Rush Rush Rush

If you find yourself in "rush mode" all the time, BEWARE, you are robbing
yourself of good health and shortening your life. Constantly rushing around

increases stress on your body and reduces overall enjoyment of the
activity. Even kids are being rushed to more events than they need each week.
This rushing does two things; it teaches kids an unhealthy behavior early
in life and it increases their stress levels promoting overeating and fueling
the childhood obesity epidemic we now face.

Slow it Down

Rushing has reached epidemic proportions; more in this country than any
other in the world. When rushing starts to affect eating habits, your
waistline expands and good health is eroded. The most important questions are
"Where did I learn to run around like this" and "Why do I keep doing it?" By
slowing your life down, you have the opportunity to enjoy more things even
when you do less.

Rushing and Obesity

Weight gain is almost a certainty when rushing starts to affect your eating
habits. In most cultures, food is enjoyed, even savored in long lunches where
conversation and social interaction are the norm. When you eat on the run,
not only do you raise stress hormone levels but you encourage unhealthy
habits like overeating, poor digestion, lack of satiation and weight gain.

Here are 5 reasons to stop rushing especially when you eat:

1. Portion Control: Eating more slowly reduces the amount of food eaten in
the same amount of time. Eating more slowly allows the brain an opportunity
to correctly register when you are full. Without counting calories or
dieting, you can reduce food consumption which can translate into losing
several pounds per year.

2. Food Enjoyment: Meals are a time for enjoyment and socialization rather
than just being another "thing" we need to get done. Taking the time to
really taste your food makes meals become much more enjoyable. Taste, smell
and texture all contribute to your sense of happiness and well being. Gulping
down your food in an attempt to rush off spoils most of the enjoyment in the
eating experience reducing it to just another activity.

3. Better Digestion: Saliva in the mouth is the first stage of the digestion
and absorption process of the food you eat. Eating slowly allows you to chew
more thoroughly mixing more saliva with your food. Chewing more thoroughly
allows your food to be more easily digested and absorbed when it reaches the
stomach and intestines. You'll derive more nutrients from less food with
complete digestion. Better digestion also reduces the chance of gastric
distress such as bloating, food allergies and heart burn.

4. Mindful Eating: This is one of the keys to any successful weight loss
program. Taking the time to eat when you are not distracted by the
television, a newspaper, magazine or the computer helps increase food
enjoyment. "Gulping it down" bypasses your food enjoyment centers in the
brain encouraging you to eat more to feel full. To register with your brain,
food must contact the taste buds in your mouth long enough to send a
pleasurable signal. The way food tastes is also changed by the amount of time
spent on the taste buds.

5. Healthier Food Choices: It takes extra time to consider a healthier
food option and move past the "instant food" selections. More often than not,
rushing to eat forces you to pick "the quick option" rather than the
healthier one. Fresh, flavorful, colorful and nutritious may not necessarily
be convenient for you but they are always better. Balancing your foods and
planning a healthier meal is time well spent. You are worth it, so go ahead
and stop the rush and enjoy life more.