How to Stop Food Cravings Biblically: Natural and Easy Solutions

Trying to stop unhealthy food cravings Biblically, but hitting a wall you can’t seem to overcome?

Let’s look to God’s Word for inspiration to learn how to stop food cravings and get the victory today!

How Hunger Can Cause Us to Lose Restraint

You can find much encouragement in two Bible stories if you’re looking for some spiritual inspiration to overcome unhealthy food cravings.

First, let’s visit the story of Esau and Jacob in the Old Testament, and then we’ll briefly cover the story of the Prodigal Son in the New Testament…

“Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal.”  ~ Hebrews 12:16

We’re told in the Book of Genesis that one day Isaac’s son Esau returned home from a long hunting trip faint with hunger. When he saw that his brother Jacob was brewing some lentil stew he begged him for some, but Jacob (cunning as he was) took advantage of his brother’s vulnerable position and offered him a deal:

“Sell me your birthright,” Jacob bartered, “And then I’ll give you some stew.”

Esau, being the oldest son and rightful heir, reasoned to himself, “I am at the point of death, what good can this birthright do me?”

So he agreed, and Jacob gave him some bread and stew. After his hunger was satisfied, the Bible says that he got up and went along his way, “Scorning his birthright as beneath his notice.”

 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”  ~ Luke 15:31-32

In the parable of the Prodigal Son, we are told that after the young man squandered his inheritance in wild living, he became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him.

Really, pig slop? Obviously, at this point, he was NOT in his right mind! And, oftentimes, neither are we when we let our hunger and food cravings get the best of us.

At the very core of these two stories is the sad description of two men who not only neglected to see past their noses (or stomachs), so to speak, it tells us something keen about hunger and food cravings:

Hunger and food cravings can be so strong that we toss aside self-control and common sense. And unless we overcome them, they may cause us to make completely irrational decisions!

Eating to Live, Not Living to Eat!

Case in point: We typically view people using deadly and addictive narcotics as not thinking rationally or even being out of their “right mind,” right?

Yet, Americans justify eating over 150 pounds of sugar annually – which, according to Mark Hymen, MD, is 8 times more addictive than cocaine and has been linked to causing cancer, heart disease, ADHD, and most illnesses seen today!

The fact is, eating processed foods and sugar is arguably the #1 cause of death worldwide and no one seems to care. It’s so easy to make the switch to natural sweeteners, but we don’t often hear people tell us to do so.

Some experts claim that people are victims of their circumstances and have no hope of making the right decision. In the words of University of Connecticut researchers,

“High-fat/high-sugar foods stimulate the brain in the same way that drugs do. It may explain why some people can’t resist these foods despite the fact that they know they are bad for them.”

However, this mentality takes away our ability to choose self-control and be empowered to live the Abundant Life. Truth is, it’s not that people cannot resist harmful foods, some people choose NOT to resist them.

You are NOT a Victim!

How to stop food cravings – I’m here to tell you that you are NOT a victim of food cravings and addictions. Don’t sell your birthright! In Christ, you have been blessed with all that you need to overcome them and live the Abundant Life.

The Bible says that we have been given a spirit of self-control and, in fact, one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is “self-control!”

Since “all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen,” we can stand firm that we have all that we need to say “No” to unhealthy eating habits and choose to eat Abundant Life-giving food every day!

Practical Advice & Natural Remedies

Yeah, sure, easier said than done, right?

I get it. Cravings are REAL and when you feel a bit weak spiritually and your tummy and mind are playing tricks on you, put yourself back in the driver’s seat of your health with these practical tips and natural remedies…

• It is well established  that eating meals made with bioactive foods full of micronutrients will help feed your body in a healthy way and make you feel full. Unlike fast, sugary, processed foods that give you quick energy and make you crash.
• Use essential oils known to help you control your cravings such as grapefruit essential oil, peppermint essential oil, lime essential oil, and black pepper essential oil. A great way of using them is to put them in a diffuser in a fragrant blend. See below for more essential oils.
• Choose healthier snack options that are nutrient-dense calories such as Matcha green tea, Fill-the-Gap nut snacks, and sugar-free superfood hummus.
• Learn how to make anti-inflammatory, allergy-friendly, healthy recipes that will fill you up without creating stress on your body because of negative ingredients.

Here are some tips on using essential oils to help curb hunger cravings:

1. Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil is known for reducing appetite and boosting energy. Inhaling it before meals can help curb cravings.

• How to use: Add a few drops to a diffuser or inhale directly from the bottle when you feel a craving coming on.

2. Grapefruit Oil

Grapefruit oil helps support metabolism and control appetite by balancing sugar levels and reducing cravings.

• How to use: Mix 1–2 drops of grapefruit oil with a carrier oil and massage onto your abdomen, or chest or add a drop to your morning smoothie.

3. Cinnamon Bark Oil

Cinnamon oil helps regulate blood sugar, preventing those sudden spikes that lead to cravings.

• How to use: Add a drop to a matcha green tea or coffee latte. Make sure there is a fatty substance (like unsweetened almond or coconut milk) and never drop essential oils in water alone to drink. You’ll burn your mouth and esophagus!

4. Fennel Oil

Fennel oil has been used to suppress appetite and aid in digestion. It can be effective for reducing the urge to snack.

• How to use: Inhale directly from the bottle or diffuse it. You can also mix 1 drop in water or with a carrier oil and apply it to your abdomen and chest.

5. Ginger Oil

Ginger oil can reduce emotional cravings and support digestion, making you feel fuller.

• How to use: Add a drop to a cup of tea (with unsweetened vegan milk), or inhale from the bottle to help fight those emotional hunger pangs.

6. Bergamot Oil

Known for stress relief, bergamot oil can help control emotional eating by calming the mind and reducing stress-induced cravings.

• How to use: Diffuse bergamot or apply a diluted drop to your stomach or chest when you feel anxious or stressed.

7. Lemon Oil

Lemon oil helps detoxify the body, improves mood, and reduces cravings for sugary foods.

• How to use: Add a drop to morning smoothie, make Mama Z’s Detox Water or use it in a diffuser throughout the day to keep cravings at bay.

Important Note:

Do remember that oil and water do not mix, so simply adding a drop to your coffee will leave that drop undiluted. This is why you need to add an edible fatty substance (coconut milk) or carrier oil (coconut oil) first before and then mix it into your latte!

The safest (and most effective) way to ingest essential oils for therapeutic purposes is to take them in capsules. And be sure that they are pure, unadulterated essential oils.

By incorporating these essential oils into your daily routine, you can help manage cravings and support your overall wellness goals.

Learn more about ingesting essential oils safely and effectively here.