Emotional hunger is the desire to eat in response to emotions rather than physical hunger. It is a behavior where eating is used to cope with negative or positive feelings rather than to meet the body's nutritional needs. This type of hunger can be triggered by a variety of emotions, such as stress, sadness, loneliness, boredom, anxiety or even joy.
Here are some characteristics of emotional hunger:
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Appears suddenly : Emotional hunger usually comes on abruptly, while physical hunger develops gradually.
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Craving specific foods : When it comes to emotional hunger, there is a tendency to crave specific foods, often high in sugar, fat or carbohydrates, such as sweets, fast food and snacks.
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Mindless eating : Emotional hunger often leads to eating automatically, without paying attention to the quantity or taste of the food.
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It is not related to an empty stomach : Unlike physical hunger, which is accompanied by signs such as a growling stomach, emotional hunger is not linked to the real need for energy or nutrients.
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Guilt and regret : Eating due to emotional hunger often results in feelings of guilt or regret after eating, as the person knows they were not actually hungry.
To deal with emotional eating, it’s important to develop coping strategies that don’t involve food, such as exercising, meditating, engaging in hobbies, or talking to friends. Identifying the emotional triggers that lead to eating can be a crucial step in controlling this behavior. If necessary, seeking help from a professional, such as a psychologist or nutritionist, can be beneficial.
Also, be prepared not to act on impulse, have everything planned for the week, and it will be much easier to follow the routine and maintain better eating habits.