Mindful eating trains the body to reconnect with internal appetite cues and the rhythms of the digestive system. Practicing mindful eating aids in the vertical stage of digestion, the part of the process where the stomach prepares digestive juices in response to the smell, taste, or sight of food, according to Femina.com.
Mindful eating, rooted in Buddhist mindfulness practices, means paying full attention to the food, which gradually helps the body reconnect with its internal appetite and digestive rhythms. This practice is easy to do, and the benefits can be observed over time.
Here’s how to practice mindful eating:
1. Eliminate all distractions before sitting down to eat.
2. Ask yourself if you are eating out of hunger, boredom, or habit. Pay attention to your hunger signals.
3. Notice the textures, colors, smells, and flavors on your plate.
4. Be grateful for what you have.
5. After finishing your meal, take a moment to reflect on how you feel. Whether you feel satisfied, bloated, tired, or energized, this will help inform your choices for future meals.
It will take about a week to get accustomed to mindful eating.
