How You Eat Matters More Than You Think

Think back to your last meal. I mean every detail. What did you eat? And when? Where were you? How did you feel afterwards? Was it a fast food drive through? Was it sitting on the couch in front of the television? Was your phone on the table in front you, or in one hand scrolling while you ate with the other? Our brain is intimately connected with every system in our body. This means at every moment, whether we realize it or not, the input from our surroundings and circumstances is affecting us physically. When you mechanically eat food while stressing about what’s next on the agenda or running late to your next obligation, your body is receiving signals that it’s not safe. Why does this matter? Because your body exists by activating different portions of your nervous system. When the sympathetic system is dominating, you’re rushing to work in the morning or yelling at drivers on the ride home. In this state, your body is worried about an immediate threat. It shuts down digestion and immunity, focusing on increasing heart rate and breathing so you can fight or flight to survive. Even if you’re just sitting on the couch at home, a scary movie or thoughts of the big presentation the next day can subtly shift you towards this state. When you eat mindlessly or quickly, your body is less effective at extracting energy and nutrients from your food. We want to be eating while our parasympathetic nervous system is dominant. But that state is becoming harder and harder to achieve. We live with so many distractions. When you are truly relaxed, and focused only on what’s in front of you, your body feels safe. You are in a state of rest and digest, when all available energy can fuel your immune system and digestion system. Eating in this state leads to less bloating and feeling satisfied but not stuffed. Your internal physical workings are not set apart from your life. But it takes effort to disconnect from the world and listen to your bodily experiences. How does scrolling on your phone late at night make you feel? Do you wake up in the morning already stressed with no feelings of hunger? You can make as many changes as you want externally, but it won’t magically change your health or your life unless you start creating safety in your body and mind. This looks different for everyone. But turning off the tv and putting away social media while eating are a great start. If you live alone, try playing music, a podcast, or talking to a friend on the phone at shared mealtimes. Breathe between taking bites of food, and think about the ingredients and the work that went into the food on your plate. Focus on gratitude for what you have in that moment. Author: Sylvia Leary