Most of us spend a large part of our lives on an endless search for happiness, which unfortunately often goes unfulfilled. We seek comfort and instant gratification in material possessions and achievements that don’t really provide lasting happiness, when instead we should be looking inward and improving our physical, mental and emotional well-being. While mindful eating alone won’t solve all your problems and turn you into a ray of sunshine, it makes it much easier to find joy in life where before you could only see darkness. This may sound preachy and philosophical, which is often at odds with anything practical, but it isn’t. Conscious eating can promote happiness through its varied benefits, most of which are backed by scientific research. However, for starters, it would be a good idea to do just that talk to an online therapistas this will help you adopt mindful practices, including mindful eating.
We’ll take a closer look at how and why you should do that start eating consciously when happiness is something that eludes you.
Reduces levels of stress and anxiety
Mindful eating is not limited to the science of nutrition, but is a combination of meditation from yoga and behavioral psychology. The focus is on cultivating a healthy relationship with food that enhances the sensory experience. This attention to the five senses is important because it draws us into the present moment. This is what mindful eating is all about. By the way, this kind of focus on the present (in this context on your food) reduces stress and anxiety levels. When we eat consciously, we not only appreciate what we eat more, but we are also better attuned to the signals from our body and our emotions. Like mindfulness meditation, this self-awareness also helps combat stress and anxiety.
Lowers the risk of overeating and obesity
Problems with eating disorders and obesity are often linked to stress and anxiety, so that’s no surprise studies have found conscious eating to effectively help patients overcome such conditions and achieve a healthy body weight. Mindful eating right away promotes weight loss and reduces obesity because it reduces the risk of overeating. Because it takes at least twenty minutes for satiety signals to reach your brain, you tend to overeat or even binge eat if you devour your food quickly and mindlessly. On the other hand, when you eat mindfully, you take the time to slow down and are less likely to overeat. Emotional eating is also less likely to be problematic because mindful eating increases your awareness, helping you distinguish between physical hunger and food cravings.
Enhances the social bonding experience of meals
Regardless of whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, there is no denying that humans are social animals. Although the degree of social contact required may vary, we all need strong social relationships to maintain a sense of well-being and happiness. Throughout history, communal meals have been central to this experience of connection, both with the family and with the larger community. This practice has taken a serious hit today as most of us eat alone in front of the television or while at work. Mindful eating emphasizes and requires the elimination of such external distractions. When you eat mindfully, it’s easier to share meals and bond with loved ones researchers now notice as crucial for happiness and satisfaction with quality of life.
Lowers the risk of inflammatory bowel disease
Inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and IBS are known to seriously affect quality of life, increasing the risk of depression and anxiety disorders. After all, it is difficult to stay positive and cheerful when you are struggling with these disorders. Studies already show it that mindfulness-based therapies can help reduce stress levels and alleviate symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease. Mindful eating is an extension of mindfulness and can be even more beneficial because eating slowly lowers the risk of bloating and indigestion. This is because digestion becomes more efficient with slow chewing, as amylase, a digestive enzyme, begins to break down carbohydrates in your mouth itself.
Increases self-awareness and emotional stability
Like the practice of mindfulness, mindful eating trains your brain to slow down and think. This analytical and thoughtful approach to eating becomes easier to apply to other areas of life. You become more aware of the influence of external stimuli, but also of your own feelings and needs. This enhanced awareness not only improves your decision-making ability, but also helps you better manage and manage emotions. Your actions are not as reactive or impulsive, as you begin to take a slower approach, analyzing and understanding the role of both internal and external stimuli. This can help in any area of life, reducing the risk of conflict and also increasing your appreciation and gratitude towards others, improving your sense of happiness.
If you’re new to the practice of mindful eating, don’t expect an overnight transformation. Like mindfulness and other meditative practices, mindful eating is a practice that must be cultivated over time, but the rewards are clearly worth the effort.
References
Kristeller, Jean L. and Ruth Q. Wolever. “Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training for the Treatment of Binge Eating: The Conceptual Basis.” Eating disorders, full. 19, no. 1, December 20, 2010, pp. 49-61., doi: 10.1080/10640266.2011.533605
Olson, Kayloni L. and Charles F. Emery. “Mindfulness and Weight Loss.” Psychosomatic medicine, full. 77, no. 1, January 2015, pp. 59–67., doi:10.1097/psy.0000000000000127
Dunbar, RIM “Breaking Bread: The Functions of Social Eating.” Adaptive human behavior and physiology, full. 3, no. 3, March 11, 2017, pp. 198–211., doi:10.1007/s40750-017-0061-4
Berrill, James W., et al. “Mindfulness-based therapy for inflammatory bowel disease patients with functional abdominal symptoms or high perceived stress levels.” Journal of Crohns and Colitis, full. 8, no. 9, September 1, 2014, pp. 945–955., doi:10.1016/j.crohns.2014.01.018.
