Hacks To Avoid Emotional Eating: Have you ever experienced stress eating, or heard of it? Have you ever indulged in chocolate or chips after a demanding workday? I think most of us have experienced similar episodes where we overeat following a stressful event. Stressful circumstances can occasionally trigger systems linked to reward, cognition, and metabolism. Women who experience high amounts of stress are more likely to overeat emotionally.

Stress may cause physiological reactions in addition to psychological ones. Cortisol, a hormone that aids in the body's defence, is released by the body during stressful events. On the other hand, sustained elevation of cortisol levels during recurring and ongoing stressors may result in increased food intake, fat accumulation, and weight gain. Therefore, to prevent overeating, here are some hacks that you can try. 

Hacks To Avoid Emotional Eating

Choose Healthy Foods

Always explore healthier options when you're feeling stressed out and want to eat anything. Opt for nutritious foods like fruits, juices, eggs, and pizza instead of overindulging in chocolates, chips, burgers, or pizza. If you have a sweet tooth, try eating an apple or any other fruit; if you have a savoury one, include oats and eggs in your diet.

Regular Exercise

You meet more individuals every day when you exercise as it improves your general health and well-being. Yet physical activity also directly reduces stress in some ways. It increases endorphin production. Your brain's production of endorphins, which are feel-good neurotransmitters, may be increased by physical activity.

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Meditate

Ways To Prevent Stress Eating (Image Credits: Canva)

Try to meditate and create a calm, comfortable environment for yourself whenever you sense the need to stress eat. Mindful meditation can reduce stress and help combat the urge that leads to stress eating, states WebMD. Pick a peaceful spot to sit and pay attention to your breathing and thoughts.

Mindful Eating

The goal of mindful eating is to bring people's sensory awareness of food and their eating experience front and centre. It is not particularly related to fat, protein, carbs, or calories. To stay aware of your eating patterns and habits, mindful eating is a crucial habit to incorporate into your daily routine.

Portion Size

For various meals, the portion size may change. Every time you eat, there's no need to weigh or measure your food. Rather, visualise a lightbulb, a baseball, a poker chip, a deck of cards, and a hockey puck. You can envision healthy portion proportions with ease because of this.

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(Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment.)