Harvard Doctor Reveals Why You Have Cravings and How to Stop Them | The Mel Robbins Podcast

Order your copy of The Let Them Theory 👉 https://melrob.co/let-them-theory 👈 The #1 Best Selling Book of 2025 🔥 Discover how much power you truly have. It all begins with two simple words. Let Them. — Why do you always crave dessert after dinner? Or a snack mid-afternoon? Today we’re digging into the science of cravings: - Why you have them - How to tell the difference between a craving and actual hunger - How to eat your way to better health and a happier life. Dr. Amy Shah (@dr.confidentialwithdr.amys7371) is a double-board certified medical doctor with training from Cornell, Harvard, and Columbia Universities and an expert on intermittent fasting, hormones, and food cravings. In today’s episode, you will learn: - When to drink coffee in the morning so you stay energized all day - How cravings relate to dopamine and how to curb them so they never come back - Why your sugar cravings are so strong and how to stop them - The truth about probiotics and which ones your body needs right now - What ghrelin and leptin are and why they are the secrets to a healthy metabolism - The shocking research that compares antidepressants to food and exercise - How to stop overeating Our bodies are complicated, but your health doesn’t have to be. Let Dr. Amy empower you to live a more vibrant, fulfilled, and energized life. You will also learn: 00:00 Intro 03:31 So what’s the difference between hunger and cravings? 07:27 Many of our poor food choices are not our fault. 19:34 So how do we fix our eating habits if we’re not always in control? 22:39 Food and exercise are more effective than drugs for anxiety and depression?! 25:01 So what are some of the foods that will boost natural hormones? 29:58 Drinking enough water during the day makes you eat less. 39:22 Here’s what food companies know about dopamine. 41:31 Do this when you want to stop overeating. 45:45 Why does dopamine work better when you reward yourself at random times? 49:23 Here’s how your gut and your brain talk to each other and what that means. 51:48 What exactly is the relationship between food and bacteria? 58:55 The #1 probiotic that you should be adding to your days. 01:02:39 How the hell do you get rid of your sugar cravings? 1:10:55 Do you get enough sleep? Here’s why that matters. 1:14:36 Why you should wait 45 minutes before you drink your coffee. 1:18:04 This is what Dr. Amy thinks about intermittent fasting and how she does it. — Follow Mel: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melrobbins/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@melrobbins Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melrobbins LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melrobbins Website: http://melrobbins.com — Sign up for Mel’s newsletter: https://melrob.co/sign-up-newsletter A note from Mel to you, twice a week, sharing simple, practical ways to build the life you want. — Subscribe to Mel’s channel here: https://www.youtube.com/melrobbins?sub_confirmation=1 — Listen to The Mel Robbins Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop every Monday & Thursday! https://melrob.co/spotify https://melrob.co/applepodcasts https://melrob.co/amazonmusic — Looking for Mel’s books on Amazon? Find them here: The Let Them Theory: https://amzn.to/3IQ21Oe The Let Them Theory Audiobook: https://amzn.to/413SObp The High 5 Habit: https://amzn.to/3fMvfPQ The 5 Second Rule: https://amzn.to/4l54fah

Mel RobbinshostDr. Amy Shahguest

Jun 22, 20231h 25mWatch on YouTube ↗

EPISODE INFO

Released: June 22, 2023
Duration: 1h 25m
Channel: The Mel Robbins Podcast
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Order your copy of The Let Them Theory 👉 https://melrob.co/let-them-theory 👈 The #1 Best Selling Book of 2025 🔥 Discover how much power you truly have. It all begins with two simple words. Let Them. — Why do you always crave dessert after dinner? Or a snack mid-afternoon? Today we’re digging into the science of cravings:
Why you have them
How to tell the difference between a craving and actual hunger
How to eat your way to better health and a happier life.
Dr. Amy Shah (@dr.confidentialwithdr.amys7371) is a double-board certified medical doctor with training from Cornell, Harvard, and Columbia Universities and an expert on intermittent fasting, hormones, and food cravings. In today’s episode, you will learn:
When to drink coffee in the morning so you stay energized all day
How cravings relate to dopamine and how to curb them so they never come back
Why your sugar cravings are so strong and how to stop them
The truth about probiotics and which ones your body needs right now
What ghrelin and leptin are and why they are the secrets to a healthy metabolism
The shocking research that compares antidepressants to food and exercise
How to stop overeating
Our bodies are complicated, but your health doesn’t have to be. Let Dr. Amy empower you to live a more vibrant, fulfilled, and energized life. You will also learn: 00:00 Intro 03:31 So what’s the difference between hunger and cravings? 07:27 Many of our poor food choices are not our fault. 19:34 So how do we fix our eating habits if we’re not always in control? 22:39 Food and exercise are more effective than drugs for anxiety and depression?! 25:01 So what are some of the foods that will boost natural hormones? 29:58 Drinking enough water during the day makes you eat less. 39:22 Here’s what food companies know about dopamine. 41:31 Do this when you want to stop overeating. 45:45 Why does dopamine work better when you reward yourself at random times? 49:23 Here’s how your gut and your brain talk to each other and what that means. 51:48 What exactly is the relationship between food and bacteria? 58:55 The #1 probiotic that you should be adding to your days. 01:02:39 How the hell do you get rid of your sugar cravings? 1:10:55 Do you get enough sleep? Here’s why that matters. 1:14:36 Why you should wait 45 minutes before you drink your coffee. 1:18:04 This is what Dr. Amy thinks about intermittent fasting and how she does it. — Follow Mel: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melrobbins/ TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@melrobbins Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melrobbins LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melrobbins Website: http://melrobbins.com — Sign up for Mel’s newsletter: https://melrob.co/sign-up-newsletter A note from Mel to you, twice a week, sharing simple, practical ways to build the life you want. — Subscribe to Mel’s channel here: https://www.youtube.com/melrobbins?sub_confirmation=1 — Listen to The Mel Robbins Podcast 🎧 New episodes drop every Monday & Thursday! https://melrob.co/spotify https://melrob.co/applepodcasts https://melrob.co/amazonmusic — Looking for Mel’s books on Amazon? Find them here: The Let Them Theory: https://amzn.to/3IQ21Oe The Let Them Theory Audiobook: https://amzn.to/413SObp The High 5 Habit: https://amzn.to/3fMvfPQ The 5 Second Rule: https://amzn.to/4l54fah

SPEAKERS

Mel Robbins
host
Dr. Amy Shah
guest

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of The Mel Robbins Podcast, featuring Mel Robbins and Dr. Amy Shah, Harvard Doctor Reveals Why You Have Cravings and How to Stop Them | The Mel Robbins Podcast explores harvard-trained doctor explains cravings, dopamine, and food–mood connection Mel Robbins interviews Dr. Amy Shah about the science of hunger, appetite, and cravings, and why many of our eating patterns are driven less by willpower and more by brain chemistry and gut health.

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