis Building muscle boils down to getting on the right side of the protein synthesis balance sheet. Here's how to do it. Bodybuilding, Diet Strategy, Feeding the Ideal Body, Nutrition & Supplements John Meadows & Bill Willis, PhD October 17 Diet & Fat Loss Protein Will Not Make You Fat Eat as much protein as you want and it won't turn to fat. In fact, a new study shows it almost all turns to muscle. Check it out. Dietary Myth Busting, Feeding the Ideal Body, Nutrition & Supplements Dylan Klein September 24 Eating Tip 4 Reasons to Keep a Food Log Can't get lean and stay that way? Track your food intake. Here's why. Diet Strategy, Feeding the Ideal Body, Nutrition & Supplements, Tips Nate Miyaki December 30 Diet & Fat Loss Tip How to Fight Late-Night Cravings Having a TV-induced craving? Don't suffer needlessly, but don't blow your diet either. Here's what to eat. Diet Strategy, Feeding the Ideal Body, Nutrition & Supplements, Tips Shawn Wayland July 27