Rushing Increases Stress Levels
If you find yourself in "rush mode" all the time, BEWARE, you are robbing
yourself of good health and shortening your life. Rushing around raises
stress hormones in the body while increasing inflammation and reducing your
overall enjoyment of the activity. If your kids are rushing around going to
more events than they need each week, they may be jeopardizing their health
as well. Rushing, especially at a young age, does two things; it teaches
kids this unhealthy behavior early in life and it increases their stress
levels promoting overeating while fueling the obesity epidemic we now face.
Try to Slow it Down
Rushing has reached epidemic proportions; more in this country than any
other in the entire world. When rushing starts to affect eating habits,
your waistline expands and good health is eroded. The most important
question is "where did I learn that running around like this is good for
me" and "why do I keep doing it if it's not?" 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 in 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 foods 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.
