Here are 2 simple questions for you:

1. Do you eat or eat more when you are feeling tense, under pressure or stressed?

2. Do you tend to feel better when you eat more especially if you are feeling stressed out or nervous?

If you answered yes to either, chances are you could be an emotional eater, who eats to suppress their emotions and true feelings. Many people eat out of boredom, but most people who tend to eat when feeling overwhelmed or stressed, actually do that because psychologically they actually feel better, even though physiologically the body does not feel so – as most emotional eater tend to overeat carbohydrates – chips, cookies, bread, pasta, chocolates among other things, which will raise the blood sugar and in turn affect the functioning of the pancreas that produces the insulin and eventually will effect the triglyceride and the cholesterol levels as excess sugars in the body are eventually turned on fats. This will in turn effect the functioning of other organs, and of course ultimately the endocrine system

So if you are dealing with emotional issues that are keeping you from your perfect weight, you need to do the following:

1. IDENTIFY WHY YOU OVEREAT / EMOTIONAL EAT – Easier said then done you say? No, before the next time you grab for that bag of chips, take a piece of paper and a box of colored pencils, and then write down how you are feeling at that time – exhausted, overwhelmed, stress, nervous, anxious, whatever the emotion is.  YOU NEED TO FIRST IDENTIFY THE EMOTIONS. Overeating or self medicating with food is not the answer – stop punishing your body for what your mind is feeling. You need to find strategies to deal with the emotions in the mind as opposed to eating them away, and your body will thank you.

2. FOCUS ON EATING WHATS RIGHT FOR YOUR BODY – When you are stressed, the types to foods you need to avoid include the following: alcohol, caffeine, refined sugar and carbohydrates and of course, tobacco products. Did you know that if your body is craving any of these, you might be lacking in certain key nutrients and vitamins? So instead of having detrimental foods for you body – eat healthier foods which are packed full of nutrients, and will help reduce your cravings, and not to mention, you body will thank you and you will feel better.

3. AVOID EATING ON THE GO – Most of us who have very busy lives tend to do this frequently. How you eat your food is very important. So if you are rushed with time, try to have a healthier shake instead of rushing through a barely chewed meals which will in turn affect your digestion. Eat in peace, enjoy every bite, savour what you are eating, enjoy the colors, textures and the type of foods you eat. EAT CALMLY.

These are simple suggestions on what you could do.

You could also check out our weight loss section for more information.

By: Sushma Shah, Naturopathic Doctor, at the Nature’s Intentions Naturopathic Clinic.