17 Apr How You Eat is Just as Important as What you Eat

I recently polled my Facebook community asking them how they typically eat dinner.
I asked them if this meal is typically

• With the TV on

• With paper plates

• Standing

• Eating out of a box or container

• Whatever my kids don’t finish

• All of these

Majority vote were TV on! Probably not surprising and relatable

Really take a minute and think about how this meal goes down in your house?

Is it stressful?
Is there fighting and yelling?
Is it very haphazard and distracted?

Absolutely no judgement if you are visualizing a stressful circus at meal time.

But this is a Huge area of opportunity to focus on ways you can make this experience more relaxing and enjoyable. I realize perfect, calm meals aren’t always realistic, and perfection is never the goal. But try to implement at least one of the ideas I will share into your dining experience.

Many of our meal time behaviors, we Do have control over and can really improve eating habits, satisfaction at meals and digestion.

How we Eat is Just as Important as What we Eat

When meal time is stressful it can affect other aspects of our health. We aren’t as satisfied from the meal because we are not taking the time to enjoy our food.

Eating quickly and while feeling stressed can really mess up digestion. When our body is under stress we up regulate the sympathetic nervous system, which tells us to fight, run, or freeze. Our body is moving blood to muscles and limbs to fight a threat and not prioritizing bringing blood supply to the core of the body and aid digestion.

In order to properly digest and absorb our food – the mind needs to be in a present and relaxed state. It needs to be in a parasympathetic state for “rest and digest” to produce the digestive enzymes and fluids to properly breakdown our food.

Our bodies are Brilliant and built for survival. So, it will always prioritize fighting or running from danger over resting and digesting. We can’t do both well, at the same time for functional reasons.
(In case you didn’t realize) This is why you tell your kids to wait to get back in the pool to swim after eating to avoid a stomach ache!

Many things day to day trigger the up regulated stressed state;

• Negative self talk

• Criticism

• News

• Social media

• Movies/shows

• Arguments

• Yelling

• Feeling overwhelmed

• Over exercising
• Chronic under eating

to name a few!!

The thing is, our brain doesn’t distinguish between being chased by a bear or getting into an argument with your partner. When we feel threatened, emotionally or physically, the body responds with fight or flight and not rest and digest.

Being in a stressed state while eating significantly slows or stops most of the essential digestive functions, causing digestive discomfort, bowel issues, acid reflux and can lead to other health problems.

Many of our digestive issues can be remedied by eating our food in a more relaxed state. This allows our blood to flow to the core of our body for optimal digestion.

5 Habits to Add into your Eating Routine

Sit down to eat your food which helps the body to relax
When we are standing, we are not fully relaxed and usually multi tasking.

Turn off the TV and other screens
When we are more present while eating, we use more of our senses to see, smell and taste the foods. This helps stimulate the secretion of saliva and gastric juices that aid the digestive process.

Slow down, breathe between bites, and chew thoroughly
This helps with overeating and to further breakdown food for better absorption.

Set the table and use real dinner and glass ware
Similar to when you get dressed and ready for the day you feel better, eating your food from dish ware and glasses you love, make the dining experience more special and enjoyable.

Clear clutter from the table and dim the lighting
We are very affected by our environment. Removing clutter makes us feel less scattered and stressed. Dimmer lighting helps us to feel more relaxed and less stimulated from bright lights.

As a result of being more AWARE of our bodies and its needs. By checking in with our selves more often, slowing down and being intentional at meals.

• Digestion improves

• Mood is less of a roller coaster

• Cravings improve

• Fatigue improves

Yes, we also need to be giving our bodies the proper nutrients to function optimally. But HOW we eat is such a discounted area that can make a big difference in overall wellness.

Comment below, what Eating Habits you are going to try Adding to your routine!