Being aware of what food you’re putting into your body is important. Paying attention to how food makes you feel is equally as important and should be taken into consideration in our day-to-day lives. This practice is called mindful eating and can help us differentiate between physical and emotional hunger. Our nutritional counseling Omaha team at Wisniewski Chiropractic wants to help you live the healthiest life you can. Read this blog to find out more about mindful eating and its benefits.
What is mindful eating?
If you struggle with healthy eating habits, mindful eating might be a good solution for you. Mindful eating is when you take the time to slow down and pay attention to what exactly you are eating, while also listening to your body and eating when you’re hungry and only until you feel full. Mindful eating also involves:
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Eating slowly and without distractions
Being able to distinguish between being truly hungry and not hungry when it comes to eating
Paying attention to food colors, smells, sounds, textures and flavors
Coping with food guilt and anxiety
Having food be a source to maintain your health and well-being
Being aware of the effects food has on your mood and body
Having an appreciation for food
When is mindful eating suggested?
Mindful eating can be a good practice for those who have trouble limiting distractions while eating or struggle with eating too fast. Decreasing the likelihood of eating behaviors and weight loss has also been linked to mindful eating.
Weight loss
If you find yourself struggling with weight loss and the nutrition that comes with it, mindful eating can be a great strategy. Mindful eating can help you overcome obstacles such as binge eating, which can often lead to weight gain when sticking to weight loss programs. When using this method, you become more aware of what you are eating and changing your eating habits. This can have more positive long-term effects on your weight loss journey.
Binge eating
Binge eating, or BED, is when one consumes a large amount of food in a short amount of time without having any control over it. Binge eating can be linked to weight gain, obesity and other eating disorders like purging or compulsive exercise. By being more aware of when your body is hungry and full, you can decrease the likelihood of binge eating episodes.
Unhealthy eating behavior
Emotional and external eating are some examples of unhealthy eating behaviors that mindful eating can have a positive effect on. Emotional eating is when you eat in response to certain emotions. External eating is when you eat as a response to food-related cues such as sight or smell. When practicing mindful eating, it helps you be in charge of these emotions. A big part of mindful eating is recognizing when your body needs nourishment and when it is full.
How to practice mindful eating
Starting the practice of mindful eating is surprisingly simpler than it sounds. To get started, try picking out one meal a day that you can take at a slower pace to embrace all it has to offer. Some tips for accomplishing mindful eating include:
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Eating slower
Chewing thoroughly
Eating without distractions
Eating in silence
Being observant of how the food makes you feel
Stop eating when you’re full
Being aware if you’re truly hungry and why you’re eating what your eating
Nutritional Counseling Omaha
Mindful eating has many benefits and might be the right lifestyle choice for you. Schedule an appointment for nutritional counseling Omaha at Wisniewski Chiropractic with a nutrition counselor and start making a change! Contact us today!
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