The way we eat can be just as important as the food we eat! People who overeat are robbing their body of energy as their energy is used to process the extra food. People who eat fast are creating stressful energies for their body. Here is the way to the pure and most efficient way of eating – in Yoga known as the Sattvic way!

Always and only eat when you are hungry, and only eat enough to stop feeling hungry.
If you don’t eat when you are hungry, your metabolic rate will slow down and your body may go into starvation mode, when it will store all energy it can, causing possible weight gain. It is best to eat every 2-3 hours, even if it is just a small snack.

Do not eat until you are full. Eat until you are no longer hungry! (there is a difference!)

Drink plenty of filtered or spring water.
Take your body weight in pounds divided by 2 and this gives the amount of fluid ounzes of water or green tea to drink per day.
If you do not take in enough water, your body will retain water as it goes into starvation mode and stores all the fluids it can.

Eat consciously – never eat while doing something else like watching a film or working.

Eat Mindfully – chew each mouthful thoroughly and appreciate each flavour and texture.
A substantial percentage of digestion occurs in the mouth. Some enzymes found in saliva that break down the food are not found anywhere else in the digestive system, so if you don’t let this digestion take place, your food will remain undigested and cause you digestive problems.

Do not drink with your meal or within 15 minutes either side of your meal as you will be diluting the digestive juices and inhibiting the correct breakdown of your food.

Remember it takes around 10 minutes for your brain to receive the signal from your stomach that it is no longer hungry. So slow down!

Eat little and often. It is not necessary to stick to 3 meals a day and you should never eat just because the clock says it is a meal time!

Save on wastage – if you stop feeling hungry half way through your meal, keep it and go back to it later when you are next hungry. This doesn’t matter if it is only in an hour’s time. At least you will have given your stomach a chance to get it’s message to your brain!

Always drink a glass of water when you rise in the morning.

Never skip breakfast – if you are not hungry have some freshly squeezed juice.
Your body needs to increase its sugar levels in the morning after its fast throughout the night. Skipping breakfast can seriously effect your metabolic rate and well-being.

If you feel hungry, have a glass of water first. If you are still hungry 15 minutes later, then you may eat!
Quite often thirst is mistaken for hunger and you can be left fatigued and lacking energy if you do not drink enough, and put on weight if you eat when you are not really hungry!

Don’t live to eat – Eat to live! Remember food is our fuel and it should be treated as such. You wouldn’t overfill your car with petrol would you?

Don’t change your eating habits all at once. Start by incorporating a few points into your diet and gradually bring more of the above points into your eating regime.

by Danielle Bryant BSYA (N.Th)
www.holisticdani.co.uk