Do you find yourself constantly craving for food this holiday season? Does the sight and smell of those hot chocolate chip cookies and cute little bite-sized chocolates make you feel hungry, even if you know you’re not?The holiday season is when food pollution is literally everywhere. And it is not uncommon for you to crave for those deliciously looking sweets and decadent crackers no matter how hard you try not to.You see, there is this thing called “food cues” or “food triggers”, and it is what makes you want to eat certain foods just by seeing it or smelling it even if you are not really hungry. This is known to us as cravings, and no, it is not hunger. Tune in as we talk about food pollution and how you could keep yourself “safe” from it not just this holiday season but on a regular basis.In this episode, Dr. Adrienne shares with us some tips on how to avoid being “hijacked” by food cues, especially in this holiday season.What you will learn from this episode:Science-backed ways to avoid holiday weight gain The influence of food cues on what, when, and how much we eat How to mindfully manage your food cravings without having to fight them“We are hardwired so that the mere sight or smell of food… prompts a desire to eat. And of course, this is known as a craving. And of course, this is not hunger.”– Dr. Adrienne Youdim Today’s Health Bite: If we are not aware, then we stand no chance of interrupting the automatic reactions we have to our triggers.Key Takeaways:“Scientific studies show that when we are exposed to food cues for high calorie, highly palatable foods, a.k.a. super yummy, calorie-dense foods, we increase consumption of these foods as well as consumption of other foods, resulting in eating more, and ultimately, in weight gain.” – Dr. Adrienne Youdim“When we pause between our trigger and our reaction, between our desire and habitual response, that is where we can distinguish emotional hunger from physical hunger.” – Dr. Adrienne Youdim“There are times in our lives when we're in an unhealthy place with food, and to be moderate is just not an option.” – Dr. Adrienne YoudimRecommended Resource Hungry for More: Stories and Science to Inspire Weight Loss From the Inside Out by Dr. Adrienne Youdim If you love it and you think it is of benefit, please share this podcast with one person that you love. You can also go to dradrienneyoudim.com/podcast if you prefer to get more podcast updates from us.