When you’re stressed, you eat more without realizing it. When stressed and emotional, brain chemistry triggers a person to eat more and crave sweet, salty, and fatty foods. Such ‘stress overeating’ is more common in women, and following eating high-calorie foods such as sweets on a whim, there are many cases where it hurts health due to a sense of self-blame.
Ask yourself if you’re really hungry
If you want a snack following a meal, it’s likely emotional hunger, not hunger. Ask yourself if you are really hungry. Keeping a food diary is a good way to get out of your emotional hunger. You can tell in advance what you’re emotionally eating, how much you’re eating, and how you’ll feel when and following you eat.
Getting used to de-stressing without food
Find other ways to turn your mood without having to eat a chocolate bar. There are many ways to relieve stress through activities other than eating, such as taking a walk, calling a friend, listening to music, reading, or watching a movie. Work out regularly, get plenty of rest, or get help from friends and family to prepare and implement healthy ways to relieve stress in advance.
Lifestyle of ‘think once more’ before eating
Get into the habit of thinking for a moment before eating. It can increase feelings and awareness of food and eating behavior. Eliminate easy-to-eat high-calorie foods from your refrigerator and cupboards. Fill it with healthy foods like vegetables, fruits, and tea, and eat these fruits or low-fat, low-calorie snacks when you’re bored.
Reporter Jeong Hee-eun eun@kormedi.com
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