Are you a Mindful Eater?

In today's fast-paced and busy world, it is crucial to understand the significance of mindful eating. Mindful eating is the practice of bringing awareness and intention to our food choices, eating habits, and overall relationship with food. By consciously engaging in the act of eating, we can cultivate a deeper connection with our bodies and nourish both our physical and mental well-being.

Mindful eating allows us to savor every bite, appreciate the flavors, and listen to our body's hunger and fullness signals, promoting a healthier relationship with food. Moreover, practicing mindfulness while eating enhances digestion, as our bodies can better process and absorb the nutrients from the food we consume. By fostering a mindful eating practice, we can make more informed choices, promote self-care, and ultimately have a healthier body and more effective digestion.

To Increase Nutrient Absorption

1. Digestive Enzymes

Digestive Enzymes to daily meals can help assimilation of foods for those who feel indigestion and/or bloated after eating.

2. Lower cooking temperatures

When cooking, during sautéing or baking, think: high moisture and low heat. Foods cooked at high temperatures can become denatured chemically, making them less nutritious at best, and cancerous at worst. Steaming for vegetables would be the best bet for high nutrient value.

3. Chew thoroughly

By chewing thoroughly, your body helps to prepare proper digestion. The body sends signals from the saliva to the digestive organs that release specific enzymes made to break down the foods your eating. Chewing well is necesarry.

Just Go With The Flow

4. Eat Local and Seasonal

Eat what’s in season and locally whenever you can. Food grown locally is grown within the environmental constraints, and containing the soil bugs and bacteria, which are most likely the best inhabitants for your body. This is because the local bacteria makeup matches with what your body needs to be better equipped to respond to any local threats.

Honey is a great example of this. Eating local honey equips your immune system to respond to those same allergens that are in the air locally when the bees are collecting the pollen and mixing the honey.

5. Better Breathing

A few tips to help you breathe more consciously. Avoid shallow breathing. Your out-breathes should be longer than your in-breathes.Breathe in through your nose only, never breath in through your mouth unless it’s vitally necessary for the moment.

6. Take Breaks

Put your utensil down between every couple of bites! Take a breath, give thanks.

And Take Your Time

7. Quit Multitasking

Sit down to eat. Do not rush and eat while driving. When we are distracted, even by a screen or book in front of us, we take bigger bites and do not notice when we’re full.

8. Stop at 80% Full

By taking more time to eat, you’ll notice, you will burp. When you burp, this means your belly is full. You might not feel full but if you listen to this signal, over time you’ll grow accustom to listening to your body.

9. Keep Drinking Separate

Drink water at least 30 minutes after you eat. Water directly after or while you’re eating will cool the digestion process when you need it working optimally.

10. 100 Steps after Eating

Rest or walk after eating and always breathe deeply. Relaxation in this manner keeps blood flow to your organs instead of your muscles. Running around or stressing during or after eating is a sure-fire way to create indigestion.