Mindfulness can help with emotional eating from "summary" of The Mindful Diet by Ruth Wolever PhD,Beth Reardon MS,RD,LDN,Tania Hannan
Emotional eating is a common habit that many of us struggle with. It's a way to cope with difficult emotions, such as stress, sadness, or boredom, by turning to food for comfort. This can lead to overeating and unhealthy eating habits, which can have a negative impact on our physical and mental well-being. Mindfulness can be a powerful tool in helping us break free from emotional eating patterns. By being mindful, we can become more aware of our emotions and the triggers that lead us to turn to food for comfort. Instead of reacting automatically to our emotions by reaching for food, we can pause and observe what we are feeling without judgment. This allows us to create space between our emotions and our actions, giving us the opportunity to choose a more constructive way to cope. When we are mindful, we can also become more attuned to our body's hunger and fullness cues. This can help us distinguish between physical hunger and emotional hunger, allowing us to respond appropriately to our body's needs. By eating mindfully, we can savor each bite, appreciate the flavors and textures of our food, and truly enjoy the eating experience. Practicing mindfulness can also help us develop a greater sense of self-compassion. Instead of berating ourselves for emotional eating episodes, we can acknowledge our feelings with kindness and understanding. This self-compassion can help us break free from the cycle of guilt and shame that often accompanies emotional eating, allowing us to move forward with a greater sense of empowerment and resilience.- Mindfulness can help us cultivate a more balanced and harmonious relationship with food and our emotions. By being present in the moment and approaching our emotions and eating habits with awareness and compassion, we can begin to break free from emotional eating patterns and create a healthier and more mindful approach to nourishing ourselves.
