It happens to everyone. A really bad day. A conflict with a colleague. A perceived dig from your significant other. Emotions run high, and the next thing you know, you\u2019re headed for the fridge. Ice cream. Cookies. Mac \u2018n cheese. It seems like it makes everything better. Except it really doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a term for this behavior \u2013 emotional eating \u2013 and it can lead to some less-than-great choices. \u201cWe turn to comfort foods that are rich in fat or sugar,\u201d says Sodexo\u2019s Regional Dietitian and Wellness Manager Cristina Caro, RDN. \u201cYour body wants quick energy so it can produce the chemicals that provide a calming effect.\u201d<\/p>\n
We often confuse physical and emotional hunger, so it\u2019s important to understand if you\u2019re experiencing real hunger, or if your emotions are driving your cravings.\u00a0 According to the Mayo Clinic Health System, physical hunger comes on gradually and you\u2019re open to eating different foods. Once you\u2019re full, you stop eating and you don\u2019t feel guilty about it. Conversely, emotional hunger hits you suddenly, but you don\u2019t know what you want to eat. Whatever you eat, it doesn\u2019t make you feel full, but you do feel regret.<\/p>\n
Food can never satisfy emotional hunger. \u201cWe often subconsciously try to use physical fullness as a surrogate for emotional fullness,\u201d Caro says. She notes that stress brings on emotional eating because it causes cortisol levels to peak, depleting Vitamin B and influencing blood sugar levels. \u201cIt makes your fight or flight instincts kick in and your body prepares in case you have to run, which makes you want more sugar.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caro recommends making comfort food as healthy as possible. \u201cSaying don\u2019t eat comfort food is unrealistic. There are reasons why your body is asking for it.\u201d If you\u2019re craving something sweet, good choices provide fiber and\/or B vitamins, such as whole grains, fruit, vegetables, nuts, or nut butter. If you really want chocolate, dark chocolate is a better choice, and whole-fruit sorbet is just as satisfying as ice cream. Fiber-rich foods also help regulate your blood sugar, stabilizing both your body and emotions. These food choices are not only better for your health, but they also put you in control. Rather than succumbing to sugars and fats, you\u2019re standing up for yourself and increasing your necessary vitamins.<\/p>\n
Caro says the best way to manage emotional eating is not to respond to it, but to understand and control it. Maintaining a balanced diet plays a major role, because you\u2019ll have fewer nutritional deficiencies.\u00a0 \u201cYou can think back to your last meal, see what nutrients are missing and eat foods that have them. It\u2019s much better to fill in, rather than fill up.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It happens to everyone. A really bad day. A conflict with a colleague. A perceived dig from your significant other. Emotions run high, and the next thing you know, you\u2019re headed for the fridge. Ice cream. Cookies. Mac \u2018n cheese. It seems like it makes everything better. Except it really doesn\u2019t. There\u2019s a term for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[76,80],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15853","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mind-and-spirit-uk","category-mindful-living-uk"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\r\n