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The Benefits of Mindful Eating for Optimal Nutrition and Overall Well-Being
When it comes to nourishing our bodies and minds, a mindful approach to eating can be as beneficial as making healthy food choices. Mindful eating encourages intuitive eating, uniting long-held practices of mindfulness and wellness. While it’s unlikely that mindful eating will cure an illness or boost your metabolism, it can impact your overall wellbeing and the way you relate to food and the act of eating itself.
What is Mindful Eating?
Mindful eating is an intentional practice in which you become aware of your sensations and responses while eating, including the smells, tastes, and textures of the food, as well as the physical and mental effects.
Ultimately, mindful eating is all about connecting with yourself, the food, and ultimately, your overall wellbeing.
How Does Mindful Eating Help Highlight Optimal Nutrition?
The goal of mindful eating is to make eating a conscious, intentional act where you pay close attention to what you’re eating and how it makes you feel. Mindful eating can help you become more aware of the food choices you make, and ultimately make more conscious, healthier decisions. By tuning in to hunger and fullness cues instead of relying on external cues (eg, clock time or TV commercial breaks) and recognizing what your body truly needs, you can create an environment of true nourishment.
The Benefits of Eating Mindfully
When practiced mindfully, eating can be much more than a simple pleasure — it can also provide a range of benefits:
- Increased pleasure of eating: focusing on the flavors and enjoying each bite can allow you to savor the experience to the fullest.
- Reduced stress: acknowledging and responding to physical hunger and fullness cues can reduce stress and emotional eating.
- Improved control: paying attention to your body’s unique needs — as opposed to following external cues or fads — can help you feel in control of your eating habits.
- Increased awareness: understanding your body’s individual likes and dislikes can help you make more informed, healthier decisions about your food.
- Regulated digestion: slowing down and savoring each bite can help digestion, leading to fewer gastrointestinal issues.
- Better connection: becoming aware of the intricate relationship between food and your overall wellbeing can help you establish a healthier connection with food at home and in public.
In short, mindful eating can make it easier to make informed decisions about what, how, and when to eat, influencing your overall nutrition and health.
How to Eat Mindfully Everyday
Eat in response to your body’s needs: listen to it. Give yourself permission to eat what you want. Take the time to enjoy your meal. Do not eat on the go. Notice how the food looks and smells before taking the first bite. Chew your food slowly, noticing the flavors and textures. Pay attention to your body’s physical responses to the food. Notice your feelings, thoughts, and sensations as you eat. Note when you’re full and savor the last bites.
The goal of mindful eating is to not only be aware of what you’re eating and how it makes you feel, but also to be sensitive to the environment and your own body’s cues. As you become more aware of your body’s responses and needs, you can learn to make healthier and more informed decisions about food. With mindful eating you can learn to enjoy food and come to a better understanding of why food can be so powerful and enjoyable.
