One of the biggest benefits of becoming a mindful eater is that you can start improving your relationship with food. One of the main goals of mindful eating is to help you break free from the cycle of yo-yo dieting and disordered eating.
If you’re someone who has struggled with dieting to control your weight, food anxiety, or food fears, then you know just how difficult it can be to have a healthy relationship with food. Constantly thinking about calories, carb counts, and fat grams takes the joy out of eating and can make mealtimes a source of stress instead of pleasure.
Mindful eating is a way of changing your relationship with food so that you can eat in a way that is more enjoyable and satisfying, while also being more in tune with your hunger cues and your body’s needs.
You Appreciate Food for What it is
The first way mindful eating helps with your relationship with food is by helping you to fully appreciate food for what it is, instead of being afraid of it. No matter what your history with food and dieting is, you probably have some fear of foods. These are foods that you think will make you fat, or foods that you’re “not supposed to eat” on your diet.
These fears can prevent you from enjoying some of the most delicious and nutritious foods available. They can also lead to cravings and binge eating, because you feel like you “have to have” these forbidden foods.
When you start practicing mindful eating, you begin to let go of these fears and see food as it really is- nourishment for your body. You realize that all foods can fit into a healthy diet, and that no single food is going to make you fat. This can be a huge relief, and it can help you to enjoy mealtimes much more.
All Your Senses are Activated
You will be using each and every sense you have during your meals, which helps in so many ways. The first is that it helps you to be more mindful of what you’re eating. When you can see, smell, and taste your food, you’re more likely to appreciate it and eat it slowly. This allows you to enjoy the flavor more and also start to feel satisfied with smaller amounts of food.
Another benefit is that it helps you to pay attention to your hunger cues. When you’re not focusing on anything else but your meal, it’s easier to notice when you’re starting to feel full. This can help you avoid overeating and feeling stuffed after meals.
You’ll Be More Connected to Your Body
Because mindful eating helps you to be more in tune with your hunger cues, you’ll also be more connected to your body in general. This is a big change for many people who have been dieting for a long time. When you’re always worried about what you’re eating and how much you’re eating, it’s easy to lose touch with your body’s signals.
But when you start practicing mindful eating, you’ll find that you’re more in tune with your body’s needs. You’ll be able to tell when you’re really hungry and when you’re just eating because you’re bored or stressed. This can help you make better choices about what to eat, and it can also help you to feel more connected to your body overall.
You Begin Experiencing Less Guilt and Shame
The reason people often have a bad relationship with food is from the diet mentality. This can lead you to fear food and experience a lot of guilt and shame over your food choices. Luckily, through mindful eating, you start lessening these emotions and instead just revel in the experience of eating.
There is no reason to feel any type of guilt over the foods you eat or how much. Sure, you might overeat a little and feel uncomfortable for a few hours, but mindful eating helps to minimize that as long as you pay attention to your body’s signs.
You’ll Be More Likely to Make Healthy Choices
When you have a better relationship with food, you’re also more likely to make healthy choices. This is because you’ll be more in tune with your body’s needs and you’ll be less likely to crave unhealthy foods.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that you’ll never eat junk food again. But it does mean that you’ll be more likely to make healthy choices most of the time, and that’s a big step in the right direction.
It Helps Improve Your Digestion
When you’re finally able to relax and focus on your food while you’re eating, your digestive system is able to do its job more effectively. That’s because the brain and the digestive system are intimately connected; when your mind is stressed, your digestive system pay suffer as a result. On the other hand, when you’re able to focus on the act of eating and enjoying your food, digestion can improve.
This is just one more reason to try mindful eatin—it can help improve your overall health in addition to your relationship with food.
It Increase the Enjoyment of Food
When you’re able to focus on the taste, smell, and texture of your food, you’re likely to find that you enjoy it more. That’s because mindful eating allows you to truly savor and appreciate the food you’re eating. And when you’re able to enjoy your food more, you’re less likely to overeat or make unhealthy choices in an effort to satisfy yourself emotionally.
Plus, when you’re able to appreciate the food you’re eating, mealtime becomes more enjoyable overall. And who doesn’t want that? Instead of feeling like you have to eat in order to fuel your body, you can start to look forward to meals as a time to relax and enjoy yourself. As a result, you’re less likely to associate food with negative emotions like guilt and shame.
Conclusion
If you’ve been struggling with an unhealthy relationship with food, mindful eating may be something worth exploring. The benefits of mindful eating include improved digestion, increased enjoyment of food, and improved body image. So why not give it a try? See if mindful eating can help you reach your goals—both in terms of your health and your relationship with food.
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