Honouring the wisdom within
How can we trust ourselves and tune into what we need without relying on external information which influences our decisions and shapes how we feel about things? Can we zone out all the noise and mental chatter around food and diet to focus on what we are feeling internally?
What I have noticed since writing my book, is that my awareness is more attuned to food and I am more conscious when I am eating. Can we work with ourselves in a more positive light so we are not just focusing on what is in front of us but also how receptive we are feeling towards it?
Tuning into what we need in terms of nourishment and nutrition
If we are guided by our intuition, we may make different choices, and be less swayed by the opinion of others. It’s about tuning into what we need and thinking about the role that food plays not just in terms of nutrition but also in terms of nourishment. We hold the innate wisdom within our bodies. These brilliant bodies that can grow and nurture another human, during which our body signals which foods we need and which to avoid.
Surrender ourself to the wisdom within.
Why do we like some foods and not others? We have a visceral response to food tastes. Rather than trying to overcome or disguise those, we should honour those and listen to what our body is telling us. Receptors work both ways from stomach to brain as well as brain to stomach so if we can tune into these, rather than allowing the brain to dominate what is best for us.
Some foods do not make us feel good in ourselves. Other foods we crave, but we despise. So how much of this is an intellectual decision versus an emotional one?
Trust your gut
You may be familiar with the phrase ‘gut feeling’ as meaning something we know to be true even without rational explanation. This describes the physical sensation felt in the stomach area when making a decision or experiencing emotions, which is linked to the gut-brain connection.
This gut feeling is more than just a metaphor; it's grounded in the intricate relationship between our brain and our digestive system. The gut, often called the "second brain”, communicates with our central nervous system, influencing our emotions, stress levels, and even our cravings. When we learn to listen to these internal signals, we can make food choices that nourish our bodies and support our well-being. Just as a craving for a specific food might be your body's way of signaling a nutritional need, a feeling of discomfort after eating certain foods can be a message that they're not right for you.
Interestingly, there is evidence to suggest that women may be more adept at listening to their gut feelings, particularly when it comes to food choices. This heightened sensitivity can be traced back to both biological and social factors. Hormonal fluctuations along with higher levels of empathy and emotional intelligence, allow women to be more perceptive of their internal bodily signals.
Emotional eating may reflect unmet needs
So what about if your gut signals that you should finish the packet of biscuits? Emotional eating is a response to our needs. If we are eating because we have an emotion response to food, we need to understand the emotion outside of feeling it. By the time we are feeling it, it becomes a battle between the brain and the belly.
While our gut feelings can guide us towards nutritious choices, they can also lead us to crave foods like sugar, which often tied to emotional needs rather than nutritional ones. When we're stressed, anxious, or feeling down, our bodies may seek the quick energy boost and comfort that sugary foods provide.
It is about valuing and trusting ourselves so that we make better choices down the line. We need to make choices that we feel comfortable and confident about, not because of some expert opinion telling us it is better for us.
