Food, shelter and clothing are man’s basic needs. Of the three, human life is impossible without food. However, various eating disorders are becoming very common now. Obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart attacks, heart blockages and similar such ailments have their roots in the diet that each individual consumes. After all, we are what we eat.
Eating is greatly linked to human emotions. Food is an expression of celebration during parties, family get-togethers and holiday. However, it is alarming to know that people also overeat on grounds of emotional turbulence. This is known as Emotional Eating Disorder.
This form of eating is the beginning of a variety of other health hazards related to unmonitored food consumption.
Besides depression, there are various other reasons why people indulge in excessive binging.
a) Excessive craving for forbidden foods.
b) Over availability and access to fancy and attractive food stuff
c) Sex and hormone related issues.
d) Excessive stress and inability to cope with it in any other way
b) Over availability and access to fancy and attractive food stuff
c) Sex and hormone related issues.
d) Excessive stress and inability to cope with it in any other way
Understanding the root cause of the problem is extremely essential if you are required to solve it. Remedy is very essential and requires changes in daily lifestyle and daily habits.
1. Start on a healthy note.
Breakfast is always the most important meal of the day. Ensure that you incorporate high proportion of proteins, carbohydrates and fiber which provides enough energy to the body to kick start the day. A healthy breakfast gives a feeling of satiety and prevents eating wrong food later.
2. Have healthy snacks
The supermarkets are flooded with these now. Roasted and baked versions of every snack are available on shelves. You just need to spend some time in selecting the correct foods which are not very loaded with empty calories. Seasonal fruits should be a whole meal at least once a day. Milk is also a veryhealthy snack and when blended with other fruits and nuts gives you a delicious power packed smoothie which can be tasty, healthy as well as a satisfying snack. Avoid aerated drinks which are full of sugar and empty calories.
3. Munch frequently
Having small and frequent healthy snacks helps you avoid get very hungry which leads to gorging on huge amounts of unhealthy food. Planning frequent meals trains the mind to anticipate healthy snacks, and thus you stay away from laying your hands on anything unhealthy that comes your way, since you know you have a meal lined up soon.
4. Stop storing or making any unhealthy food at home
This is especially for homemakers, who love to make and stack tempting delicacies for their families, sheer out of affection. Its ok to occasionally indulge your family in rich foods, but do not make this a habit. Do not make them easily available all the time by storing them in your refrigerators. Funny but very true, do not go grocery shopping on a hungry stomach, since you will surely be tempted to buy all the good things out there.
5. Control your emotions and thoughts.
Conscious self control is the biggest key to treating emotional eating successfully. Train your mind to think before you eat anything and whether you really need to eat it. Learn to distinguish between hunger and thirst. Have a glass full of water if very hungry. This will immediately settle your hunger pangs for a short while and give you some time to think, instead of immediately jumping on some unhealthy food stuff.
Remember, overcoming emotional eating is definitely difficult but never impossible. Better late than never.
