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Why some food stuff motivates food addiction

Why some food stuff motivates food addiction: When the food you feed on becomes the problem to your health

Why some food stuff motivates food addiction

Why some food stuff motivates food addiction? Responding to the root cause of food addiction is very fundamental in containing all the triggers of food addiction.

Ordinarily we need food to supply our bodies with energy it needs to function well. Food is actually healthy for the body and we cannot do without it. And even though food is necessary for our lives, when we do not take some of these food stuff well they can be the cause of our health problems. In other words when we over eat we are likely to become overweight or obese and on the other side if we take inadequate food consistently we risk being malnourished and underweight conditions which can lead to serious health complications. It is on that back drop that we want to take time and consult with the experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury a renowned veteran addiction expert of several decades. It is regrettable that in many cases overweight people are often seen or believed to be either going through this because of their laziness or that they just don’t have the will power to actively operate normally. This analogy is actually misleading because the choice of food one feeds on, when they feed on it and the frequencies of exercise you do will affect your weight significantly. Doctor Akoury is explaining that some of the food stuffs that were previously ignored may actually the drivers of an addiction in our lives. It is because of this reason that we want to benefit from doctor Dalal Akoury in the discussion of the topic “why some food stuff motivates food addiction in our societies.” And some of such food stuff may include: chocolate, sugar, cheese, milk and meat. The question that will now follow is that, how are they causing addiction? Let us now respond to that as we progress into the discussion as follows:

Why some food stuff motivates food addiction: Chocolate

From various studies experts have now established that chocolate stimulates the very same part of the brain just in the same way as opiate drugs does. It therefore means that chocolate even though it is food, it acts in the same way a drug producing food addiction that causes us to crave for more food. This will then continue and before we realize, we are on the road to being addicted to chocolate. According to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center we all have a duty to be on the watch out and therefore emphasis should be made to everybody that food addiction is a serious issue and must be given all the due attention lest things get out of hand. Remember that chocolate as food contains other stimulant drugs like caffeine, theobromine and pheylethylamine and according to expert’s chocolate is not just a drug but a whole drug store wrapped up in one.

Why some food stuff motivates food addiction: Cheese

We have now seen how chocolate can be a serious threat to addiction and that immediate attention must be taken expeditiously if we are to kick off addiction from our societies. Now besides chocolate, experts have established that it is not just chocolate that brings food addiction. However when people who were consuming meat and other dairy products are stopped from consuming the same, the yearning for cheese was described as a “deep seated craving” that stayed with them much longer than their compulsion for other foods. Researchers also found a chemical in cow’s milk similar to morphine, and after testing it repeatedly, they discovered that it was, in fact, morphine. It was only a trace amount, and not all the samples contained the chemical in recognizable levels, but there was indeed a small amount of morphine in cow’s milk.

Therefore assuming that the morphine must have come from the cows’ diets, researches were actually shocked to find that the cows actually made traces of it within their bodies, along with codeine and other opiates that were produced in their livers. Besides the findings were equally surprising to learn that cow’s milk (and the milk of any species) contains the protein, casein that breaks down during the digestion process, and releases other opiate-like compounds called casomorphins. What does this have to with cheese? Casein is concentrated in cheese. So we have the makings of another possible food addiction.

Why some food stuff motivates food addiction: Milk

From the illustrations and explanations above, the question that rings in everyone’s mind would be why are there traces of morphine in milk? (Actually, it’s not some environmental problem.) Scientists believe that the mother’s milk has a relaxing effect on the baby, and this drug-like effect on the brain is responsible for the bonding that is necessary, for the baby to get the nutrition he needs. In one of the studies, researchers gave volunteers yogurt and skim milk, and found that the casein (milk opiates) not only acted within the digestive tract, but some of the fragments actually entered the bloodstream, with direct access to the brain. The effect was greatest about 40 minutes after eating. And as we had mentioned before, cheese has more casein than other dairy products. (Recent studies have found that meat also stimulates the brain’s pleasure centers.) To further prove their theory, researchers found that when volunteers were given naloxone, (a drug that blocks opiates, used in the treatment of heroin and morphine overdoses), their desire for cheese, meat, chocolate, and other addictive foods was greatly decreased.

Why some food stuff motivates food addiction: Sugar

In addition, scientists have discovered that fast foods, like hamburgers and fries, may also be responsible for food addictions. The high fat and carbohydrate content causes changes in the brain that are normally correlated with drug addiction, (and the result is food addiction.) Sugar and fat stimulates the release of natural opiates in the brain, and may be triggering the same response as heroin. After giving rats a diet that was one quarter sugar, he abruptly withdrew the sugar, and the rats went into high anxiety mode, experiencing trembling and teeth chattering, similar to the effects that occur during morphine or nicotine withdrawal. So, in review, the sugar produced the same withdrawal effects that highly addictive drugs do.

Finally doctor Dalal Akoury says that food addiction plays an enormous role in our eating habits, when we’re depressed, tired, lonely, anxious, worried, fearful, etc. we often run to the addictive food of choice. People may be different and for many people, it is chocolate and sugar, with carbohydrates following close behind, which is particularly bad and that, explains why diabetic is rising. Certain foods act as drugs, because our body responds to the natural opiates in them, just as it would to drug opiates. As we experience these effects over and over, we may develop a food addiction. Therefore if you are suspecting any possibility of an addiction of whatever form or kind, you will need to take treatment action promptly so that you can be help with less or just minimal pain. Talking to doctor Akoury should be your staring point and therefore you can schedule for an appointment with her today for the commencement of your recovery process.

Why some food stuff motivates food addiction: When the food you feed on becomes the problem to your health

 

 

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What do you know about food addiction

What do you know about food addiction: Can food be addictive like other substances?

What do you know about food addiction

What do you know about food addiction. This this kind of behavior, the consequences can be very fatal if a rescue mission is not adopted immediately.

Generally the body of any human being needs sufficient fuel to remain operational. It is no secret that all the fuel for energies we need come from the food we eat meaning that food is very essential for human survival. So if food is that essential, then what is this madness called food addiction? Can food be addictive? Ever since scientific evidence associated food with other addictive substances, the debate of food addiction has been on going and we are not lest out and so we ask “what do you know about food addiction?” and are you addicted to any kind of food? I believe these concerns you too and that is why we are choosing this platform to inform you by way of explaining to you something about food addiction. doctor Dalal Akoury MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center says that, currently there are so many studies that have suggested that food and drug addiction have some common similarities more in relation to the way both reacts in the disruption of the brain which is involved in the pleasure and self-control.

What do you know about food addiction? It will interest you to know that with the many discoveries; today the idea that an individual can be addicted to food has been receiving a lot of support from the scientific findings to the extent that experiments in animals and humans now shows that, for some people, the same reward and pleasure centers of the brain that are triggered by addictive drugs like cocaine and heroin are also activated by food, especially highly palatable foods which may include foods rich in sugar, fat and salt.

According to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, in the same way addictive drugs reacts, highly palatable foods can also trigger the feel-good brain chemicals such as dopamine. Therefore the moment people experience pleasures associated with increased dopamine transmission in the brain’s reward pathway from eating certain foods, they quickly feel the need to eat again. The reward signals from highly palatable foods may override other signals of fullness and satisfaction. As a result, people keep eating, even when they’re not hungry and that is one of the reasons as to why food addiction is real today. Besides that individuals who demonstrate signs of food addiction may also develop tolerance to food. That way they will be eating excessively more units of food only to find that they are not really getting the satisfaction from the food they eat despite the quantity and the frequency.

What do you know about food addiction? With the advent of scientific findings, it is believed that food addiction may play an important role in obesity and weight related complications. Nonetheless people of normal-weight are not immune to this either they are also likely to struggle with food addiction as well. This may not be reflected in their weigh because many at times their bodies will be genetically programmed to better handle the extra calories they may take in. besides their body responding in their favor, they may also increase their physical activity to compensate for overeating. Doctor Akoury is very categorical that once addicted to food, such people will continue with their habits despite negative consequences like weight gain and dented relationships. And just like people who are addicted to other substances or gambling, food addicts will also have difficulties in stopping their behavior, even if there is evidence of willingness to cut back.

What do you know about food addiction: Signs of food addiction?

Before you can attempt to treat the problem of food addiction, you must be well informed of the possible signs of food addiction. Therefore how do we know that we are now at risk of food addictions? The following are some of the questions that can help determine if you have a food addiction. Are you able to identify any of these actions in your life? In other words do you …

  • End up eating more than planned when you start eating certain foods
  • Keep eating certain foods even if you’re no longer hungry
  • Eat to the point of feeling ill
  • Worry about not eating certain types of foods or worry about cutting down on certain types of foods
  • When certain foods aren’t available, go out of your way to obtain them

What do you know about food addiction? Questions in relation to the impact caused in your relationship with food on your personal life. Do these situations apply to you when:

  • You eat certain foods so often or in such large amounts that you start eating food instead of working, spending time with the family, or doing recreational activities.
  • You avoid professional or social situations where certain foods are available because of fear of overeating.
  • You have problems functioning effectively at your job or school because of food and eating.

What do you know about food addiction? Questions in relation to psychological withdrawal symptoms like for example, when you cut down on certain foods (excluding caffeinated beverages), do you have symptoms such as anxiety, agitation and other physical symptoms? Remember that these questions are not just tailored to trigger you if you are being addicted to food but also to gauge the impact of food decisions on your emotions. Therefore do these situations apply to you?

  • Eating food causes problems such as depression, anxiety, self-loathing, or guilt.
  • You need to eat more and more food to reduce negative emotions or increase pleasure.
  • Eating the same amount of food doesn’t reduce negative emotions or increase pleasure the way it used to.

What do you know about food addiction: Help for food addiction?

Even though there is evidence that food addiction is real, its treatment is still under investigation and the experts are working towards getting a scientific treatment solution for food addiction. At the moment a lot of debate around this is going on with some arguing that recovery from food addiction may be more complicated than recovery from other kinds of addictions. Alcoholics, for example, can ultimately abstain from drinking alcohol. But people who are addicted to food still need to eat. This is very interesting however while these studies are still being conducted, there are avenues of hope that you can get from experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury. All you need to do to access this help is to schedule for an appointment with her today and all your addiction concerns will be professionally addressed without any hesitation.

What do you know about food addiction: Can food be addictive like other substances?

 

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Succeeding in the process of eliminating sugar cravings

Succeeding in the process of eliminating sugar cravings: The five step of eliminating sugar addiction

Succeeding in the process of eliminating sugar cravings

Succeeding in the process of eliminating sugar cravings must be done very expeditiously if we have to kick out sugar completely.

We started the journey of eliminating sugar addiction in the previous article where we listed five step of doing this assignment. However we were able to discuss the first two i.e. eliminating sugary beverages and junk foods. Doctor Akoury was able to take us through the first two and now we want to pick from where we left with a view of succeeding in the process of eliminating sugar cravings from our lives.

  1. Eliminate sugary beverages
  2. Eliminate junk foods
  3. Drastically reduce carbs
  4. Reduce hidden sugars
  5. Maintain your new way of eating

Succeeding in the process of eliminating sugar cravings: Drastically reduce carbs

Doctor Akoury says that after succeeding in the elimination of sugary beverages and junk foods, this next step will not be a challenge to many people. You can as well appreciate yourself for a job well done so far. It is now time to start seeing the real effects of the steps made and in fact by this time you will feel some changes particularly with a more rejuvenated energies and less withdrawal symptoms. It will be noticeable in the way you look and your general feelings of comfort within yourself. And with this achievement doctor Akoury says that you will still need to face head on the complex carbohydrates like breads, pastas and rice. Remember that both simple and complex carbohydrates affect your blood sugar in ways that can detract from your weight loss. If you continue using them in excess, you will soon begin to start craving for other foods particularly those that are high in sugar or largely consist of other carbohydrates. The dangers consuming excess carbohydrates is that it will cause your blood sugar to rise and only to go down just in a short time causing you to feel hungry since your body quickly digest the food thereby causing you to crave for more. This cycle should not be allowed because the end result would be very frustrating. Therefore it is very important to reduce the intake of these carbohydrates more so when the intake is to make you feel normal by avoiding the awful feelings related with the withdrawal syndrome.

Succeeding in the process of eliminating sugar cravings: How to edge out excess carbohydrates

Unlike the previous step eliminating carbohydrates may not be that easy since many people depend on bread, pasta, rice, and so on as their primary meals. Therefore the approach to give should be gradual and for a start you may come up with the alternatives of toast breakfast or sandwich for lunch like taking eggs and fruit for breakfast and a large green salad with chicken on top for lunch. Doctor Akoury advices that, one should list down all the carbohydrates they often take in excess and gradually reduce them one by one until they are completely phased out. When this is done the next step should be the elimination of rice and other starches. In this case for example, instead of having two cups of spaghetti for dinner reduce it to one cup supplementing it with some lean meat to complete your meal. Eventually, you could replace the pasta with a vegetable squash which is equally a great substitute. By making small changes as you feel ready and continuing to keep track of what you’re eating, you’ll find yourself transitioning to a new way of eating with ease.

Succeeding in the process of eliminating sugar cravings: Reduce Hidden Sugars

Dressings, sauces, and condiments may seem to merely add some flavor to your food, but they often add sugars that can work against your weight-loss goals. A small amount of some condiments can add whole grams of sugar to your meal. Furthermore, we usually don’t use only one packet of sweet-and-sour sauce or ketchup; instead, we douse our food in these sugar-rich add-ons. Consequently, you might think that you’re doing all you can to reduce the amount of sugars you’re consuming, but that might not be the case if you continue to eat foods with hidden sugars. It is however important to note that today the market is flooded with products labeled “sugar-free,” these may appeal to people who are either diabetic or trying to minimize their sugar intake. But then again be very cautious with these products as well. Even though they may be sugar-free, they may still contain a lot of fast-metabolizing carbohydrates.

It therefore means that you need to find as you progress from one phase to the next, that reducing hidden or lesser-known sugars goes more smoothly than previous phases. This is because you’ll already have established healthy eating habits and be used to making substitutions for the foods that you used to overeat. The goal here is to use your knowledge of nutrition labels to identify the foods that you eat which contain hidden sugars and to identify sensible replacements for them.

Succeeding in the process of eliminating sugar cravings: Maintain your new way of eating

All these efforts we are making in eliminating sugar will be meaningless if we do not put strategies to maintain the new adopted way of feeding. Therefore once a certain level of compliance has been achieved and the intake of sugar is now minimal, we must continue in the same practice and avoid triggers that may cause relapse. This is not effectively guarded you can be rest assured that addiction will came back running at a very high speed. Doctor Akoury says that the objective of this discussion is to impact in you the knowledge of where sugars exist and what you can do to replace them with, and the consistent desire and dedication to follow what you know.

Finally take note that eliminating sugar craving is a process and each of the steps discussed will take some time before you can comfortably say that you have overcome. It will therefore be very important that individual patient’s needs to exercise patience in each of the five steps discussed. I know that it is human to want things to be done fast, but remember that even if you are taking a little be more time in the process, it will be worth it in the long run. And now as we conclude this discussion, you may have not understood a point and you want some clarity or you are struggling with sugar addiction and you just one on one discussion with the experts about the knowledge of succeeding in the process of eliminating sugar cravings. If this is you then you may want to schedule for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today for the professional touch.

Succeeding in the process of eliminating sugar cravings: The five step of eliminating sugar addiction

 

 

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The five steps of eliminating sugar addiction

The five steps of eliminating sugar addiction: How to completely eliminate sugar exposed

The five steps of eliminating sugar addiction

The five steps of eliminating sugar addiction are not the only available options, we have several including food healthy food stuff. All we need to do is to choose wisely

When we talk of eliminating sugar from our health many may wonder why remove such a sweet food that we use freely and willingly. I would say that such concerns may be justified because this is not a harmful substance. In fact it is a food element that under normal circumstances should not cause any problem let alone being hazardous to health. But that notwithstanding your worries seems not to be ending. Recently you were struggling with your weight and even though you enrolled in a weight loss program, nothing seems to work despite the efforts you’re putting. You even try to maintain your diet but even this is an uphill task and you can’t just keep to the diet. Surely when all these are happening, then you have reason to wonder. We understand what you are going through and as professionals we want to make a difference in your life by sharing some of the five steps of eliminating sugar addiction. This choice of topic is not to confuse you but to unlock certain facts hidden from you. Doctor Dalal Akoury a veteran expert in addiction and the founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, has found out that patients make the best results by receiving a combination of medications, natural therapeutic approaches and psychosocial therapies to synergistically align the body, mind and spirit which will ultimately provide a long-term life change. Therefore if this first part of the discussion is describing your situation, then it is likely that you were tied in by a sugar addiction and didn’t even know it. To understand this better, doctor Dalal Akoury is going to share with us same five-steps plan to help you cut cravings for the sweet stuff and start satisfying up on healthy whole foods. The good news about this is that feeding this way will not just help you kick sugar to the curb, but you’ll also feel much better, lighter, and more energized.

  1. Eliminate sugary beverages
  2. Eliminate junk foods
  3. Drastically reduce carbs
  4. Reduce hidden sugars
  5. Maintain your new way of eating

The five steps of eliminating sugar addiction: Eliminate sugary beverage

The most immediate thing to do is to begin disassociating yourself with sugary beverages. You may not know but there are so many culprits including soft drinks, sweetened waters, coffee drinks, energy drinks, fruit drinks, and even apple juice. These are elements we often use without any suspicion yet they contribute immensely to our sugar craving problems. As a matter of fact, apple juice can be a combination of apple flavoring and 100% sweetener derived from concentrated fructose from the apple, so it can be called 100% apple juice.

One problem is that the size of these beverages can be deceiving; in many instances, they are packaged in a way that the content is loaded with more sugar and calories thereby causing these excesses of sugar to sneak into your diet without your knowledge. A conventional 12-ounce serving of a typical sugar-sweetened carbonated beverage, for example, is approximately 150 calories. But people rarely drink one serving. In fast-food chains, convenience stores, and movie theaters, these beverages are offered in portions that can contain anything between 300 to 500 calories. What does that communicates to you? It can only certify that we are ignorantly harboring a lot of sugar in our body systems.

Even cutting just one serving per day has been shown to produce a weight loss of 1.1 pounds at six months, and 1.4 pounds at 18 months. That might not sound like a tremendous amount, but remember that many people are not drinking just one 12-ounce serving per day. Approximately half of Americans drink sugary beverages “on a given day,” and within this half, about 25% derive 200 or more calories from them. It is therefore very important to appreciate that these drinks are of no use to you and eliminating them is the way to go. Remember that if you’re a big fun and a heavier consumer of sugary beverages, you may find it difficult to eliminate this habit and for sure it will be a tough one, but all the same it has to be done even if going cold turkey is going to be your best bet. This is because they are not part of your new way of eating, and it’s not suggested that you allow even small amounts of them into your diet. And like I had said before these drinks has no value addition to you other than giving you a little pleasure which you can comfortably get from elsewhere from now on and in a more healthy way. Now that you know of what is not adding value to your health, it is time to take bold steps of eliminating them. Doctor Akoury advices that at this point, you need to list all the sugary beverages you often use and create a working plan for their replacement, this way you will not be tempted to relapse or cheat. But as for those bad ones, besides removing them from your shopping list, any leftover stock in the house should be drained down the sink. Is that too difficult? Yes but it is far much better that the repercussions that will fallow if the practice continues.

The five steps of eliminating sugar addiction: Eliminate Junk Foods

The generation that used to feed well is long gone says doctor Dalal Akoury. In the ancient time, our ancestors used to feed mostly on plants fresh ones for that matter. Today even what we consider as fresh plants is not due to the intoxication of the atmosphere in which they are planted. The soil is loaded with toxic elements and we cannot guarantee freshness. Back to the elimination of junk foods and you may want to ask “where are they?” You’ll most likely find these foods in vending machines anywhere around you including at sporting events and fast-food restaurants. Besides that, you’ll also likely to find them lining in the shelves of your pantry, can you confirm if that is true? These are actually the forces that fuel your addiction and that should be your starting point.

It’s therefore very important to begin by identifying the sources of unnecessary sugars in your diet and eliminate them. This means you’ll have to cut sweet foods like cakes, cookies, candy bars, and ice cream as well as savory and salty foods like chips, popcorn, and pretzels, all of which are classic examples of junk food. This includes even the seemingly healthy items like most granola bars, energy bars, fruit bars, caramel-laced rice cakes, and buttery crackers. You know junk food when you see it, and remember that anytime you’re in doubt, the understanding is that it’s most likely junk food. We had listed the five steps of eliminating sugar addiction but so far we have discussed only the first two, we will however continue with the remaining three in the next article and this is something you don’t want to miss. In the meantime, it is very obvious that sugar elimination may not be that easy for many people. Therefore it would be very important that you get professional assistance from the experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury today. Scheduling for that appointment will be the starting point to overcoming all the obstacles between you and permanent elimination of sugar addiction.

The five steps of eliminating sugar addiction: How to completely eliminate sugar exposed

 

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Avoiding Overindulgence in Eating for better health

Avoiding Overindulgence in Eating for better health: Mindful eating tips for better health

Avoiding Overindulgence in Eating for better health

Avoiding Overindulgence in Eating for better health

Food is very instrumental in human life. The truth is it is one of the basic needs and the very important one. Without food there will be no life. It has a way for uniting people after long day’s work or taking time out as a team retreating for team building. We are all in agreement that food is very essential. However avoiding overindulgence in eating for better health is equally very important and that is what we want to discuss in this article. Because food is very essential, we must enjoy it to the fullest to get the pleasure and life we need from it. Nonetheless as we enjoy eating, we must be careful not to overindulge or consume without thinking of the consequences that can come with over eating on our health. Therefore we must be mindful of how we eat lest we cause problems to ourselves. Doctor Akoury is sharing some mindful eating tips that will help you in avoiding overindulgence in eating for better health.

Avoiding Overindulgence in Eating for better health: Understanding what mindful eating is

It is good to appreciate what we are discussing first by understanding what it really means to us. I would define mindful eating as a practice where food is taken or consumed slowly and willfully without any interference. It helps you learn to taste and appreciate your meals while listening to your body so you become aware of the signals that inform you when you are full. This will enable you to consume only necessary portions and in return keeping distance to overweight and obesity. By making your meals a time when you sit down and really focus on your food, you can re-tune your taste buds and rediscover a love for healthy eating while moderating your portion size. Mindful eating could be the key to changing your relationship with food forever while achieving better health.

Avoiding Overindulgence in Eating for better health: Mindless eating and how it happens

When we talk of mindful eating there must as well be the direct opposite. It is no wonder the advent of modernization is quickly changing our feeding habits. Eating has become something we do while on the move or concentrating on other tasks. This is what I define as mindless eating because, when we are distracted, we don’t taste what we are eating and don’t appreciate the signals the body is sending alerting us of when we have had enough to eat. To understand this concept better, the following are some of the prime examples of mindless eating:

  • Eating lunch at your desk while rushing to meet a deadline
  • Grabbing breakfast on the go while travelling to work
  • Eating while watching TV or using social media
  • Reading at the table

Often, we are not even aware of what we are eating and then wonder how we fell into unhealthy eating habits. The consequence of this confusion can be life threatening owing to the chronic nature of health complications associated with weight gain. With all these facts if mindless eating not checked, it can lead to health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. However with mindful eating, you can take control, improve your health and really enjoy your food.

Avoiding Overindulgence in Eating for better health: Benefits of Mindful eating

It can take time to get into the routine of eating mindfully, but the rewards are numerous. The following just some of the benefits to be gained from mindful eating:

  • Appreciation of nutritious food
  • Through this you are able to prevent weight gain and obesity
  • Positive changes in eating habits
  • Regulation of portions – quality over quantity
  • Eliminate bingeing and emotional eating
  • Improved body awareness
  • Easier to maintain good health
Avoiding Overindulgence in Eating for better health: How to eat mindfully

It may look quite obvious but you are wrong if that is your perception. Mindful eating is a process and takes time therefore for those who are new to the concept, it may be appropriate to try it when you are not in a hurry or in in any undue pressure of any kind so that you are able to take your time with your meal. Because this is very important, let me give you some of the guidelines for you to achieve on this assignment:

  • For full concentration turn off the TV, phone and all electronic devices and if you are a bookworm then put all the reading material aside.
  • Use a timer and set it for 20 minutes. Aim to take at least this long to eat your meal.
  • Take a few moments to enjoy the sight of the food on your plate. As the saying goes “The first bite is with the eye” so take it all in.
  • Smell your food. Enjoy the aromas and try to analyze the ingredients with your nose. Is your mouth watering yet? So far, so good.
  • Take your first bite, but don’t swallow it straight away. Chew slowly and savor your food. How does it taste? What ingredients can you identify?
  • Put your fork down between each mouthful and don’t pick it up again until you are ready for the next.
  • Be aware of your body signals. Once you feel full, stop eating.

Over time you will get used to eating mindfully and when this is achieved you will be less likely to eat in large quantities because you are eating in the moment without distractions. Mindful eating helps you to appreciate good food in small quantities over bad food in large quantities. With mindful eating, there are no forbidden foods because everything is enjoyed in moderation.

Avoiding Overindulgence in Eating for better health: Mindful eating exercises

Finally just like in all things practice makes perfection and mindful eating is not left out. The following are some of the take a ways you can practice for the perfection of mindful eating:

  • Instead of using a plate with a big circumference, take something small like a raisin, peanut, grape or pea. Eat it in tiny bites, fully analyzing how it looks, tastes, smells and feels.
  • Take a food item you normally feel guilty about eating and eat it mindfully. Did it taste as good as you anticipated? Did it make you feel as good as you expected? If the experience fell short of your expectations it may help you to shake off your emotional attachment to that food.
  • Take not of being conscious of every food choices you make throughout the day. There are more than you think.
  • Make a list of foods you really enjoy eating mindfully. Make another list of foods you find you don’t enjoy so much and eliminate them from your diet. As you become more attuned to your taste buds, you will find yourself choosing tasty, nutritious food and cutting out foods that are high in calories and low on taste.
  • Eat with your non-dominant hand. It takes longer to eat and discourages mindless eating.

Avoiding Overindulgence in Eating for better health: Mindful eating tips for better health

 

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