For instance, chocolate turns from simple pleasure to crutch when you gorge on it, use it to self-medicate stress or to get a sugar high--also if you experience mood swings, sugar hangovers, can't control your intake, or it makes you sick. With cravings, you eat to relieve stress, not to build energy. Try to identify addictive foods and limit them.

A true nutritional need lacks such sturm and drang: there's no lusting or lunging for food to guard against negative energies. A true need comes from a centered place and has nothing to do with soothing our emotions (comfort foods) or obsession. Feeling healthily nurtured from food never involves mood swings -- sedation or elation -- rather an even feeling of satisfaction. A true need lets you enjoy your meal, optimizes energy and doesn't lead to obesity.

Quickly pinpoint energetic stressors that trigger addictive cravings: Immediately ask yourself: Have I been exposed to bad vibes? A loudmouthed neighbor. An ordeal to pass through airport security. A siege of overbearing phone messages from your mother. Don't write off the "smaller" incidents, which notoriously send empaths motoring to the refrigerator. Avoid panic. Methodically pinpoint cause and effect. You don't have to be victimized by negative energy. The trick is to clear it as soon as possible once you've been slimed.

Meditate to Release the Addictive Craving: If you're gripped by a craving, go into praying mode. For a few quiet moments, breathe slowly. Bring your awareness to your heart and aim for self-compassion. The craving may feel impossible to handle, but that's OK. In this calm state ask your higher power to lift it from you. No mental nudging needed. If you surrender your ego-involvement, this simple, heartfelt request works like a charm. What you're doing is calling on a cosmically influential positive energy to supplant a material-world negative drive.