Diets and Nutrition

Does mindful eating work for weight loss?

By Eloísa Carmona - 2020-06-01T14:29:19Z
Mindfulness has become popular today, as it is a way to stay focused on the present. This practice is generally accompanied by meditation, in order to develop awareness of the world around us.Thus, mindfulness has proven to be a good tool to combat anxiety and stress, for example, two factors that can influence our eating habits, which is why mindfulness has extended to food as mindful eating.You may also be interested in reading Affirmations about weight loss you shouldn't believeWhat is mindful eating?Mindful eating is a technique that helps you control your eating habits. Although few studies have been conducted, it has been shown to promote weight loss, reduce binge eating, and help you feel better.Mindful eating consists of using full attention to achieve a state of total awareness of your experiences, cravings, and physical signals while eating.Also read Tips from a nutritionist to not worry about gaining weight during quarantineFundamentally, mindful eating involves:Eating slowly and without distractionsNoticing physical hunger signals and eating only until you're fullDifferentiating between true hunger and non-hunger-related triggersActivating the senses and noticing colors, smells, sounds, textures, and flavorsLearning to deal with guilt and anxiety around foodEating to maintain health and overall well-beingNoticing the effects of food on feelings and bodyAppreciating foodIn practice, this will allow you to replace automatic thoughts and reactions with more conscious and healthy responses.Does mindful eating work for weight loss?Several studies agree that mindful eating helps change eating behaviors and reduce stress, so it may work for weight loss.This is largely related to the fact that stress does affect eating habits, as it has been observed that when people are stressed, they may eat inappropriately. On the other hand, if this causes them to gain weight, it can lead to even more stress, creating a vicious cycle.However, despite the fact that mindfulness can help prevent psychological problems and could be helpful for mental functioning and overall well-being, according to research from El País, more studies and more objective neurobiological and behavioral measurements are still needed to prove that it really works, whether eating or in any other area the practice focuses on.Don't forget that when it comes to changes in your diet, you should always consult an expert to guide you and help you find the specialized plan for you and your body.