Emotional Eating is a Common Coping Mechanism

Many people, if not most people, use food to help regulate emotions like stress, loneliness, sadness boredom and even happiness. Our lives have become extremely demanding and eating is a very common natural coping mechanism.

It is important to recognize what triggers us and understand our knee-jerk reaction to reach for food. It is even more important not to succumb to shame and guilt, which in itself can offset a new cycle of emotional eating and aggravate our emotional well-being.

Beyond the psychological symptoms, emotional eating can lead to overeating. It can promote unwanted impact on our short-term and long-term physical health, causing symptoms such as weight gain, digestive tract issues and increase the risk of lethargy, brain fog and even certain diseases.

Many times we may think we are Emotional Eaters and that is not at all the case, commonly a nutrient deficiency or hormonal imbalance can offset hunger and disable our body’s natural appetite regulation. Sometimes simple daily behaviors or habbits, such as meal timing, can cause appetite disregulation.

There are healthy ways to deal with our emotions as well as with our hunger or just plain desire to eat. Everyone one sometimes emotionally eats, but when emotional eating becomes a challenge it is is important to seek support.

With good strategies it is possible to make a positive change.

Remember change starts with awareness, so be mindful and remember to be kind to yourself.

Feel free to reach out to me with any comments, concerns or questions.

Sarah Maraval

Holistic Nutrition Coach & Plant-based Chef