Conquering Emotional Eating

Are you one of those people who often crave for certain foods more for comfort than to appease your hunger? If you are, then you're probably an emotional eater. Emotional eating is a response triggered by feelings rather than the need for sustenance.

We all deal with the stresses we encounter in our lives in different ways. You may not realize but a lot of people handle these negative emotions, whether they are conscious of it or not, by seeking comfort foods. Furthermore, the type of food emotional eaters yearn for are typically sweet or salty, and very high in cholesterol. This habit could have disastrous results especially if you are trying to lose weight or worse, have a bad effect on a medical condition you might suffer from.

What ties mood to food? Certain sweets like chocolates contain sugar and other ingredients that seem to stimulate the release of endorphins in our body; these are natural hormones that give us a feeling of pleasure and contentment. Some emotional eaters go for salty snacks or high cholesterol food though. So whether it's psychological or physiological factors that decide our consumption preferences, it would seem that the foods we desire are those we associate to feelings of well-being and relief.

What are the signs of emotional eating? There are a lot of reasons why we turn to food for comfort. Anything that makes us feel angry, hopeless, inadequate, out of control, even bored can make us scour our pantries or visit the convenience store in the middle of the night. Below is a list of behaviors that are common signs of emotional eating:

• Unconscious eating or snacking.
• Eating alone or in places where other people won't see.
• Feeling guilty or ashamed after eating.
• Eating right after an unpleasant experience even when not hungry.
• Craving for certain foods when sad, depressed, or lonely.
• Easily tempted to eat food seen in television or print advertisements.
• Feeling better immediately after eating when upset.
• Eating to forget about problems.
• Eating just to have something to do.

Food is commonly connected to feelings of comfort and satisfaction; sometimes a reward for something we have accomplished or consolation for disappointments. It helps pass the time otherwise spent mulling over our worries. Parties often serve delectable food and eating can remind us of happy times or put us in a celebratory mood. It is a welcome distraction since we try to put our focus on the flavor and taste of what we're eating.

However, it is important to remember that whatever problem we have, it is not resolved by eating. Right after we indulge ourselves, the problem is still there and there could even be the added guilt of overeating. It may seem difficult at first, but there are steps we could take to conquer such behavior and put a stop to emotional eating.

The first thing you have to do is to recognize the signs and admit to yourself that food is not the solution. If you are longing for sweets or snacks without feeling hungry, ask yourself what exactly is the reason that you want to eat. Once you realize this, find alternative ways of making yourself feel better, either through a hobby or sport that you're interested in.

Avoid temptation by not buying junk food and stocking on healthier products like fresh fruits and vegetables. You can also try out low calorie versions of your favorite snacks. Postpone for a few hours any urge you may have of running to the store. Distract yourself with other pleasant activities. Give yourself time: time to think about the consequences of what you're about to do and the time to forget about your cravings.

Eating on time and having a well-balanced diet provides your body the nutrition it needs. Sometimes our food cravings come from lack of certain vitamins and nutrients, especially if the nutrients we lack supply us with energy and strength. Meeting your body's daily requirements for the basic food groups will keep you healthier, energetic, and fuller longer.

Being physically active or taking up strenuous sports makes your body release more happy enzymes as well. With regular exercise and enough rest, you will find that you are better at handling the different stresses of the day.