We’ve all felt the pull of chocolate after a stressful day or the urge to snack late at night, but what’s really happening in the brain when cravings hit?

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Raphael Cuomo to break down the hidden biology of cravings. From dopamine and stress hormones to the role of childhood exposure and even the surprising link to cancer risk, we talked about how cravings shape our health. We also talk about neuroplasticity and the hopeful truth that our biology is adaptive and we can rewire the way we respond to cravings.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt frustrated with “willpower” advice, struggled with emotional eating, or wondered if cravings mean something deeper. If you want science-backed insights with practical takeaways, this one’s for you.

🎗️ Timestamps:
00:48 Intro & Guest’s Journey into Research
04:39 What Cravings Really Are and What Shapes Them
08:59 The Role of Anticipation in Cravings
10:50 How Cravings Connect to Cancer Risk
16:55 Why Resisting Cravings Can Backfire
22:17 Sugar, Food & Drug Addiction: The Biological Comparisons
25:23 How Childhood Exposure Shapes Lifelong Cravings
29:09 Stress, Screens & the Modern Craving Loop
37:27 Neuroplasticity: How Our Brains Adapt to Cravings
46:54 Turning Craving Science Into Everyday Change

📒 Resources Mentioned:
👨🏻‍🔬 Get to know Dr. Raphael Cuomo
📖 Get a copy of his book: Crave: The Hidden Biology of Addiction and Cancer

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🟡 How to: Fitness
Instagram: @howtofitnesspod

🟡 Michael Ulloa
Website: michaelulloa.com
Instagram: @michaelulloapt

🟡 Kate Lyman
Website: katelymannutrition.com
Instagram: @klnutrition

Thank you for listening to the How to: Fitness Podcast with Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman!