Emotional hungeris still a topic that has been gaining prominence in discussions about mentalhealth, weight gain and illnesses. The act of eating is not just related tosatisfying hunger or nutrition, the emotional side is also present. All of ourfoods choices end up influencing our actions and reactions in a positive ornegative way, our food choices provide different sensations, memories andemotions. When eating in reaction to an emotion, this mechanism tends to beautomatic and the choices also tend to be based on taste, such as sweets and highlypalatable fats, which end up being consumed in large portions and it was fromthis reflection that the term “emotional hunger” emerged.
Emotional hungeris independent of the individual's energetic and nutritional needs, expressedby the desire to eat according to the emotional state. It is usually linked tonegative emotions, stress or when we reward ourselves for small everydayvictories.
Physiologicalhunger or real hunger arises when the body has to supply the energetic andnutritional needs, essential to its proper functioning through food, it is notlinked to any specific food.
How to identify emotional hunger?
The mainindications that it is out of control are the urgent desire to eat, theingestion of food with voracity or in great quantity and difficulty to controlor the sensation that it satisfies nothing. In practice, it is like therepresentation "live to eat" and not "eat to live". Knowhow to differentiate and ask yourself if it is really physiological hunger.
Emotional hunger:
1. Suddenlyappears
2. The ingestionof a type of food that represents a "comfort"
3. Urgent need,it is not possible to wait for the meal
4. It does notstop eating, even if satiated
5. It disappearswhen some distraction arises with another activity
6. It causesnegative sensations after the meal, such as guilt and frustration
Physiological hunger
1. It appearsgradually
2. The ingestionof a meal or snack is more complete and varied
3. As itmanifests gradually, it is usually possible to wait a while to eat
4. Whensatiated, you no longer feel the need to eat
5. It does notdisappear when performing another task
6. It causespositive sensations after eating, such as pleasure and well-being
How to treat emotional hunger?
Food can serveas a momentary relief, but it is not a treatment for emotional hunger. Thosewho suffer from this compulsion and do not pursue solutions and treatments mayend up losing the ability to deal with their emotions and gaining weight andcompromising their health. In this case, an incorrect diet combined with a lackof physical exercise can lead to several illnesses such as: hypertension, highcholesterol, diabetes, sleep apneas, cardiovascular problems, depression andanxiety. It is advisable to seekprofessional help in these situations as a follow-up with a professional may beall you need to break these habits and improve your health.
