A way of consuming food and drinks, called intuitive eating, empowers you to become an expert on your body and its hunger pangs. In essence, it is the polar opposite of a conventional diet. It does not impose rules regarding what to eat, what not to eat, or when to eat it.
The basics
A positive attitude regarding food and body image is encouraged by this style known as intuitive eating. It recommends eating when you are hungry and stopping eating when you are full. Even though this should be a simple process, many people find it to be difficult.
Benefits
- Lowered dietary self-control and binge-eating habits
- Improved dietary interactions
- Even without weight loss, improvements in blood pressure and cholesterol levels
- Decreased anxiety and sadness
- Higher self-esteem
- Better body image
How do you practice intuitive eating?
Intuitive eating rules state that you should feed yourself when you're hungry and stop when you're full. But even though it doesn't look challenging, practice is still necessary. It may take some time to cut through the clutter and connect with what your body needs after years of dieting or having an unhealthy connection with food.
Understanding the distinction between physical and emotional hunger is the first step in intuitive eating. Physical hunger is a physiological demand for food and manifests as a lack of energy, increased irritation, and hunger sensations. Even if you are not physically hungry, emotional hunger can make you crave food to sate unpleasant emotions like melancholy or boredom.
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The next step is to pay attention to when they manifest once you've mastered the ability to tell the difference between bodily and emotional hunger. The next time you feel hungry, consider whether it is physical or emotional hunger that you are dealing with. If you are physically hungry, eat until you are satisfied but not stuffed.
Instead of cleaning your plate or consuming more than you require just because something feels delicious, stop eating when you are pleasantly satisfied. During your meal, feel it internally, eat carefully, and pause to determine whether you're still hungry or full.
