Mindless Eating and How To Stop It

This article was published in the North Lawndale Community News, April 16-30, 2004

You see it everywhere. You see it under the golden arches, in the living room, at the workstation, and in the car. People are not fully aware of the experience of eating.

During these days of diet wars, many of us are obsessed with what we can and cannot eat. And because of this obsession, we have forgotten how it feels to fully enjoy our food.

What was your state of mind during your last meal? Were you calmly and peacefully enjoying your food or were you arguing with a friend or family member?

When you eat during periods of emotional upset it is detrimental to your body. Eating when you are angry, exhausted, or tired can lead to indigestion and gas.

What were you doing the last time you had a meal? Were you reading the newspaper, watching television, listening to the radio, driving your car, attending a meeting, or working on the computer?

Unconscious over-eating patterns often originate from eating while engaged in other activities. Eating while doing other activities and not paying attention to what or how much you are eating can lead to overeating and weight gain.

The ingestion of food ought to be a sacred act to you. It is important to keep your thoughts clear while you eat and it is not advisable to eat when you are in a hurry. Close your book and put away your newspapers. Do not read during a meal.

Ideally, eating is a social experience. We often surround ourselves with those we care about and love. But be aware that a lot of conversation is a distraction from noticing when you are satisfied. So enjoy your loved ones while keeping your conversation to a minimum.

When you sit down to a beautiful meal, turn off the television news. You do not want to consume food during stressful moments where murders, wars, and conflicts flash across the screen.

Feelings and emotions change the vibration of the foods you consume. And whatever feelings and emotions you have as you eat your meal, these same emotions are energetically transmitted to your food and to your body. One solution is to assess how you feel prior to eating and uncover the emotions and habits that lead you down the path to mindless eating.   Another solution is to practice eating with a clear mind for a few days.  Do not eat when you are stressed, upset, or tired. It will help your digestive system and enhance your health.

As you begin the habit of conscious eating, you will get in better communication with your body. People in the habit of disregarding communications from their body often have symptoms of gastric distress like those of irritable bowel syndrome.

So, if you want to change your life in a positive way, use the message in this article to increase your awareness. Remember to eat only when you’re hungry, do nothing but eat when you’re eating, savor every bite, and stop when you’re no longer hungry.

Dr. Shemuel Israel practices chiropractic in North Lawndale. He is dedicated to making human life more secure, more knowledgeable, more prolonged, more affluent, and more pleasurable. His email address is drsbisrael@ameritech.net.